Sara Weber
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 10-year Esthetician
Follow: @shedwaxbar
Where are you from and how long have you been an esthetician?
I am from Myrtle Beach, SC. I have been a licensed Cosmetologist since 2013 & an Esthetician since 2014.
How long were you an esthetician before you started your business?
I've been in this industry almost 10 years! I worked for a wax center called UltraSkin Wax Center from 2014-2019. I moved to Vegas & worked at a smaller company for a few months before moving home to work for my old company, that was bought out by Brazilian Wax by Andriea, a year. I went solo August of 2021! So, I worked for other people about 7 years before going completely solo!
Now that you're established, what advice do you have for new estheticians starting a business?
It might sound silly & may not be the most “professional” advice but just learn who you are & truly lean into that. I have found myself so much throughout the 10ish years. Once I went solo, I really leaned into being my FULL self. I’ve truly never been happier. My clients feel they know me better & know what I stand for. Who I am is my brand! So when clients meet me for the first time or I meet people out & about they know I’m Sara & I own Shed Wax Bar. It’s the most out of body experience but I love it & I feel so lucky!
What's your favorite part about owning your own business?
Being able to share my life with my clients & visa versa is for sure number one. Some of my clients have been with me from the start or close to it. Having people that have been there & have watched me grow as an individual is so special. These people have watched me become an adult! I think any waxer or beauty professional would agree. I get to see all my best friends everyday I step into the suite. My clients are there for the good & bad & visa versa. I also get to meet people just like me. I take a lot of pride in sharing my past traumas through my platform & how they might have changed the path a little bit but they didn’t stop me from moving. It’s no secret if you follow me, I talk about how I was sexually assaulted at 19 & in an abusive relationship at 21 & how that lead to me to drinking. I have clients come to me for the first time saying that felt I was a safe space because I am so open about that. I have clients that have opened up to me over the years about similar things they went through or if their kids have experienced similar things. We talk it out & it’s so incredibly special to me to play a part, no matter how small, in someone’s story.
When choosing products for your business, what do you look for in a company (red flags and green flags)?
Oooo this is a good one. I honestly didn’t sell retail specifically for the first year of being solo because I had no idea where to start. My first product to sell to my clients was from Just the Strip! Tawnya is a true earth angel! She’s a small business & she cares SO much about the products she puts out & even more about the relationships she has with her retailers. She’s on the bucket list of people I want to meet, for sure. I also retail Lady Peng for the same reasons. Shes another HUGE would love to meet! What I look for the most is, how does the owner act towards the industry? Does it seem like it’s just a money grab or do they actually care? Do they sell to big retailers or just estheticians directly? That’s what I love about Enso so much! It’s for the Estheticians made by an Esthetician! Kirsten really hit the nail on the heading saying how we are in the treatment room. We know what we need & want!
What are your predictions for your business a year from now?
I have SO MANY IDEAS! I really want to focus more on merch & growing that side of my business. I have so many ideas going through my brain I have a hard time organizing them sometimes. I am manifesting working more with Enso because I love you guys so much! I cried when Kirsten asked me to be on the hard wax testing panel. Talk about imposter syndrome but I’m so happy to be here! I can’t wait to give Kirsten the biggest squeeze at IECSC. I never know what to expect any more if I’m being transparent. The possibilities are endless & I’m just so lucky that I was brave enough to get on the ride!
What's your favorite quote, song lyric, or anything that keeps you going as an entrepreneur going through the motions?
Oooo I actually have this tattooed on me, shocking I know. “Live life with oh wells instead of what ifs” you never know unless you try, right?! If it doesn’t work out “oh well” & keep moving. It’s better than saying well “if what” I tried it!
