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

Tashay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

I remember getting my first real client like it was yesterday. I had just launched my esthetics business and was nervous but excited to finally put myself out there. I made a simple post on social media showing a few before and afters from my training, and a woman I’d never met messaged me saying she loved my work and wanted to book a brow appointment. I couldn’t believe it someone who didn’t know me trusted me with her face.

When she came in, I gave her my all, making sure her experience was relaxing and professional from start to finish. The moment she looked in the mirror and said, “I love them!” I felt this rush of pride and relief. That first dollar wasn’t just money, it was proof that my dream was real, that people saw value in what I created. It lit a fire in me that still pushes me today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Tashay McDowell, and I’m a licensed esthetician, international brow artist, educator, and the owner of two salon suite spaces ,Polished Salon Studios and Polished Aesthetics Studios in Merrillville, Indiana.

My journey began with a simple passion for helping people feel confident in their own skin, and over time, that passion grew into a global brand. Today, I specialize in luxury skin and brow services and own Polished Brow Cosmetics ,a professional product line featuring fan favorites like Polished Brow Freeze and Luxe Henna.

Beyond the treatment room, I’ve taught and mentored thousands of aspiring brow artists both in person and online. Education is at the heart of everything I do, and I take pride in helping beauty professionals elevate their craft, confidence, and business.

As a public speaker, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel the world sharing my story and teaching beauty entrepreneurs how to build profitable, purpose-driven brands. What truly sets me apart is my ability to combine artistry, strategy, and mentorship, inspiring others to reach new levels of success.

Polished isn’t just a brand; it’s a standard. It represents excellence, empowerment, and growth. My mission is to continue helping beauty professionals around the world step into their potential and create the careers they’ve always dreamed of.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A big pivot moment for me came early in my journey, just a month after I had rented my salon suite. I was in a position where I had to make a huge decision either let things fall apart or take full responsibility and step into ownership myself. At that time, I realized that without my suite, I didn’t have a business. Everything I’d built depended on that space.

So, instead of giving up, I took a leap of faith and applied to take over the salon. It was scary because I had never planned to become a salon owner that soon, but I knew it was the only way to keep my dream alive. That decision completely changed the direction of my career. I went from just renting a suite to leading and managing multiple salon suites creating opportunities not only for myself but for other beauty professionals as well.

That moment taught me that sometimes a pivot isn’t a setback ,it’s an elevation in disguise.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience on social media by showing up consistently and being authentic. I shared my real journey , the highs, the lessons, and the behind the scenes moments of building my brand. I focused on creating value through education and inspiration for other beauty professionals, not just posting for likes. That honesty and consistency helped me grow a loyal, supportive community that truly connects with my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://polishedbyshayy.as.me/schedule/f0d82a79?fbclid=PARlRTSANrWzNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABpy3zlZU6JhhRScdcBWQr5SDwCpKmhohKec3BKitjIXixijMe2U3-YAsuavW8_aem_qKardXYg3tuje3cT3E410Q
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polishedbyshayy?igsh=eXhvMW5panBwbXV5&utm_source=qr