Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Dial.
Hi Courtney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been into the “beauty world.” When I was young, my mother started modeling for Millie Lewis here in Greenville, SC, and sold Mary Kay Beauty Products. The pink Cadillac was such a thing back then. So because my mom was deep in the beauty world, I was always messing around with her makeup, playing with different hairstyles, or even mimicking her “model walk.” Although my mom wanted to be in front of the bright lights, I fell most in love with the behind-the-scenes action–helping other women find the true beauty within themselves, whether that be by applying their makeup or finding the perfect skincare regime to fit their skincare needs, that’s where my true passion for the beauty industry dwelled for me. However, this took me some time to figure out about myself. I graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2005, and shortly after, I got pregnant with my oldest son, who is now 16. My dreams of helping women find their inner beauty were put on hold. I started working at a local manufacturing company, Cryovac Sealed Air, where I found stability and made great money, yet something was profoundly missing for me; my true purpose in life because I couldn’t see myself staying in this same place for 30 years. Life has a funny way of surprising you with some major curve balls. I unexpectedly got pregnant with my second son, now 11, in 2011; I was 25 years old.
I decided that I wanted to settle down and raise my children. I gave up my dreams and made peace with it. That was until a friend of mines asked me to do her makeup for a singing audition. I said, “Girl, I don’t do makeup anymore.” But she knew I would still play around with makeup looks on myself and insisted on me doing hers for this audition, so I obliged. And man, am I glad I took a chance on myself because the makeup look was a hit!! That was it! That was the passion I sought, the instant gratification of helping someone with beauty. That was and is God’s plan for me; it makes me feel fulfilled. After that experience, in 2014, I attended my first makeup school in Atlanta, GA. I obtained a Master’s Certification in makeup application, which was all she wrote. I decided to go further with this “feeling,” I wanted to offer more than makeup because some women wanted to feel beautiful in their natural skin. I knew I had to eventually choose between pursuing my dream full-time or staying at this job for 30 years. In 2016, I made my choice and placed all beats on me and my dreams.
I walked out of my job of 10 years in June of 2016 and never looked back. I wanted to put some backbone to my makeup career, so I attended Southeastern Esthetics Institute in July 2016 and completed my esthetics license by that November. Fast forward to 2019, I opened up my very own med spa. Fast forward to today, I am now purchasing the same building where I opened my first spa studio and have 8 tenants. Now, that’s the short of it all. There were some highs and very lows along my journey, but the spiritual growth I’ve experienced and the pleasure of meeting some fantastic souls make my entrepreneurial journey worthwhile. This keeps me motivated, and being able to see myself in a light that I never knew existed, sets my soul on fire.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I am unsure why entrepreneurship is glamorized nowadays because this shit is the hardest thing I’ve ever done- the most rewarding yet the hardest thing I’ve ever done. One obstacle that no one can truly prepare you for is the shift in your mindset to be more open to growth. You don’t know what you are truly made of until you are forced to grow. When you are put in very uncomfortable situations, and you have to learn how to pivot when trying to scale your business in the middle of a pandemic–mind you, I had just built the foundations of my business in 2019. Another challenge I found to be the most important is not to compare yourself to anyone else or be afraid to let go of certain situations or people who can not be a part of your entrepreneurial journey. That’s tough. I’ve had to learn that this is my journey and calling mines all alone, and I cannot expect everyone to understand the cost of my success or the sacrifices. Growth and success sometimes come with a high price, and I am talking about more than just money losses again; everyone cannot grow with you along this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of House of Skin Aesthetics. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
House of Skin Aesthetics caters to the skin from within. That’s my motto. I specialize in all grades of acne, hyperpigmentation, and acne scarring. I offer other services such as makeup, waxing, and lashes, but my top service is my acne boot camp. I am a Scorpio girl, so I dwell in the mysteries of life–I love a good challenge. Acne requires me to find the problem’s source to yield long-lasting results. I hate that the beauty world can be so superficial sometimes. As I have learned within these 6 years of being an esthetician, the skin is our largest organ, and you must address the root cause, as the skin’s health is derived from within the body. So I don’t only address skin from an external standpoint. You must address the person as a whole, understanding any health or nutritional deficiencies contributing to the skin issues. I have a team of medical providers to who I refer clients so we can get a complete look at what the skin and body are saying, especially if a hormone imbalance is present. I don’t care what products you use or treatments performed. You must address the root of what’s happening because products and treatments can serve as only a bandage. This truly sets me apart, and my clients love me because I require them to change their thought process of what healthy skin means and looks like from the inside out.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
I highly recommend professionals new to the esthetics world or thinking about becoming an esthetician ask themselves what their niche would be. And are you indeed a people person? Understand that the aesthetics world is unnecessary. The pandemic taught me that. But find a way to become irreplaceable to your clients. Take the time to master your craft and stay open for self-accountability and change. Don’t chase money; if you master your craft, the money will flow freely. Chase, what sets you on fire? Would you do this with proficiency if you were not getting paid? I wish I had known the power of financial literacy earlier in my career. I wish I had known that I would be working more and how important it is to have mental health check-ins with yourself. For newcomers, find authentic mentors who inspire you to grow and focus on your spirit of discernment. It’s essential to distinguish between growing pains and the struggle of doing something that’s honestly not meant for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofskinaesthetics.com
- Instagram: house_of_skin
- Facebook: House of Skin
- Youtube: House of Skin Aesthetics
Image Credits
Jatoya Lanisha–Branding Photographer
