Ashley Ford
Instagram: @fullmoonhealingstudio
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
How did Full Moon Healing Studio come to life?
Full Moon Healing Studio was born from both loss and transformation. In 2021, I lost my son’s father, who was one of the first people to truly believe in me and encourage me to pursue my dream of owning my own business. He always told me that I was capable of building something of my own and encouraged me to step out on my own as an esthetician.
He passed away during the full moon in March of 2021, and while navigating that grief, I found myself holding onto his belief in me. That loss became a turning point in my life. I decided to honor both his memory and the healing journey that followed by creating a space where people could come to care for not only their skin, but also their confidence, well-being, and sense of self.
In November of 2021, on another full moon, Full Moon Healing Studio officially came to life. The name serves as a reminder that even in our darkest seasons, there is always an opportunity for growth, healing, and transformation. What started as a dream has grown into a space where I get to help others feel seen, supported, and empowered every single day.
Your business blends skincare and healing in a really unique way. What inspired that approach?
The blend of skincare and healing came very naturally because it was born from my own personal journey. During that season of grief, I realized that healing isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, mental, and spiritual as well. As an esthetician, I was helping people improve their skin, but I began to see that so many clients were carrying stress, burnout, anxiety, and life experiences that were showing up in their skin and overall well-being.
I’ve always believed that skincare is more than surface level beauty. It’s selfcare, confidence, and taking time to reconnect with yourself. That belief led me to incorporate a more soul nurturing approach into my studio. Today, Full Moon Healing Studio combines advanced corrective skincare treatments with intentional healing experiences, creating a space where clients can feel cared for as a whole person, not just a skin condition.
My goal has never been simply to help someone achieve healthy skin. It’s to create an environment where they feel seen, validated, supported, empowered, and leave feeling better than when they walked in. That’s really the heart of Full Moon Healing Studio, healing the skin while nurturing the soul.
As someone who pours so much into others, how do you refill your own cup?
I’ve learned that I have to be intentional about filling my own cup. For me, that starts with protecting my mental health and making time for the things that help me feel grounded and restored. Sometimes that looks like scheduling a massage, getting my nails done, or simply taking a little time for myself. Living in a coastal beach town is also a huge part of how I recharge.
During the summer, you’ll almost always find me at the beach and in the ocean. Being near the water brings me a sense of peace and perspective that I can’t find anywhere else. I’m also a single mom, and my son and our two dogs are at the center of my world. Some of my most fulfilling moments aren’t glamorous at all. They’re the simple ones. Spending time with my family, being present, slowing down, and creating meaningful memories are what truly fill my cup.
I’ve realized that abundance doesn’t always mean being busy or constantly achieving more. For me, abundance looks like a peaceful life, meaningful connections, time spent in nature, and the freedom to build a life that feels aligned with my values. When I take care of myself in those ways, I’m able to show up more fully for my clients, my family, and my business.
What advice would you give to estheticians who want to create a brand that feels authentic to them?
My biggest piece of advice is to stop trying to fit yourself into a box of what you think an esthetician should look like, sound like, or be like. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you are not going to be the esthetician for everyone, and that’s okay.
When I first started, I felt pressure to fit a certain mold, but the moment I started embracing who I truly was, everything changed. I built my business around my own values, passions, personality, and the types of clients I genuinely wanted to serve. Authenticity attracts alignment. When you show up as yourself, you naturally draw in clients who connect with your energy, your approach, and your vision.
Those are the clients who become loyal supporters, refer their friends, and help you build a business that feels fulfilling rather than forced. Don’t create a business based on what everyone else is doing. Create a business that reflects who you are. Your uniqueness is not something to hide, it’s your greatest asset.
What are you most excited about in this season of your business?
What excites me most about this next season of my business is the growth and evolution that comes with experience. I’ve been in business for five years now, and throughout that journey I’ve made mistakes, faced challenges, and experienced plenty of trial and error.
Every obstacle taught me something valuable, not just about business, but about myself. As I’ve grown, I’ve become much more confident in my craft, my artistry, and my ability as a business owner. I trust myself more than I ever have before. I have a clearer vision for where I want to go, who I want to serve, and the impact I want Full Moon Healing Studio to have on my community. This next season feels less about proving myself and more about expanding on the foundation I’ve built.
I’m excited to continue refining my skills, creating meaningful experiences for my clients, growing my business, and embracing whatever opportunities come next. More than anything, I’m excited to keep evolving both personally and professionally, and to see where that growth leads.
What does being an esthetician mean to you beyond skincare?
Being an esthetician means so much more to me than helping someone improve their skin. At its core, it’s about helping people reconnect with themselves. As estheticians, we often meet people during vulnerable moments.
They may be struggling with acne, aging concerns, confidence issues, stress, burnout, or life transitions. While we provide treatments and education, we’re also creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and cared for. For me personally, being an esthetician is the perfect blend of science, artistry, and human connection.
I love the corrective side of skincare and helping clients achieve real, lasting results, but I also have a deep passion for brow artistry. Brows may seem like a small detail, but I’ve seen firsthand how shaping and enhancing someone’s brows can completely transform the way they see themselves. It’s one of the most rewarding forms of artistry because it has the power to instantly boost confidence and help someone feel more like themselves.
What means the most is watching a client look in the mirror and see themselves differently, not because I’ve changed who they are, but because I’ve helped them recognize their own beauty and confidence. I believe healthy skin can be transformative, but I also believe the experience matters just as much. Every treatment is an opportunity to help someone slow down, practice selfcare, and remember that they are worthy of investing in themselves.
Being an esthetician has given me the ability to combine healing, education, skincare, and artistry into one career. It’s an honor to be trusted with not only someone’s skin, but often a small part of their confidence, self-worth, and healing journey as well.
