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

Katie , appreciate you joining us today. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?

The Aesthetics field is constantly evolving and growing, 15 years ago most people didn’t even know what an esthetician was, now there is waitlists to get into aesthetic programs. It’s amazing to me to see the growth and I feel very fortunate to be an industry leader in such an amazing field. When I started in 2007 facial aesthetics was the starting point, then lashes and eventually permanent makeup. They all have a place in this field and the great thing about aesthetics is you can pick and choose what suites you as a provider, what gives you joy and what creative outlet you want to pursue. The options are endless and if you want to be a jack off all trades like me then you can! My only advice is to really hone in onto different aspects and give yourself time to grow into those skill based services slowly before moving on because there is so much to know with each niche and the longer you do it the better you are and the more understanding you will have. I spent the first 10 years doing facial aesthetics using different products, modalities etc along with lashing. The first 5 years classic lashing and the next 5 volume lashing. I still do all of that on my existing clientele but the last 5 years my passion project and skill set into the permanent makeup world has been my main focus. I now do Brows, Lips and Lash Liner. Ongoing education is key to success in this industry. I’m constantly growing and learning new techniques to be able to provide the best service. I really take the approach of treating everyone as if they were me. What would I want done? What would I look for? Treating people how you would want to be treated is true customer service in my book. All of my staff is trained in house by me as well as by other well known providers in the industry. Knowledge is power and getting that from people you look up to is so important for professional growth.

Katie , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve always been a hard worker but coming out of high school and into college, like many I was unsure of the career path I wanted to take, working was always something i enjoyed and sitting in school all day.. Not so much! I loved the idea of being in a trade, being able to work while going to school as well as getting to be hands on right away. That’s what filled my cup. My mom helped guide me in aesthetics as an option and it was all uphill from there. It’s a great feeling when you find what your good at but it’s a lot of work to build your skill set, find your style, find your people. It takes time but with hard work, patience and dedication it comes and it just makes you want to work harder. Over the years I’ve worked with many professional lines, had a lot of product knowledge and as things have evolved found my brands that represent me and my likes and values. I now have a collective space with multiple providers that offers a wide range of services from different types of facials, peels, lash/brow services, permanent makeup, waxing, special occasion makeup and medical services such as Microneedling, Injectables etc..
I think what sets us a part from others is the amount of care we put into each service and client. We don’t rush through things, we are properly trained, use only the best quality products and really try to always provide an exceptional service whether your just getting your brows waxed or your getting them tattooed. The same care and effort goes into everything we do. We consult our clients, get a good feel for what they like, what they need and take all of that into consideration before providing a service or recommending a treatment or product.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Surrounding yourself with good people within your personal and professional life. You need cheerleaders in your life. People that support you and encourage you to be better.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Management is not easy especially the bigger you get and the more your business grows. I just try my best to make sure my employees are heard and supported. Making sure there is open communication, trust and understanding. It’s a relationship after all.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artobeautyboutique.com
• Instagram: @theartofbeautyboutique
• Facebook: The Art of Beauty, Aesthetics Boutique

Image Credits
Photos by: Shannon Daughtery