We were lucky to catch up with Maclaine Reeder recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maclaine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents are wonderful people, some of the best out there. Both being business owners, they have instilled many different traits in me that I carry every single day, but I think the most important thing they’ve taught me is determination. I grew up competitively dancing, and if you have seen “Dance Moms”, you know that it’s a very cutthroat activity to do as a growing kid. I faced countless auditions and classes where I was rejected over and over again, to the point where I thought that I shouldn’t keep trying at something I can’t win at. Enter Mom and Dad, they kept building me up and pushed me to keep going, and ended up being extremely proud of the time I had dancing. No matter the circumstance and no matter how you may feel about it… Keep going and the hard work and tears will most definitely pay off. I have used this mindset into my adult and professional life, and all I can say is that I am relieved that my parents didn’t encourage their child to expect outcomes and quit at the face of rejection. I love you Mom and Dad!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a practicing Aesthetician of 4 years, and I am absolutely in love with my craft. I perform all sorts of treatments like basic facials, dermaplaning, Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial, Hydrafacial, waxing… the list goes on and on. I am also proud to be Reiki certified by none other than Julie Nguyen, my role model since I was a little girl. With all of my certifications, my passion comes from tying everything I have ever learned into one experience for my clients. I hold extremely high expectations for myself and how I deliver differently for each person that walks into my treatment room, just to ensure that they feel taken care of physically and mentally. The mind body connection has been nothing but potent in my practice. I strive to hold a safe space for my people to either pick my brain, talk about life, or just melt and be in silence… We live in an interesting time, and I try to achieve a moment of calm in every service I provide, all while obtaining wonderful results. Our skin is our largest organ, and there’s no better feeling than having a guest see their skin for the first time post treatment, and seeing the confidence oozing out of their clean pores! I truly love what I do, and I love the relationships I have built so far being in this industry.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Attitude is absolutely everything in the beauty industry to me. My job as a service provider is to treat my client to their specific expectations, no matter what I have going on in my mind. Every single time I step into spa doors, I drop all of my baggage at the door so that I can focus on what’s really important in the moment… and that is holding a safe space for my people to find their calm. I have personally had spa services where I can just feel the negative energy spewing from my service provider, and it really does affect the treatment. It gives the client a sense of unease, forcing them to be cautious with their words and presence, and I find that extremely unacceptable. People book these appointments to not only relax and get away for a second, but to also reground themselves and to walk out feeling better than they did walking in. I always remind myself, if I would be put off by something in the treatment room, why would I do that to someone else?
Another note, being personable has single handedly been the reason my clientele has increased at the rate it has. Actually caring about someone’s day and their concerns has carried me to where I am today. I do not see my clients as a paycheck, just begging them to buy something for my benefit rather than theirs… I aid to exactly what they need and take note of how all other aspects of their life could affect their time with me, and I go from there.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Very early into my career, I had to quickly unlearn how to be a “yes” woman. I found myself giving my all to any situation I was thrown into no matter the circumstance, just because I wanted to build a “dependable reputation”. I was still attending beauty school and working a front desk position at the spa I was hoping to eventually practice my craft at. I wanted them to want me, so I helped with every little moving piece and even performed tasks that were out of my job requirements just to make it known that I was there to start a career. Little did I know, people will take advantage of this mindset. Being in a female dominated industry, a lot of behind the scenes drama can occur that is driven by ego… which is always taken as disrespect. I was very young starting my esthetics journey, and my age was always used against me… I was treated like I was stupid and didn’t deserve a voice, and was made embarrassed by several woman that were supposed to be my leaders in front of my clients. I quickly learned that when you demand the respect you deserve, you will either receive it or realize that a place/person is just simply not for you… and that’s okay.
I am still growing and learning every single day, and I always try to put my best foot forward with not only my clients but with my team. If we as a team are better, we will be better for our guests without compromising personal worth. We are all important, and everyone brings something to the table.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://babyfaceskincarespa.com/
- Instagram: @maclainereeder