We were lucky to catch up with Lakia Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lakia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Growing up, I never had the chance to experience parties as a child, but I’ve always been a girly girl at heart. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of having a daughter to share special moments with, like spa days and beauty fun, but life took me down a different path. That’s when I realized I could channel my passion for creating joyful experiences in a new way—by starting a mobile children’s spa service to give young girls the kind of magical, pampering experience I always envisioned.

I launched Beauty On The Go with the mission of making girls feel special on their birthdays and creating unforgettable memories. It’s not just about the beauty treatments; it’s about giving them a unique, joyful experience filled with fun and laughter. Each smile, each moment of happiness reminds me why this work is so important. I know firsthand how meaningful it is to feel celebrated and valued, and now I get to share that with others, one glittery makeover at a time.

This mission is deeply personal for me. By bringing this joy to other families, I feel like I’m fulfilling the dream of the moments I always wanted to have. It’s more than a business—it’s my way of making a difference, giving kids the chance to feel special, confident, and beautiful on their most important days.

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 Lakia Johnson, and I’m 38 years old. I have two amazing sons, and for over a decade, I worked as a phlebotomist in the medical field. However, last July, I made the bold decision to leave that career behind to fully pursue my passion: running my business, Beauty On The Go.

The idea for this business came to me when my older son, who is now 19, was just 5 years old. I remember sitting with my sisters at my mom’s house, and we came up with the name “Beauty On The Go.” It started as an exciting idea, but life got in the way, and I didn’t pursue it seriously for years. However, in 2019, I decided it was time to finally bring my vision to life. I took a leap of faith, used money from my 401(k) to buy the supplies I needed, and launched a mini photoshoot at my aunt’s house to promote my new business. From there, I started offering mobile spa services at homes and hotels, setting up spa-like experiences for young girls.

In 2021, I upgraded to a bus, which allowed me to provide a full spa experience on wheels. Now, I have a physical location in addition to the mobile service, giving my clients the option to visit us or enjoy our services at their convenience.

At Beauty On The Go, we offer both mobile spa services and a location-based experience, providing children with a unique and unforgettable celebration. Our mobile spa comes to you, creating a fun, pampering environment where young girls can feel special, confident, and celebrated. Additionally, our permanent location offers different stations where kids can enjoy a variety of activities and services, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.

What sets us apart is not just the spa itself but the passion behind it. As a mother, I’ve always dreamed of sharing these moments with a daughter, and through my business, I get to create magical experiences for other children.

We offer an array of fun, creative DIY beauty products such as DIY slime, DIY nail polish, DIY lotion, hand soap, sugar scrubs, lip scrubs, and fragrances. Our services also include mini manicures, makeup, yummy yogurt facials, pink robes, and much more. Whether through our mobile spa or at our physical location, we focus on creating lasting memories and bringing smiles to every child’s face!

I’m proud of the journey I’ve been on, from the early days of dreaming about this business to the reality of running a thriving spa service that puts smiles on so many kids’ faces. My goal is to create lasting memories and make each child feel truly special on their big day.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Upon opening the store location for Beauty On The Go, I encountered several unforeseen circumstances that required me to pivot. The original plan was to open in September, but a series of unexpected challenges caused delays, pushing the opening date to February. During that time, I felt hopeless, scared, and unsure if I could move forward. The support I had anticipated wasn’t there in the way I had hoped, and it seemed like all odds were stacked against me.

At one point, I questioned whether I could truly follow through with the plan, but a small, powerful moment changed my perspective. While sweeping the store one day, I noticed something shiny on the floor. When I picked it up, I saw that it was a piece that had the word “faith” engraved on it. That moment was a sign for me—a reminder that God was in control, even when things felt out of my hands.

Here we are, months later, and I’m blessed to say that not only did I open the store, but things have gone well. That period of uncertainty taught me resilience and the importance of trusting the process, even when the path ahead isn’t clear. Through faith and determination, I was able to overcome those obstacles, and now, I’m proud to see Beauty On The Go thriving.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I’ve had to unlearn in my journey with Beauty On The Go was how to properly manage money. Growing up, I was never taught about managing finances, whether personal or business, and those habits carried over when I started my own company. At first, I had a bad habit of mixing personal and business finances, which led to losing money and not managing it properly. I didn’t understand capital or how to reinvest strategically into the business, and I found myself dumping every penny I made back into the company, which only strained it further.

Learning to separate personal and business finances was a critical shift for me. It took some hard lessons, like realizing that poor financial habits were holding my business back. I’m still learning about capital and better financial practices, but now I’m more aware of the importance of managing money in a way that allows the business to grow without creating unnecessary stress. It’s a journey, but these lessons have made me stronger and more intentional in how I handle my business finances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beautyonthegospabus.com
• Instagram: Beautyon_thego
• Facebook: Beautyon_thego
• Youtube: Beauty On The Go Kids Spa
• Yelp: Beauty On The Go

Image Credits

Stephanie Cotton