We were lucky to catch up with Justice Melvin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Justice , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I wanted my business name to mean something deeper beyond the obvious, stand for something but I also knew I wanted to honor my late brother somehow. After my brothers sudden an unfortunate passing, I had a moment where I knew it was time to take control of my life because it had never been clearer to me that life is too short. I embarked on a new journey, going back to school resulting in becoming a NYS Licensed Esthetician and opening up my own Esthetics Business called Alfa Beauty Esthetics. I struggled for a longtime going back and forth between potential names but they all had the same problem in common, none of them really resonated with me. I kept in my mind that I knew I wanted to honor my brother, Alfonso. After some back and forth thinking and begging my brother in my head to help me pick a name, something literally just popped in my head, Alfa Beauty! I began to look up the meanings of Alfa and to my surprise it instantly resonated with me as I read further. The first thing I saw was it could mean First-born, which my brother was exactly that. To makes things even better, the next thing I read was that Alfa also means new beginnings or the start to a new journey! My mind was blown and from that moment I knew I had FINALLY found my business name.

Justice , 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?

As a teen growing up and even into adulthood I struggled with my weight and severe acne. I remember always feeling uncomfortable in my skin, my whole face just being inflamed and irritated and I would be in so much pain from it. Of course, the countless bullies didn’t help but after years of trial and error and just figuring it out along the way, my hard work and dedication began to finally show. I knew I wanted to help others feel beautiful in their own skin and I knew just the way to do it! I now offer services for woman AND men to help them achieve their skincare goals. From in-depth customized facials, to hosting Spa Parties for group celebrations or just enhancing your natural beauty with some lash extensions, I offer a wide variety of services for all of my clients to enjoy. I help my clients build an at home routine to achieve their skincare goals also keeping in mind not to break the bank. I find it so hard to find quality, affordable esthetics services so I decided to offer Luxury Esthetics Services for an affordable price.

I believe what sets me apart from others is the fact that I’ve actually been there and have struggled with acne and being judged so I know exactly how it can affect ones mindset and overall state of well-being. If I can make my clients journey just a little easier, then I have done what I set out to do. I used to doubt myself for being an Esthetician with scars on my face. I thought no one would ever trust me because my skin isn’t “perfect”. Once I changed my mindset, clients followed soon after because sometimes you just need to change the narrative. Instead of doubting myself I changed my view to how far I’ve come in my own skincare journey and how much knowledge I have built up over the years. Very few know that Acne is actually a Skin Disorder and is often passed down through genetics, meaning most times it is out of our control. With Alfa beauty, we help with preventative measures for acne and maintaining healthy skin.

I am most proud of being a MOMpreneur, as I like to call it. Motherhood is hard enough let alone taking a huge risk, going back to school and opening up a new business but it also inspired me to continue to show my daughter that you can do anything you put your mind and heart to. My business came about by me finally doing something for myself and in turn I can help others! Self-care is essential to living a happy and healthy life and in a world that is filled with constant trials, stress and pure chaos, sometimes you just need to put yourself first! Take that first step to self-care with Alfa Beauty. We are a body positivity/inclusive establishment and a safe haven for all. I believe wholeheartedly that you must pour into YOURSELF in order to pour into others. Our mission here at Alfa Beauty Esthetics is to guide you to being the best version of yourself.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I was in the Hospitality/Food & Beverage industry for 10+ years before becoming an Esthetician. I actually have my degree in Culinary Arts as well as my Bachelors in Business Entrepreneurship. I realized that I was working so many hours and going days without seeing my daughter because I was already out of the house before she woke for school and not back home until late hours of the night, often sometimes getting home at 1, 2 or even 3 o clock in the morning. It was taking a toll on my body and mind. I am all for hard work, I prefer it actually but not at the cost of myself, family or personal life in general. I began to realize I was putting in so much work and hours and sacrificing for a company that could honestly care less about me and my well-being as they continued to show me time and time again. I thought to myself, why put all these hours into building someone else’s company and dreams when I can put all my hard work into my OWN business. From that point on, I began taking steps towards achieving my own goals and dreams. I make my business work for my family and I, and I have never been happier!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth! Word of mouth marketing will always be my favorite and superior in my opinion. I feel it gives a more authentic feeling rather than just reading about something or driving by something. I think when you hear from somebody who sounds passionate about a business they recommend, it gives you that feeling of “Wow they really like that business, I should go check them out”. I see it as a live review being given and I make sure all of clients are satisfied with their results before leaving. As quick as word of mouth can build a business up, it can also quickly tear a business down, so I keep in mind to always pride myself on exceptional customer service and being results-oriented.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Alfabeautyluxe.com
• Instagram: Alfabeautyesthetics
• Facebook: Alfa Beauty Esthetics

Image Credits

Tyra Vandyke