Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to McKenzy Windham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
McKenzy, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
I specialize in hand tweezed eyebrows. The assumed methods for eyebrow shaping are waxing or threading, many aren’t even aware that hand tweezing is an option. I choose this approach because it allows for precision while maintaining the integrity of the skin. I can control the direction in which the hair is removed so that when hairs grows back, they aren’t shooting in all directions from being manipulated incorrectly (which causes more maintenance and effects fullness over time) I maintain full, elongated, natural looking brows that compliment each persons facial structure and hold that structure over time and through different phases. I work with clients on growing out their brows, shaping, tinting to enhance the color, and filling in with makeup for a boost. There are no trends for brow shapes- makeup, yes- but the eyebrows are the framework to the face, my job is to enhance that structure, not change it.
McKenzy, 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 am an esthetician and makeup artist that specializes in the art of hand tweezed eyebrows. I work with what hair you have while visualizing what potentially could grow and coach you on how to grow out to achieve the best possible shape. I’m committed to an all-natural approach to beauty and love working with individuals to achieve a look that makes them feel their best. If you asked me what my dream job was as a little girl, it’d take me no time to respond, “make up artist!” I was eager to follow in the footsteps of my mom and other family members that were beauty professionals too. After giving university a try, I quickly followed my heart to beauty school, and the timing crossed with amazing opportunities where I was fortunate to work with industry leaders and perfect my craft. I was 19 when I hit the ground running, and four years into my career, I took a leap of faith to go on my own, and started Arch Over Iris. After a few years, I phased makeup off of my service menu and exclusively offer eyebrow services. I continue to educate people on the benefits of the hand tweezing methodology and plan on sharing my expertise through training opportunities in the future with other beauty professionals.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Overworking has been an extremely difficult habit to undo. I come from a family of very hard workers and learned from other professionals who operated the same way. “Busy” had almost become part of my personal brand. Long hours, full books, rushing around- little time for myself but all the time for others. I was on a fast track to burnout and believed that to be success. It wasn’t until different health issues manifested that I started to make some changes. Now, I have boundaries. I don’t over-extend myself by giving up my breaks or extending my day. I make sure to eat, stretch, go outside, snuggle my pupp or meditate a couple points throughout the day. I take time off, without forcing myself to overwork leading up to and following. It’s so easy to self-sacrifice as a business owner, but I’ve learned the hard way that its never worth it. Success thats built on self-sacrifice is not sustainable. Hustle isn’t the only mode of operating- Rest is GOOD. Saying no is OKAY.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
To avoid getting into too much detail, let’s just say my last move was a crazy one. Fortunately, I had already been working on finding my own studio space but the salon I was renting a booth at pretty much fell apart over night. Every single employee left and I was not locked into my next lease yet. I had a few weeks of fully booked days and no where to work. I assessed what my options were and settled on setting up shop in my apartment, as it was located only a couple of streets down from my next space. I set up my on-location chair in my kitchen, praised my giant windows for the perfect lighting they offered and pivoted into a work-from-home situation. I require a head rest for my clients to rest their head on during their service, and made due with my refrigerator serving that purpose. Thank god for my amazing (and flexible) clientele. They rolled with it and even enjoyed the experience so much they said I should just stick with the refrigerator set up! I ended up being able to move into my space early, and it all actually worked out beautifully but, I was certainly relieved to have a real chair (and a real head rest) once I was fully moved in!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styleseat.com/mckenzywindham
- Instagram: @archoveriris
Image Credits
Camille Adriane Photography Rudy Arocha Photography