We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenifer Vanderhorst a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jenifer, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

There are so many moments that stand out to me when I reflect on my journey through makeup artistry and esthetics to appreciate and value where I am now. For as long as I could remember I have been attracted to the beauty industry and wanting to beautify myself and others. I use to sit and attentively watch Charleston Cosmetology Institute commercials every time they came on television. I remember walking past our old school box tv, you know the ones that have the booty in the back, and I’d stop in my tracks just to watch the CCI commercials. The thing that caught my attention was seeing the images of facials and to hear the word Esthetician! I knew that when the time came, I was going to attend school to become an Esthetician.. And I did just that at Charleston Cosmetology Institute. After perusing my Esthetic certificate and license I became a makeup artist, I worked in the entertainment industry making people and entertainers look glamorous. I loved my job but I wanted more. I wanted to train and teach makeup artists. I wanted to develop business strategies to enhance growth in sales and product visibility. I wanted to become a RAM, a regional account manager. To no avail the glass ceiling blocked me at every chance I was given. The last time was the last draw for me. I was in the interviewing process to become a trainer for Benefit Cosmetics. For the territory of Florida and Georgia. I was so excited, eager and ready for the interview. My trainer at the time and my RAM was grooming me, preparing me for what I knew was my future. It was finally my time! I had been waiting for my preliminary call all morning. When I finally received the call these words were spoken and I will never forget them, You’re not ready at this time. Those are the words I heard and focused on when I received the call to set up the first round of interviews. She didn’t ask me about my qualifications, my background, my training at MAC Cosmetics working in Atlanta running a million-dollar counter, NOTHING! She asked nothing and simply told me she felt I wasn’t qualified.

That was the turning point for me. That moment solidified my thoughts and produced action into me aligning myself in a position to create the type of career I wanted. I took about 4 months from that call to secure a lease at Phenix Salon Suites. I resigned and focused on Plush Brows and Beauty my brow and beauty boutique. Starting my own successful beauty business was the push I needed to think bigger. I gained so much confidence in my ability to produce what I wanted. I learned that resilience, consistency and being stellar in your field doesn’t always get you what you want. But, when you take these disciplines and apply them to yourself with a plan, there is a sure path to success that no one can take from you because you’re leading yourself to your dreams.

I owned Plush Brows and Beauty for 4 years. I’m currently an Esthetics instructor and I own Esthetics Education Association a SC state approved teaching association along with owning EEA I also own Wax By An Esthetician a Brazilian and body wax product and supply company I’m proud of me and it is exciting to continue the journey because I’m just getting started.

Jenifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jenifer Vanderhorst, aka Ms. Jen. I am not only a business owner of a Brazilian and body wax product and supply company, I teach esthetics as well. Esthetics is skin care, chemical peels, body waxing, eyelash extensions, brow waxing and all that fun stuff we get to do to beautify ourselves. I became a licensed esthetician when I was 19.

I fell in love with the way melted wax looks, spreads, and dries. One day at my beauty studio (years after I was licensed) I started googling body waxing products. I was interested in how its made and what materials are used to make hair removal wax. From there my curiosity grew. Once I found out and studied the elements used to create body waxing products, I started researching the who behind hair removal products. This is where things got very interesting. I couldn’t find one esthetician that made body waxing products. The supplies that were being used in my industry wasn’t being made or advised with licensed estheticians as a part of the process. This was the moment I knew that I found what I wanted to do and from that moment is when I allowed my passion for esthetics and knowledge as an educator to drive me to create Wax By An Esthetician.

The main thing that I want my fellow estheticians, licensed beauty professionals, and beauty students to know is that I am working to put the utmost respect on the license we obtain as beauty industry professionals. In my opinion, DIY should not be used for certain beautification methods. I strongly feel that body waxing products and supplies should be for professional use only. For that reason, we cater to estheticians, cosmetologists, and beauty students only. Our brand is exclusive to LICENSED beauty industry professionals (with the exception of students in beauty school). Our prices are priced fairly with consideration of the excessive price gouging in the industry of esthetics. We decided to price our products this way because we cater to new business owners, graduated and newly licensed estheticians starting out, and training institutions. I love teaching and providing information to emerging estheticians and beauty professionals seeking licensing. It’s an amazing journey and we have to control the narrative and respect our craft. I feel blessed that I have taken strides to not only educate in the filed of esthetics but now I’m providing professional products as well. I’m proud of were we are and what we will become.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back I would choose the same industry, the same profession and the same specialty, but I would choose a cosmetology license instead.

The reason why is because I would be licensed to do everything. Hair, skin, and nails. I know how to style hair, so I would have been able to hop to that side of education as well. I LOVE nail art, cosmetologist are licensed to perform professional nail services as well. But, its never to late to go back, and if I get a chance I just may do that.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge I feel that being open to suggestions, ideas, and different perspectives is extremely important to succeeding in the esthetics field. I feel this way because we deal with the public. A lot of times we deal with niche services and feedback from our clients and customers are an insight to how things look and feel to the consumer. Having a BOSS attitude and mindset doesn’t mean that you should do what you want and not consider other people. Remembering that working in the service/sales industry rather a business owner or not doesn’t mean that you have to be a know it all. We service people and if we take their thoughts into consideration mixed with our expertise, consumers will let us know what works and what doesn’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: waxedbyanesty.com
• Instagram: @waxedbyanesty
• Facebook: @waxedbyanesty
• Linkedin: Jenifer Vanderhorst
• Other: Pinterest: Wax By An Esthetician