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Community Highlights: Meet Alysa Cameron of Bare Esthetics

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Alysa Cameron.

Alysa Cameron

Hi Alysa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was in high school when I first envisioned a place specializing in eyebrows. I was getting my hair done and had drawn my eyebrows in to help my hairstylist know where I wanted them waxed. Then, I thought how cool it would be to have somewhere that just focused on eyebrows. My senior quote that year was, “Don’t worry about me; worry about your eyebrows.” Fast forward to graduating from esthetics school, where I found a passion for waxing eyebrows and body waxing. I loved making others feel confident and safe when they were in a position to feel vulnerable and judged. It is so rewarding to know that you can be someone’s safe space and help them gain confidence.

 
After graduating, I worked a few places and realized there needed to be somewhere that prioritized the client and the staff. Waxing can be so personal, and I wanted clients to have a place they felt was clean and upscale. There was a need in the industry for high-end waxing spas. I wanted estheticians to have a place to work where they didn’t feel like they had to do it all, somewhere they could leave work at work while still building their careers and making a living. I started my business at 18 and was able to open my own storefront at 22.  I have worked in the treatment room 6 years this year. In those 6 years, I have built a book booked 4 solid months out and managed to build a fantastic team. I took my entire team to Beverly Hills, CA, in April of 2023, where we could all learn from celebrity brow artist Kelley Baker. That trip was one of my most rewarding, full-circle moments. It was something I had saved for and wanted to be able to provide for my staff. It was such an honor to learn from Kelley; it was the second time I could learn from her, but I learned after that trip that I have it. I can teach others just as well; I needed to have that confidence in myself, which I was able to gain by going on that trip. We are still in the growing phases, as Bare just completed its first year in November 2023, and in 2024, I am finally diving deep into the world of education.
Every day presents a new challenge, but I am determined to create change in the beauty industry, and that determination gets me through every obstacle. If it were easy, everyone would do it, and I don’t want to do it; I want to do it right. I want Bare to be a pillar in the beauty community, showing others that you don’t have to take from others to get more, you don’t have to cut quality to meet cost, you need to do what is right, and when you do what is right, the right thing will always happen. My faith plays a huge role in my success. I have been through a lot in my personal life, as have many others, but those trials and tribulations have shown me God’s goodness and glory; to give you insight, my dad was murdered my junior year of high school, I had a stillbirth 2 years after and a miscarriage the year after that. All of which I have allowed God to use for good in my life, thus building me into the person and faith I have today. I work extremely hard, and God always meets me in the middle. I trust that he will open the right doors for me and truly believe in my heart that I will be successful simply because he is on my side, and I am willing to do whatever work needs to be done.
I am adamant about my routines and discipline. Greatness starts in the mundane tasks we do every day; by doing these tasks to the best of your ability, you are setting yourself up for success in the bigger things. This can be making your bed in the morning, doing your laundry, cooking dinner, etc. Whatever it is, I do my best to treat it like it is one of the most important things I’ll do that day. I wake up at 4:30 am every weekday, work out before work, and eat a full breakfast. I do all I can to set my mind and body up for the best day. I pay attention to what I read and listen to and the people I surround myself with. Doing this has astronomically changed my life and business. It has allowed me to build confidence in myself and my abilities and take complete control over my life.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are new challenges every day; Any business owner will tell you that. My biggest struggle has been starting from nothing, trying to turn this into something big, and learning to manage others. When the brand is as big as I know it will be, the struggle will be worth it. I believe in investing more in your employees and business first rather than trying to make short-term profits. This is hard when starting without outside help, but I believe and know it will be worth it. The bigger my team grows, the more trust I have to have in others, and that has been very challenging for me. Every employee isn’t going to be a forever one, and every person isn’t going to do things the way you would. If you know you are doing what you think is best for everyone, you deserve to give yourself grace and treat each obstacle as a lesson. We can learn something in every situation, no matter the outcome.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bare is the Upstate’s First Luxury Waxing Spa. We specialize in brow shaping and Brazilian waxing but offer all body waxing services. What sets us apart is our attention to detail and how we cater to our clients. We always go above and beyond and put our money where our mouth is regarding quality. I am the most proud of how my brand has established itself as a high end in such a short time. As a team, everyone does so well maintaining a specific level of professionalism and giving luxury service; I couldn’t be more proud of that. I want the readers to know that you do not have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, or be ashamed to come into Bare. We are inclusive to all and pride ourselves in being people you can trust and someone you enjoy seeing each month. You will only step into Bare if you get a warm welcome or feel comfortable. Every client is treated special, and every staff member goes above and beyond to implement this, no matter who you are. If you want to try waxing but have been nervous, see us! We would love to give you the full, elevated wax experience.

What’s next?
I have so many big plans and dreams. My biggest goal is establishing Bare as a brand and getting our name out there. I want Bare to have an endless waitlist from clients and those who want a good esthetic career. I want everyone to want to know about Bare and feel like they have to be a part of what we are doing. My 5-10-year plan is to have 2 more Bare’s in bigger cities and to open an upscale beauty school. Our industry isn’t taken seriously, and one of the big reasons for that is our schooling. My goal is to change that by one day opening something high-end and allowing the students to leave with all the tools they need to have a proper career within our field. These goals may change over the years but have remained solid on my vision boards for the past 2 years. I want Bare to be big and make changes in our industry, not only in Anderson but in the world. To some, that may seem far-fetched, but with the faith I have and the work I am willing to put in, absolutely anything is possible.

Pricing:

  • Brow Shaping – $30
  • Brazilian – $60
  • Brows + Brazilian – $85
  • Underarms – $30
  • Brow Lamination – $105

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photos by: Photography by Casey Blackwell

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