SIX YEARS AGO, Tanesha Stow-Drayton decided to put away her architectural tools for good when she resigned from her job to pursue her love beauty.
“I started off doing face painting and air brushing. I always had the name B-Stow Beauty, then I went and studied aesthetics and medical aesthetics which I completed in 2012. At the end of that year, I opened a mobile spa where I would go around to persons and do the service. I had that from then until the end of 2015. [From] December 8, I have a fixed location on Belmont Road,” said the “artsy” and creative person.
The businesswoman, who told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY that she likes make-up although not the manicures and pedicures “so much”, noted that she wanted to get into the beauty industry and got the chance after seeing a woman at a popular mall handing out flyers for a school offering medical aesthetics and laser hair removal.
“Unfortunately, at the time she said the only way I could get into the programme was if I was an aesthetician or I would have to do the aesthetics course. I said ‘yes, I could do that’ because I would have something additional under my belt. I resigned from work, took a full year off and did the course which was almost a 10-hour day.
“We – me and three others – actually put in more time to get the certificate within that year because it was really a two-year programme. We got the certificate. There are very few of us in Barbados who are medical aestheticians and that is how I made the transition from architecture into face painting and into the aesthetics,” Stow-Drayton said.
The Manhattan-trained aesthetician explained that she got into the medical aspect because “everybody is doing the manicures and pedicures” and she found the laser treatments she offers “very interesting” given that she likes technology. And, with ingrown hair, constant shaving and excessive hair causing some people problems, she found it more challenging.
She also said that then Barbadians were not too familiar with the procedures and what she wanted to do was to offer what some consider a high end service to the average person, allowing him/her to reach another level of taking care of themselves without the expense of going overseas to be treated.
The aesthetician said she has not regretted her decision but as to whether there was a demand for her services, she was ambivalent.
“I would say yes and no. There are persons out there who would like to have it but they think that spas are offered only in the hotel industry catering for tourists. A lot of people would like their feet taken care of but they hear the prices and shy away from it.
However, once you have a good price and a good package and you’re actually giving persons value for their money, yes, the market is there.
“A lot of people say they would love their feet done or a nice massage but they always thought the price was too high but I’m not undercutting or trying to create a real big stir in terms of the prices that I offer…once my expenses are covered then I’m fine with offering the packages and having good prices for persons.”
The decision to open at a fixed location came after she realised how much equipment she had accumulated and how it was impacting on her ability to offer a client a particular service because she did not have something with her on that day.
Stow-Drayton noted that from inception to today, she has remained debt free and intends to stay that way. She is optimistic about her future and will take baby steps as she moves towards her goals of maintaining quality service great prices.
As B-Stow Beauty continues to grow her hope is to share her knowledge and help others learn how to perform procedures for laser hair and tattoo removal and microdermabrasion treatments.
She also aims to do more advertising and marketing about all her services inclusive of manicures, pedicures, waxing and massages currently offered at the spa by Rhea-Adieva Small, the aesthetician working with her, as well as increase the number of presentations she makes at offices and businesses.
She believes in herself and her ability and is thankful to her mother Linda Stow-Gooding and everyone who helped her reach where she is today. (Green Bananas Media.)