Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinna Blugel.
Hi Corinna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been in love with makeup and skincare since college — but, like so many young people, I ended up going to school for something completely different.
I’d never really considered beauty school an option, opting instead for the classic 4-year college experience. Flashing forward to a few years later, after moving to Charleston, I saw a billboard for a local beauty school while driving down the highway. Cheesy, right? Who actually pays attention to those? But it stuck with me. I decided to follow my passion and finally go for it!
I LOVED beauty school. It felt completely different than the university I’d attended. I was engaged, happy to participate, and eager to learn. I quickly learned that it wasn’t just makeup and skincare that I loved — it was making people feel seen, heard, and beautiful.
I was an employee for four years before I started my solo waxing business. While I loved the salon I had been working for, the connections I made, and all of the practical skills I learned along the way, there was little room for upward mobility. Although there is DEFINITELY something to be said for “leaving work at work,” and allowing yourself to turn off your work brain until your next shift – I was feeling unfulfilled. Until that point, I had never once imagined myself as a business owner (I have not a “leadership” bone in my body, lol). But I began to imagine what my career might look like 5, 10, or 20 years down the road and wanted to tweak the outcome a little. I wanted to play a bigger part in shaping my future.
I began taking clients in a tiny, 100 sq. ft. suite as a solo esthetician in September of 2021, where I was so lucky to have the support of so many friends, family members, and clients. It was SO scary at first and challenging at times, but Wax Poetic has grown into something of which I am truly proud. I was even nominated for Best of Charleston for Best Waxing Salon for 2023! I’m so excited to have moved into a much larger space of my own this January and have been able to add more services, like permanent jewelry, to my menu. I’m so excited for the future of Wax Poetic and for continuing to make Charleston look and feel beautiful!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Becoming a business owner has required a complete change in mindset from me, but I think it’s been for the better. It sounds a little “woo,” but I’ve been thinking, living, and running my business as if my mindset and the energy I put into the world directly affect my life and business — and I really think it does.
It’s taken a shift in thinking, operating from a mindset of abundance and growth rather than one borne of desperation and lacking. I see so many salon owners spending time comparing themselves to their “competition” and looking at clients as if they’re a scarce commodity. Instead of looking to my “competition” for guidance, I look to my own goals and know that I have the capacity and skill to achieve them. I feel so much more at peace trusting that what’s meant to come, will come.
That being said, there were definitely a few times during the first few months when I questioned if I’d make the right decision to go out on my own. Leaving guaranteed income and clients, and suddenly having a million other things dumped onto your plate just to keep your business running — it’s a scary transition, but SO rewarding if you choose to see it through.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in full-body waxing for both men and women. It’s my bread and butter, with Brazilian waxes being my most popular service! I also offer vagacials, brow shaping, laminations, tinting, and lash lifting and tinting. In March, I started offering permanent jewelry as well! It’s been a blast to learn about another industry and be able to offer my clients something new, fun, and unexpected.
My favorite part of my job is the connections I make with my clients. My priority is creating an environment in which everyone is comfortable and encouraged to be themselves. I’m proud to be an LGBTQ+ safe space, and I love my wonderfully diverse group which has been able to call Wax Poetic their home for waxing and beauty services. I like to think of my appointments as a collaboration between my client and myself — if you need a hype woman, I’ve got you. If you need a shoulder to cry on or a secret keeper, I can be that as well. And after all of it, you’ll leave feeling beautiful!
How do you define success?
Success can be so subjective! Someone with different life experiences might define success much differently based on their values, passions, and goals than I would. But, as a person who spends much of my time taking care of other people (and pets, lol), committing time to build my business — something that I built by myself, for myself — has felt like a success.
Having the flexibility to spend more time with my family and friends feels like success. Being able to go on vacation without feeling guilty feels like success as well. I like to think of success as part of the journey, and it can absolutely be broken into bite-sized pieces. I don’t see it as a destination; rather, it’s the journey and the growth that happens along the way.
Pricing:
- Brazilian: $60
- Brazilian + Vagacial: $100
- Brows: $20
- Brows + Tint: $40
- Permanent Bracelet: $65+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.waxpoeticbeauty.com
- Instagram: @waxpoeticbeauty
- Yelp: https://s.yelp.com/5ZTmVyS1GW
Image Credits
Alexandra Rostad
