We recently connected with Chaslyn Reynolds and have shared our conversation below.
Chaslyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Relocating to a new city involved a lot of risks, yet it was a decision I felt was necessary for growth. I was at a point in life where I felt like I did everything I could do in my hometown (Paris, TX). Days were passing without purpose, and I had a feeling of not fully living or being in a space where I could reach my full potential. Returning to school for esthetics was already in consideration, but there were no esthetician programs in Paris at the time. I have a daughter, so it was important to me that I could sustain a full-time job while taking classes. Driving back and forth to a school miles away wasn’t going to work with our schedules. Those factors are what influenced the idea to move away from the place I’ve known for most of my life.
Contemplating how I would manage being in a bigger city on my own, how my daughter would adjust to her new environment, how I would get clients when I didn’t know anyone, and every possible scenario that could lead to failure had me hesitant. I remember asking a friend whether I should wait it out, and his advice was, “Do it now; otherwise, you’ll keep procrastinating, and time will keep passing by.” A few months later my daughter and I were settled into a new city, right before Christmas. It was the essence of “New Year, New Beginnings” for me – a pivotal moment in my life. After plenty of researching, I found a part-time esthetics program that conveniently worked with my employer hours. Surprisingly, our class happened to be the first and last to follow that specific schedule. Was it luck or alignment?
Since relocating, I’ve made genuine connections, experienced new things, and have had access to multiple opportunities. My overall mood and perspectives have changed, proving that I’m capable of more than I think. It’s been a journey of self-discovery, increasing my resilience, and strengthening my belief that you should always follow your heart; the outcome can be greater than you expected!
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.
Like many people I followed the traditional route of going to college and getting a degree after high school. I was working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) while taking prerequisites for nursing in college. Nursing was my original major, until I had a realization in my microbiology class that maybe being a nurse wasn’t for me. My counselor recommended I apply for the Radiology program since I already had the prerequisites for it, and two years later I became a radiology technologist (X-ray tech).
A couple of months into working as an X-ray tech, I enrolled at a university. My thought process was that if later in life I wanted to be a supervisor, administrator, or even an instructor in radiology I would be prepared since a bachelor’s degree is usually a requirement. With about four months left until I graduated, I landed a new job with the hours, benefits, and the security I thought I wanted. However, within seven months, I realized I wasn’t being fulfilled by the repetition that comes with a 9 to 5 lifestyle. It wasn’t something I truly desired, so I began searching for a new path which led the transition of my career into the beauty industry. It feels natural and inevitable to be in this field since I’ve been interested in makeup and fashion for as long as I can remember. Becoming a certified permanent ombré brows artist in 2019 set the foundation for my entry into the beauty world and showed that pursuing what I love as a career can be rewarding without it feeling like work. That’s when I decided on becoming a licensed esthetician to broaden the range of beauty services I could provide and, in turn, expand my clientele.
Today I’m balancing being a full-time X-ray tech and part-time solo esthetician at my salon where I specialize in permanent eyebrow (microshading) and temporary eyebrow (brow stains) solutions, hair removal, and skincare treatments that include the use of organic pharmaceutical grade skincare lines, LED light therapy, and high frequency. My salon also offers private suite rental, addressing a gap I noticed in the beauty industry when I initially struggled to find a space to begin my journey as a new beauty professional. I also learned that certain beauty services were not as affordable or accessible to people in my community, and that there was a lack of professionalism in the service providers I did encounter who were offering them. The goal of expanding my beauty services to gain more clientele turned to wanting to shift the narrative of beauty businesses as well.
In addition to implementing a loyalty program and referral program that offers complimentary services, I developed a comprehensive permanent ombré brows training course to support those aspiring to join the beauty industry. By offering a one-stop destination for client’s beauty needs, prioritizing competitive pricing, and being a foundation for upcoming professionals, I aim to redefine standards and make beauty experiences more inclusive for everyone without compromising quality.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
At 16, I lost both parents and my granddad in a seven-month time span. Experiencing those losses really affected me mentally and shaped me into the person I am today. There were so many situations that occurred after those losses that influenced my perspectives, resilience, and overall personal growth. Things that I felt I didn’t deserve after going through so much, but life doesn’t guarantee grace. Despite facing adversity, I knew I not only wanted to create a fulfilling life for myself, but one where I wouldn’t have to depend on anyone ever again.
Although I still had family around, no one was ever able to fill the void or offer the same depth of care that parents do. Every decision you make from adolescence to adulthood has a big impact on the trajectory of your life and many of the lessons I’ve learned were self-taught through research, reading, and experience. I went through applying for colleges, choosing a career, moving into my first place at 19, becoming a mom at 20, purchasing my first car, and building my credit from scratch without a lot of support. I can only thank God for the strength that guided me, and that’s continuing to guide me through the challenges of life because the outcome could have been very different. After navigating through those storms, I managed to create a great life for my daughter and me. Now, I’m always prepared to face any challenge life throws my way.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
A lot of research was done before investing into my solo business. I made a list of every supply, down to the smallest detail like a q-tip, compared suite rates, and calculated costs for essentials such as insurance, permits, and a business license. This gave an idea of how much startup costs would be and whether I’d be able to manage monthly expenses. Having a respectable amount of money saved up allowed for most of my resources to come from tapping into personal savings. For a more sustainable approach, I utilized credit to leverage my funds and to avoid depleting my savings. Although it wasn’t business credit, this shows how having a solid credit score can open financial opportunities and ventures in life. When I began working as a permanent ombré brows artist, I didn’t have knowledge of a properly structured business, which is vital to building trust and business credit. It was a learning experience that taught me how to establish a solid foundation for my business and created additional opportunities, including the access to certain grants.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brows-by-chas.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browsbychas_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/browsbychas/
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