Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jasmine Hampton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jasmine , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

J.Jenee’ Spa & Wellness is more of a mission than an idea. It was and still is a part of my healing journey. I originally began in 2017 with a previous platform I have called Crowned Queen. The platform was a way of posting motivational and inspirational information to help myself and others, more particularly women through their battle with anxiety and depression. In 2009 I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. At the time being a mother and a wife at a very young age and face with 2 diagnosis that I had no clue how to get through on a daily basis, I practiced speaking positively to myself and also sharing whatever God may have spoken to me on any particular day to help me get through. With that platform I continued to participate on panels for mental wellness, speaking engagements, hold my own in home wellness sections with women in my community and even partnered with a local youth home teaching young women the importance of mental wellness and how to manage and show yourself love and care. But for me that just wasn’t enough.

I knew I wanted to be able to offer more to the women I came in contact with and had the opportunity to coach. The first thing I considered adding to breathwork sessions that I held in my home was aroma therapy and then I had the idea of adding massage. I knew it was something many in my community had never experienced or had the opportunity to be exposed to. I had no clue where to begin. I can remember one spring day a mentor of mine told me about a makeup contest that a local school was holding and the winner would be awarded a full scholarship. ( Yes, at the time I was a self taught makeup artist). I didn’t know what I was getting myself into as I had once entertained the idea of esthetics school but never moved forward. This opportunity finally gave me the push to go after one of the many dreams I have to help people.

I remember the day I walked into Casal Aveda Institute. The atmosphere and aroma was so warm and inviting. The staff was also inviting but it was still very intimidating because it had been over 7 years since I attended any institution. I had spent the last 3 years as a stay at home mom who felt she had no purpose or gifts to offer the world. But the moment I learned what I would be educated on and certified in I knew I was in the right place. I was so excited and anxious to make my mark on those who needed to experience the gifts God gave me.

I didn’t win the makeup contest but it was a win for me and those supporting as I put one of my many gifts out on a stage for many to see. (How scary is that!) After the experience I felt unstoppable.

What I had to offer was the connection with touch, our minds, our energy and our bodies. Often spa services are just that. You go get service and you’re out the door. I knew women needed a safe space to have a moment to take care of themselves. I knew it wouldn’t solve everything but it would be a start to a lifestyle of self love and or the moment with me providing intentional energy and touch to stimulate chemicals in our brains to help with relaxation and calm. I could provide a more personable atmosphere and experience beyond just a service.

I knew in the space I could talk people with the mental wellness and how to manage. I could have that talk about what many people at the time put a stigma on. I could teach women what it meant to focus on themselves and expose them to somethings they would otherwise never experience.

So far the journey has been worth it. The experience I provide isn’t found in many practices like mine. It’s a safe space. It’s working.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Jasmine J. Hampton. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Wade Hampton Jr. for 12 years and we have 4 amazing children, 2 girls and 2 boys. I was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. Today, I am a Licensed Advanced Esthetician and Esthetics instructor and spa owner. I’ve always had the desire to help people but I didn’t know in what capacity.

Once I graduated high school I attended Youngstown State University for 2 years but I knew at the time that it wasn’t really for me so I finished my last semester and didn’t return. In the time I wasn’t in school I just worked jobs where I often cared for people whether it was the elderly or children. I had no clue as to what my future would hold. While I was pregnant with my first child I experienced a pretty bad anxiety attack in a room full of people. I was diagnosed with anxiety at that time. I had no clue what I was experiencing. I would go on years later to experience post partum depression with later spilled over into something much deeper. I had no clue what to do or how to manage. My kids became the reason I kept going everyday. After I was diagnosed with depression disorder, I tried to find healthy ways to keep myself encouraged and uplifted. In the midst of speaking into myself I decided to start a platform called Crowned Queen where I would share with others words of positivity, inspiration, love and grace. It turned into so much more. While I was helping others, I was also helping myself. With prayer, God and support from my loved ones I continued to push through. As time went on that platform grew and I knew I wanted to offer more.

I participated on panels for mental wellness, speaking engagements, held my own in home wellness sessions with women in my community and even partnered with a local youth home teaching young women the importance of mental wellness and how to manage and show yourself love and care. But for me that just wasn’t enough.

I knew I wanted to be able to offer more to the women I came in contact with and had the opportunity to coach. The first thing I considered adding to breathwork sessions that I held in my home was aroma therapy and then I had the idea of adding massage. I knew it was something many in my community had never experienced or had the opportunity to be exposed to. I had no clue where to begin. I can remember one spring day a mentor of mine told me about a makeup contest that a local school was holding and the winner would be awarded a full scholarship. ( Yes, at the time I was a self taught makeup artist). I didn’t know what I was getting myself into as I had once entertained the idea of esthetics school but never moved forward. This opportunity finally gave me the push to go after one of the many dreams I have to help people.

I remember the day I walked into Casal Aveda Institute. The atmosphere and aroma was so warm and inviting. The staff was also inviting but it was still very intimidating because it had been over 7 years since I attended any institution. I had spent the last 3 years as a stay at home mom who felt she had no purpose or gifts to offer the world. But the moment I learned what I would be educated on and certified in I knew I was in the right place. I was so excited and anxious to make my mark on those who needed to experience the gifts God gave me.

I didn’t win the makeup contest but it was a win for me and those supporting as I put one of my many gifts out on a stage for many to see. (How scary is that!) After the experience I felt unstoppable.

I began school and had a plan to work for myself and eventually start a wellness spa. Balancing school, working for a short while( I had finally went back to work), being a mother of 4 including and infant, being a wife and everything in between was very challenging. With the help of my husband and family I made it through graduating with the highest gpa and making the deans list.

Throughout school as we learned the surface of managing a business and all it would entail somewhere along the way I ditched my business ideas. I decided I would go work for someone else and get experience before jumping head in. Little did I know that would not work out like I thought it would.

I graduated in Feb. 2020. Yep, when a very unfortunate situation occurred across the world. So that meant no work for me, no state board testing, nothing. I decided to illustrate and publish an inspirational journal, Called (Pray. Reflect. Grow. Live.) available on amazon. I was so happy to be able to share with the world guidance and expressing yourself in a healthy way. For 5 months I tried to find places to work but nothing worked out for an active mommy like myself. It was important that whatever position I was in had to be flexible. I was finally able test July 2020. Passed both exams with flying colors but still no work opportunities that aligned with my business plan, my lifestyle or the dynamic of my home. In August 2020 I went back to where I graduated from and trained to be be an Esthetics instructor in the state of Ohio. It was a great way of learning so much from the instructors perspective. I loved being able to help the students and learn new things.

In the time I was instructing at the institution I decided to take a chance on myself. And you guessed it! I started my own independent practice, J. Jenee’ Spa & Wellness. I had the opportunity to begin taking clients in a small space perfect for me inside of Excalibur Barber Grooming Lounge. The services provided were massage, facials and waxing. While working at the school I was also working my private practice but it became to much of a load to do both and run a household. I made the decision to run my business full time and trust God to provide. It was the most scary but a very rewarding choice I made.

Over the last 3 years J. Jenee’ Spa & Wellness has evolved in many ways. When I first started I just knew I wanted to help other women on the journey of self love and self care and the correlation with mental wellness. With my client experience I like to call myself the spa therapist. I build relationships and connections with my clients. It comes pretty natural. Everyone has always come to me to talk or receive advice. I’m able to refer those who need mental health services to the proper resources. But while my clients lay on the table they receive the gift of touch. In a fast paced world we have all forgotten that major detail. But it is what sets me apart. The intention is just as important as my skill set. I want my clients to trust me and feel safe when they come into the space.

People sometimes ask what is my niche and in my last 3 years I have yet to put my finger on that. I don’t offer any service that I’m not well experienced at or that I don’t enjoy. I love being able to have days in the spa where I can do multiple services. The change of pace is a beautiful thing to me. I used to think if I didn’t have that One thing that everyone knows me for that I wouldn’t be successful, although success is relative. But I’ve changed that narrative for myself. The success is possible with consistency, execution, practice, guidance and the necessary training to be the best at anything that is offered.

I strive to not only make people look good but feel even better. Stimulating the necessary chemicals in the brain to relax and calm our bodies with the art of touch and relaxation is so beneficial. Research shows that it does the body and mind good.

So here I am bring beauty and mental wellness into one space.

My own journey with my mental health has given me a purpose that I didn’t know I had. God will sometimes take you through the very thing He wants you to give to the world. How will we ever know the need if we don’t experience the lack?

How did you build your audience on social media?

There are so many gurus and experts who suggest ways to build your audience on social media and the one thing they all have in common is advice on being consistent and studying your audience.

I have recently started growing my audience on instagram and what I am learning is being consistent and being authentic is important.

Don’t overthink what you think you should post.

Find trending sounds or just use original sounds or sounds you like.

Provide info like tips, good product suggestions, day in the life as your profession.

Take a simple clip in your phone relative to your practice and post it.

Find similar businesses with successful growth and see what they are doing that might work for you.

There is so much info on instagram that is free to help you. Find what speaks to you and try it.

My growth has happened from being consistent, relative and authentic. Sometimes people want to know that you are human just like them.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson has been to lose the spirit of comparison. What your vision or dream is…It is yours. Everyone’s journey is not suppose to look the same. Also not everyone will move at the same pace. But if you trust your process and the assignment that God has given you everything is going to work out. You will get frustrated, feel alone and want to give up. But comparing your business and self to another persons won’t allow you to appreciate the growth that you may be making or that you are more powerful than you know. Be inspired but don’t envy. You never know what someone else went through to get to where they are.

In the beginning of my journey I felt like I had to be doing everything especially if it was a “money maker”. But I learned I don’t have to do everything just because everyone else is doing it.

I feel like in the beauty industry it’s so easy to get caught up with building clientele. For me it was very slow when I started and I would look at other people trying to figure out why no one was booking me. But I had to quickly realize that 1st my journey is my journey and I had to ask myself the question. I am doing everything necessary to experience the growth I desire. Examining yourself is very important to do when you feel like you’re comparing yourself to others.

What is meant for your business will happen in the time that it should. Be patient and graceful with yourself as you learn what you need to know to be successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: jjeneespa.com
• Instagram: @jjeneespa
• Facebook: @jjeneespa