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

Yulia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Being an office employee in the international companies for over 13 years gave me a broad spectrum of experience, but also a clear understanding I want to work on myself and have my own business. I’ve been an immigrant who just came across the other side of the world to Los Angeles with lots of dreams, no exact plan, and a passion for helping others. On top of that, I was a licensed beautician and took lots of seminars and trainings in my country, so it gave me an idea I want to keep going with my beauty career in the USA. First thing first – all the paperwork and needed licenses should be in place. Start with something small. Start doing what you like little by little, till you have people’s reactions and positive feedback. The skincare and facial business in Los Angeles is not an easy thing to have and manage. It’s a lot of competition, you need to keep up with many things, plus be always super nice and gentle with everyone around. I don’t recommend renting a big space or buying expensive facial machines to start with. First, you need to find your passion and what you are good at. It could be a small niche in your business division. For example, I have always been passionate about natural skin rejuvenation, body mechanics, inner body processes, etc. It brought me to Facial Massages and got me to the point where Im not only performing them on my clients but also teaching others. But when I just started I never even thought about it, I was just doing what I loved and the rest came. When you start your business- Always make sure you are advertising your services on social media, Google Maps, etc Never save money on promos and advertising, as it makes your brand more popular and brings clients. Also make sure you are educating yourself all the time, and keeping up with tendencies and future technologies. Better to have a mentor and someone who is already in your business. To start your practice you need to be ready for ups and downs, different sorts of clients, any many more. Also great to have a good support and some savings as well. Don’t risk with everything you have, start slowly but surely, and keep it up. One day your efforts will be paid off.

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.

My journey to skin care and facial treatments has been started many years ago when I was living on the other side of the world. My mum was a huge fan of natural facial masks, herbs, oils, organic remedies. After I left my parents’ house I started to be affected by a severe eating disorder, which I was struggling with for 15 years of my life. It caused serious damage to my health, skin, and my face appearance overall. So little by little I’ve started to learn self-massages and other techniques to improve my skin and body, which brought me to the way to gain my official beautician license in Moscow. I’ve realized I can be helpful to people with all my background and knowledge. After I moved to the USA over 5 years ago I’ve realized that here women don’t know more than just to inject Botox or fillers in their faces, which initially makes them look not only older, but less healthy. Me being passionate and well skilled in facial massages, GuaSha, lymphatic drainage, very famous nowadays Buccal massage, face yoga, facial taping, and many other forms of natural skin rejuvenation, I’ve opened my facial studio where we’re practicing not only regular facials (haha there’s nothing about a regular facial here); but incorporating all those natural modalities into the skin rituals for my clients. People are getting more and more aware of Botox, as it’s a toxin, and also about the numerous downside effects that might occur after injectable treatments. So I’m here to show that natural skincare solutions are also working noticeably. Face contouring massage, Buccal massage, Myofascial massage, etc – no matter what modality we’re talking about- it aims at the deeper level of the tissues. While most facials cover the superficial areas, we work on facial muscles, fascia, ligaments, lymph flow, and even bones! It helps to gain more stable and natural results, especially if done consistently. I’m proud to be the part of holistic skin world and facial massages. It made my business grow and define from other facial places. Here in Esthetics.LA we working not only with faces, we working with trapped emotions, stress, anxiety, trauma. Many times I’ve been the evident how client bursts into tears right after or during the session. It gives the feeling of total relaxation, floating, and lightness not only in the facial structures but in the whole body and mind.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

Absolutely! I have no hesitations, being a holistic esthetician is a very rewarded job. It’s not an easy job and takes a lot from the technicians on all the levels- physical, emotional, mental. So you’d better love what you’re doing :) What I would do differently? Probably would take another degree in Chinese medicine and accupuncture. But it’s never too late, I always dreaming of creating the perfect way of natural medicine which could treat not only the outside, but inner world as well.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

First of all you need to be passionate about what you’re doing. If you’re working for money- quit. It’s not going to work out. You should be happy to do that for free, and if it still makes you happy – it’s your thing. I think it’s important to define the niche in what you’re really good at, and keep honing your craft. Also a good mentor is a must. Someone who’s not only sharing their knowledge and skills, but also support you in the bad day. You need to have a faith in yourself, your hands and your craft. That’s how clients come for your energy and vibes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://esthetics-la.com/
• Instagram: esthetics.la
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Esthetics.la?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Esthetics-LA