We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiondra Henderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tiondra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

First of all, thank you all so much for the opportunity to share with your audience! I really appreciate it.

One of the most important things that I’d known previously, yet became engraved into my heart all the more while working at my previous job was, “People over money”. Yes, I want to make money. I have to make money, as a wife and mother of 5 little ones, ya know? I have a family. However, my clients are not just a number to me. They too, are my family. Humanity should always trump business. That’s just my personal belief. Yet time and time again while working for my previous employers I found myself having to almost go to war to advocate for my clients, and at times, other employees. From fraudulent charges, to the way that they were spoken to/of by the owners, to just not giving loyal customers grace in times of need.

I remember one time I’d serviced this lady for a full face wax. She was a little worked up when walking into the room. When I asked what was wrong, she proceeded to tell me about how the person at the desk (the owner) told her that she hadn’t had an appointment with us. Instead, she had accidentally booked at another location, owned by the same owners, and also in Raleigh. It was, in my opinion, a simple mistake. She’d googled and called the wrong location. That could happen to anyone!

“I don’t know how that happened, but I know I didn’t do that. I don’t even drive on highways,” she said. This woman was 73 years young. I remember seeing her adult diaper as she placed her things down before lying down on the treatment table. “I’m on a fixed income, but they said that because I booked it I have to pay,” she said. I apologized and confirmed that that was the policy, however that I would talk to them after the service. Ya see, they were not only going to charge her for the service at the other location that she’d accidentally booked at, but also for the service she was receiving. I was disgusted. A hundred dollars. I thought, “If someone did this to my great-aunt (that raised me), I would be HOT!” They ultimately paid me no mind, and charged her anyhow.

I often think of that lady. While I ultimately couldn’t help her, I carry her with me as I walk throughout my business. One thing I know with absolute certainty is that no client I’ve ever serviced can truthfully say I didn’t treat them well, and with integrity and grace. It is a pillar to building connections and a successful business. Yes, I have policies that protect both me and the client. But there have been times I’ve waived fees simply because the client was loyal and I knew their heart. You get to know your clients. You know when someone is flaky and trying to wrongfully avoid fees, and you also know when something is completely out of the norm for a client. “You made an honest mistake? No worries, you’ve supported me and my business in a respectful & professional manner, and so I’ve got you covered.”

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?

So, as you stated earlier, my name is Tiondra and I’m the owner of Modest Lengths- a wax studio located in Durham’s Southpoint area, minutes away from the mall.

I always tell people that waxing chose me, lol. From as early as I can remember, I’ve always loved makeup. I used to play in it all the time, and wear it as soon as I was allowed. So, as life went on, I would do my friends and sisters makeup for events. Eventually that grew into me wanting to become a bridal makeup artist. In 2017, after yeeears of searching, I finally discovered a local school that had an esthetics program so that I’d be a LICENSED makeup artist and thus taken more seriously. I went to school with the full intention of being an elite artist, offering things that other artists weren’t. When I enrolled, I learned we had to perform Brazilian waxes as a part of the curriculum. “BRAZILIAN WAXES?! WHO is doing THAT? NOT ME!!” Lol. That’s what I thought. I remember even second guessing going to the school, but I eventually convinced myself it was just 6 months and I’d never have to do another. Joke was on me, because I ended up falling in love with waxing! I was good at at. Again, it’s like waxing chose me! I went on to work for a large chain, and in my opinion, on a corporate level, the best one in the industry. However, due to the toxicity at the local franchise, I resigned in January of 2023 and opened my own wax studio in February of 2023- Modest Lengths.

At Modest Lengths, I offer hair removal services in a spa-like environment! I specialize in Brazilians and intimate area waxing. I also offer, full body waxing, as well as brow and lash enhancements, such as tint and hybrid dye. In addition to services, I carry pre/post wax products for all skin types and conditions related to waxing. From dry skin, to skin experiencing hyperpigmentation. Have more of a holistic lifestyle? There are products for you as well.

Undoubtedly, what will forever set Modest Lengths apart from any other wax studio or chain is my sheer love for what I do and who I do it for. I believe that if you live to deposit positivity in those around you, and you care, I mean truly care about the services you provide, well then you’ve got “it.” You’ll be successful. Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” It is my goal to make sure every client feels, seen, heard, valued, and SMOOTH!

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

While clients would never know, truth is I’m an introvert still overcoming social anxiety brought on by being a stay at home mom for 9 years. Recently, while picking up my order from San Jose Mexican Restaurant in Brier Creek, I noticed a table of ladies dining on the patio. I spoke in passing as I hurried inside to grab my food. While inside, something kept badgering me to give them my business card. I tried to shake it, because it was an uncomfortable take. I was supposed to walk up to a table of 8-9 ladies and say what?! I was cringing. I walked pass them to get into the car, and before my husband could put the car in reverse I told myself “If you don’t do this, you’re gonna regret it later. Just do it.” So I placed my food down, reached in my purse, and grabbed a small stack of my cards. I walked up to fence of the patio and said, “Hi ladies! I don’t wanna be awkward, but I just opened a wax studio in the Southpoint area and I wanted to just give you ladies my card.” One lady looked at me like she’d seen a ghost as the others all started looking at each laughing in shock. “Were you eavesdropping on us?! I literally was just telling them how I just had the worst wax experience of my life! You heard us, didn’t you?!” I hadn’t. I too was shocked at the timing of it all. I’m so glad I listened to that voice that day. Some people call it intuition, I like to call it the Holy Spirit. As creeped out as the lady was, it served as a lesson to myself to never be afraid to put yourself out there. You never know what the outcome may be.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I recently read the book “We Should All Be Millionaires” by local entrepreneur, Rachel Rodgers. Hands down one of my favorite books I’ve read since starting this journey! Rachel’s take on changing your mindset when it comes to money is one that sticks with me. She not only talks about changing your thought patterns, but also making decisions and setting boundaries within your life/business. While I am very much a person that likes to research before I take on an endeavor- and so there’s a lot I know as it pertains to the health of my business- reality is I don’t know it all. And I never will. So I like to take in content from those that have already journeyed beyond where I currently am. Be it the same industry or not, I often find that the principles are all the same and there’s always a lesson to be learned along the way when you’re open to growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: modestlengths.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: @tiondrahenderson
• Facebook: Modest Lengths Wax Studio

Image Credits
Photography by Ava Henderson