We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Morgan Nicole. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Morgan Nicole below.

Morgan Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Flash back to early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic reached Houston and I had a decision to make. I had a responsibility to my clients, and to myself, to evaluate the risk of continuing on as normal and what the consequences of that could be. Two weeks prior to the required lockdown on salons, spas, gyms, and other businesses and activities in my county, I sent out an email to my clients informing them that I would be closing my doors until we had more information on how I could properly accommodate clients in my space for everyone’s health and safety. Once health and safety guidance became more clear and a framework was able to be put in place, and weeks after the lockdown was lifted, I re-opened. There were many months where finding supplies was very difficult and I felt a responsibility to get this right. Many of the supplies and PPE that I use daily, even prior to the pandemic, were some of the same supplies needed for healthcare workers and caretakers who had already run out. The supplies that I had prior to the pandemic I had given away to frontline workers and those in need. I had nothing to re-open with. The services I offer, being an esthetician, created a unique problem. My clients would be unable to wear a face covering while receiving a treatment, as 90% of what I do daily are facials. It was unclear how my business would be able to function, if at all, after all of this. How my clients would react, how the world would change, nobody knew.

So, while closed and on lockdown, I got creative. My clients were amazing and kept me busy with virtual appointments and, with the help of my incredible dad and CFO at Morgan Nicole Skincare, we added product lines and revamped the online store, which became a windfall for my business and remains so today. But, something was missing. I missed my clients. It was heartbreaking not being able to see them in person. Hug them. Catch up with them. I think most can relate when I say this was a unique experience and for some, a harrowing one. The anxiety of going back to work was hard for a little while but my clients were thrilled that I was back and so was I.

Many of my clients, as well as most of the planet, were going through seriously heavy situations. Many were looking for any productive and positive self care routine or experience that helped relieve stress for them. Aside from helping my clients with their skin goals, there is a special transfer of energy during these types of services and until I took my own spa therapy appointments as seriously as I recommend my clients do, actually going and taking time for myself, I started to realize what I was doing for my clients was so much more than just treating their skin. I saw a quote once, and I wish I could remember who said it, but it read: “It was never just a facial.” I believe that and I know my clients do, too.

There are many days that I really do bring my work home with me. Be it my clients or loved ones, which are in so many ways one in the same, I oftentimes absorb what they are dealing with or are going through — things that I have no control over, no matter how much I wish I did. That is one of the hardest parts of my job. There are days where the weight and responsibility of caring for others is heavy. But, whether they know it or not, my clients, oftentimes just by seeing their faces, remind me how important the services I provide are to their wellbeing. They feel better, lighter, happier – and that means everything to me. I love what my business has been able to provide for people and the global impact of the pandemic has made this even more clear to me. We are social creatures, and the importance of human contact is truly vital to all of our happiness and wellbeing. Giving facials is a huge part of who I am. The humanity in all this is the defining moment. People took care of me because people need me to take care of them. And because of every incredible person who has supported my business, I can proudly say that since I founded Morgan Nicole Skincare and opened my doors, on my own in the treatment room and with the help of my invaluable father, Andy Bauman, Morgan Nicole Skincare, as of this writing, has grossed more than $1 million in sales.

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

I graduated from the esthetics program at Aveda Institute Houston on Valentine’s Day of 2014 with a very unfashionable fracture boot on my right foot because I tripped over a shoe and fractured my foot a week before graduation day. That was fun. A few months later, I took my licensing exams and officially became a licensed esthetician. My first job in my new field was at a local gym/spa with locations nationwide. While it wasn’t necessarily the best or most pleasant part of my journey, it remains an important part of who I’ve become and what I’ve built. What I took from that time in my life, the experience, was invaluable. I was hired on as the only esthetician in the building with no experience other than working with clients in the spa at Aveda. It was a great feeling. I did really well there. I was hitting sales numbers on my own, that before that point, the salon + spa had never seen before.

After a year of my time there, it became clear that it wasn’t an environment that I could grow in anymore and that I was ready for something more. I am grateful to the clients that I met and worked with there. I miss and think of some of them often. I am also lucky to say that some of them are still my clients today. Real-world experience is what I gained from my first job as an esthetician, and not just in my profession, but also in the corporate world, which I realized wasn’t for me. So, I started my own business.

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t working for someone else. I felt like I had an opportunity to take everything I had learned from school, my first job, and everything in between to create a space that was unique to me and could provide what I felt was missing from working in a corporate spa, at least in my experience.

I don’t think I’d ever been so excited and scared all at the same time. When I signed the lease to my suite, my dad and I joked that if it didn’t work out, I could just live there. Thankfully, it didn’t get to that point.

Now that I was the boss, I could home in on what I felt was important and make not only a unique experience for my clients. I was able to remove some services that I wasn’t passionate about or didn’t have much interest in. Estheticians are licensed to provide a wider range of services than people might think. A lot of estheticians decide to narrow in on certain services over others so that they can focus on and refine their skill in those areas.

I have taken medical laser courses, professional makeup artist courses, I have been licensed as an eyelash artist, but as I continued to explore my interest in all these services, I eventually narrowed them down and found where I excel and what I enjoy most. Skincare became my primary focus, and I also discovered that I’m obsessed with an amazing brow shape and tint transformation.

What sets me apart from others is the experience I work to provide. The lighting, the music, the pace, everything. The vibe. The details matter. In my experience, it’s hard to find a place that offers a combination of relaxation, products that work, and treatments that improve the health of your skin as well as educating clients on their unique skincare needs. My goal from day one was to provide my clients with something they can’t find anywhere else and that’s what I’ve done. I look forward to what’s next. My dreams and goals for myself and my business are constantly evolving.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

When I was a child, I wanted to be so many things when I grew up. I tried everything. I remember wanting to be a “store lady”, as my child brain put it, because pushing the buttons looked fun to me. I soon realized I would have to count a lot of change and so my horizons broadened from there. I have always loved people (and hated math). From a young age, I enjoyed having conversations with and learning from my parents, grandparents, and others with more experience, knowledge, and wisdom than I. There were then, and remain today, valuable things to learn from them. I greatly admire those people in my life as I know that their love, guidance, and support is a key reason for my success today.

As I got older and became more aware of how deeply I felt and absorbed others’ emotions and stresses, I struggled with how to manage it. I’ve learned that taking that on without knowing when and how to compartmentalize wasn’t going to help the people that I so badly wanted to help. I have by no means perfected this but I’ve gotten better at it than I once was. But I knew I needed to find a way to do this for people, to make the lives of others brighter for as many as I could. We all want to help people, make a difference in our communities and in the world, but it can feel impossible when you are only one person. However, with each day, I become more aware that no one expects me to be able to fix everything — even if I feel that that is my responsibility. I found a way to utilize my skills to maximize what I want to provide for people.

In high school, I struggled a lot and it showed. The inflexibility of traditional schooling was not what my brain wanted or needed. I desired very badly another option. At the time, I hadn’t really considered that there was one. I registered for classes at my local community college and it went exactly how I thought it would. I dropped out and had to figure out what was next. My best friend then and now, who, today, also owns her own business doing hair, was nearly graduated from her cosmetology/hair program, and starting her first job in her hair career. While I watched her go through the program, there was something about it that really interested me. The idea of having beauty products as school supplies—versus paper, pencils, and a calculator—sounded like the answer to literally all of my problems. I decided to tour the school with the intention of doing the esthetics program because of my interest in clearing and taking care of my own skin and with the hopes of learning more about professional makeup applications, which makes me laugh looking back, because the entire focus of what I do now is giving my clients the confidence to be seen without it. I was also open to the cosmetology/hair program and wanted to learn more about both before making my decision.

When I walked in, the bottom floor of the institute is the hair salon where students train on paying customers. The music was loud and upbeat, clients and students chatting and laughing through their appointments, cutting and coloring hair in fun ways and expressing their creativity in a way that really resonated with me. I loved the idea of spending my workdays listening to loud, upbeat music, hanging out with people, being creative, and getting paid to do it. Was this the program for me? Did I want to do hair?

Next on the tour, we walk upstairs to the second floor where the spa is. There was a door to the entrance to help block noise from the party downstairs. When I walked in, it was immediately clear that this was where I wanted and needed to be. It was quiet, but not silent. Waterfalls dripping and calming spa music playing. Dimly lit with the most beautiful blend of essential oils being diffused in the air. Everyone spoke softly, like they had an earnest and deep care for your wellbeing and the outcome of your treatment. I felt instantly calm, confident, and so eager to start school. I had finally found a program to learn a trade where I could be creative, study subjects that were interesting to me and, most importantly, where I could help people with their skin and confidence. I excelled in the program and graduated top of my class, receiving the 12-points-of-difference award at graduation. I never thought I would find my passion in life as early as I did as well as create a work environment for myself that gives me the option to offer the treatments and products that I am passionate about. Long story short, I am right where I am supposed to be. If I could go back, I would do the same thing all over again.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In the beauty service industry, it is so important to be yourself. Finding a new esthetician, hair stylist, nail artist, massage therapist, and so on, is a lot like searching for the perfect pair of jeans. You want it to be someone you vibe with and someone who understands what you are looking for. Nearly every client I have worked with either in person or virtually has been because of word-of-mouth referrals from my clients. I may be biased, but I get to work with some of the most incredible people. It is so important to me to provide a comfortable and safe environment for everyone — for all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds. Safe, inclusive, and free of judgment. I know I have accomplished making sure my clients feel comfortable when they show up to their appointments in a spa robe and slippers. But, seriously, for some, discussing skin concerns or even starting the process of addressing them can cause moderate or extreme anxiety. I am thankful for my esthetics teacher, who did an incredibly thorough job teaching us how to properly educate our clients about what to expect before, during, and after treatments, including one of the most important steps, educating them on how to properly care for their skin at home, making sure they felt empowered and confident in keeping the largest organ on the human body, our skin, healthy and maintained. Be yourself, be thorough, and give your clients the quality and care that you would be happy with. That’s what I’ve found to be effective in growing and maintaining my clientele. That said, not every client will be a good fit, but the right clients will find you if you provide them with a safe, open, and comfortable environment in both your physical workspace as well as in yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.morganicoleskincare.com
• Instagram: @morganicoleskincare
• Facebook: facebook.com/morganicoleskincare

Image Credits
Kayla Mills Instagram: @CreatedByKaylaa Website: createdbykayla.com