Christi Bordé - From Travel to Esthetics: Crafting Personalized Skincare at Skin Ritual Studio
May 15, 2024
Alimond Studio
Ever wondered how one leaps from the world of travel and tourism to mastering the art of esthetics? Christi Bordé, the entrepreneurial force behind Skin Ritual Studio, joins us to recount the captivating journey that led her to find her calling in skincare. She unveils the education and decision-making that went into establishing her own thriving business, navigating through the challenges of selecting top-notch skincare lines, and managing the nitty-gritty of administrative tasks. Listen close as Christi delves into her shift towards a more client-centered approach amidst the pandemic, and her strategies for connecting with clients in the intimate setting of her studio at Sola Salon Studios in Loudoun Station, Ashburn.
In a world where social media trends can dictate skincare routines, Christi stands as a beacon of personalized advice and professional guidance. Our conversation highlights the critical importance of understanding your skin’s unique needs and the potential pitfalls of following online fads. Christi also shares her vision for expanding Skin Ritual Studio, adding new talents to her team, and ensuring every client walks out feeling their absolute best. Plus, we unravel the significance of peer support and community in the entrepreneurial landscape, proving that the path to success is paved with collaboration and determination. Tune in for an inspiring session that's as much about skin deep beauty as it is about the beautiful journey of chasing your entrepreneurial dreams.
Ever wondered how one leaps from the world of travel and tourism to mastering the art of esthetics? Christi Bordé, the entrepreneurial force behind Skin Ritual Studio, joins us to recount the captivating journey that led her to find her calling in skincare. She unveils the education and decision-making that went into establishing her own thriving business, navigating through the challenges of selecting top-notch skincare lines, and managing the nitty-gritty of administrative tasks. Listen close as Christi delves into her shift towards a more client-centered approach amidst the pandemic, and her strategies for connecting with clients in the intimate setting of her studio at Sola Salon Studios in Loudoun Station, Ashburn.
In a world where social media trends can dictate skincare routines, Christi stands as a beacon of personalized advice and professional guidance. Our conversation highlights the critical importance of understanding your skin’s unique needs and the potential pitfalls of following online fads. Christi also shares her vision for expanding Skin Ritual Studio, adding new talents to her team, and ensuring every client walks out feeling their absolute best. Plus, we unravel the significance of peer support and community in the entrepreneurial landscape, proving that the path to success is paved with collaboration and determination. Tune in for an inspiring session that's as much about skin deep beauty as it is about the beautiful journey of chasing your entrepreneurial dreams.
Speaker 1:
My name is Christy Bourdais. I have Skin Ritual Studio and I am a master esthetician, so I do mainly fully customized facials, dermaplaning treatments, peels, some waxing, but I specialize in skin and skin care. And where are you guys located? I am located at Sola Salon Studios in Loudoun Station in Ashburn. Oh nice.
Speaker 2:
Close by. Yeah, tell me a little bit how you got into this. Well, let's see, have you always been into skin care and skin routine?
Speaker 1:
Actually, yeah, so about 24 years ago I started. I went to school for skin, but before that, let's see, I can remember since I was in grade school, I was doing that four-step clinic skincare routine.
Speaker 2:
So the clinic one that we all have.
Speaker 1:
Yes, yes, yes. So I went to school for actually travel and tourism. So I worked for the airlines. I've worked in hotels, restaurants, and then I just decided that that wasn't for me. And I was working at Banana Republic at the time and my friend said hey, christy, I know you love getting facials. There's a school near my house in Vienna. And I went and checked it out and that was it.
Speaker 2:
So I fell in love yeah. And I've been doing it ever since. Cool, tell me a little bit about what your schooling experience was like.
Speaker 1:
I mean it was school, yeah, which I've never loved school, but it was pretty short. I mean it was like a four month program at the time. That was in 1999. So, um, it was pretty quick. I went full time and then got my license in Maryland, actually because they didn't have Virginia licensing at the time for aesthetics. So interesting.
Speaker 2:
I wonder why they didn't have that.
Speaker 1:
Um, I don't know, but then I was grandfathered in, which was wonderful, yeah, and yeah, so, and how about?
Speaker 2:
what led you to opening up your own business?
Speaker 1:
That's a long story, but I'm here for COVID, you know. I mean everything changed with COVID. My salon that I was working at MediSpa actually that I was working in at the time closed for several months and then when I went back, I just started to feel very complacent and kind of like at this point where I thought, okay, I either need to think about doing something else or need to light a fire and make some changes. So I went to a plastic surgery office and worked there for about five months and remembered that that type of environment wasn't really for me. I love and I'm all about results driven treatments, but I like a very soothing, relaxing, peaceful, non-sterile environment. I want my clients to come in and just feel very at home, like they can fully relax and feel totally pampered but also walking out looking and feeling amazing.
Speaker 2:
Looking amazing, yeah, and you felt like that wasn't true in a plastic surgeon's office.
Speaker 1:
Again, it was the environment. Okay, it was a little too sterile for me and my clients because they were used to a different environment.
Speaker 2:
So, yeah, so, um, yeah, so after COVID, you decided well, after I was there.
Speaker 1:
I a lot of my friends, especially hairstylist friends, had gone to these places like Sola Salon Studios and open up their own business. So I thought, well, my friends who are single moms are doing this. If they're doing it, why can't I do it? So I thought what's the worst thing that can happen? I'm going to give it a try and it took off.
Speaker 2:
Wow.
Speaker 1:
So, yeah, I felt very lucky, I took off, it took off and I was, I guess you could say, blessed to have amazing clients that followed me and reconnected with me and, yeah, my business has really grown.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, since then.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
What challenges did you face when opening your own business?
Speaker 1:
Well, I was terrified. I just I felt very nervous, thinking overwhelmed, really, because there's so much that I've never had to manage before You're trying to find the space. Yes, so had the space, that was the one part that I had, but I had to decide which skincare I wanted to bring with me. That was one thing, and then just all of the admin stuff that I never really had to deal with has been difficult.
Speaker 2:
Do you have a whole new appreciation? I do.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I absolutely do. I mean, I really just want to take care of my clients, but being a small business owner, you can't do that. You have to do a little, you have to do everything.
Speaker 2:
I do a lot of laundry, a lot, so yeah, yeah, hopefully clean laundry or no one's dirty laundry, right Just?
Speaker 1:
laundry all day long.
Speaker 2:
What are you doing as far as advertising and marketing to get people in the door?
Speaker 1:
Well, I have an awesome social media person who helps me and we just try to do some social media regularly and I have gotten, I would say, a lot of business from the real ladies of Loudoun County and so that's been great and I'm much appreciative of that. And then I would say, mainly word of mouth.
Speaker 2:
So people coming in and referring you?
Speaker 1:
Yes, and I started a referral program, so hopefully that incentivizes clients to tell their friends and send them to me.
Speaker 2:
You said you had some other mom friends that were opening businesses as well. Was there somebody that kind of guided you in the right direction or that mentored you on how to do this on your own?
Speaker 1:
Yes and no. I mean you'd be amazed at how busy everyone is that has their own studio, for example, at Sola Salon Studios, everyone is so busy that there's not a lot of time for chit chat at all. So, which is great, but, um, I don't really feel like I've had just one mentor. I a lot of my reps um, for is clinical and Lyra clinical have helped me a lot. Uh, reaching out to other estheticians that have their own business has helped other estheticians that have their own business has helped.
Speaker 2:
So using the people around you to learn and to grow from Right right and learn from their mistakes and what's working and what's not working.
Speaker 1:
Yes, and just being part of different organizations, that kind of all, just kind of talk to each other and you know, whether it be on social media or what, you just try to find support groups that you can connect with yes.
Speaker 2:
What do you find most rewarding about what you do? You have a big smile when you talk about your clients.
Speaker 1:
Most rewarding, I would say, is just at the end of the day, when I feel like I have made my clients feel amazing and beautiful and relaxed and, you know, guide them in their skincare routine and help them to see different results that they were concerned about, whether it be hyperpigmentation or acne, hyperpigmentation or acne just seeing them feel good in their skin and happy makes me feel happy. Yeah, it's always a good feeling, right when?
Speaker 2:
you have a client that walks away happy and looking great and then refers you to somebody else.
Speaker 1:
Yes, and of course I'll do what I can for them. But I'm always happy to refer out when it's outside of my scope of practice, whether it be for injectables or laser treatments. Um, I, I do try to refer out to several different um nurse, nurse, injectors and whatnot. Yeah, and just try to yeah, have a good sense of community. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And so you started off. When you started your own business, you started off at Solo Salon, renting a space. Tell me a little bit about where you're going now with your business and your new space.
Speaker 1:
Yes, okay. So I have been at Sola since November of 2021, actually, so hopefully, fingers crossed, at the end of the summer, I'm going to be moving into a much larger space, a standalone space in Ashburn, so five minutes from where I am now, and I am expanding. So I'll be hiring other estheticians and a front desk person, hopefully someone who can manage me, help me manage my life.
Speaker 2:
We all need a little management. We all need a little.
Speaker 1:
I'm super excited about that, but also, of course, I'm nervous because expanding is scary, but I I feel like I've outgrown my space. So, yeah, it's gonna be nice to just have, it's gonna be really nice for me working with people again, meaning co-workers, because, you're, I've really missed independent right now. Yes, I'm independent, but I've really missed having a team to work with. I feel like I do better in that situation where you know we bounce ideas off of each other and just being together and throughout the day and laughing. Support each other, yeah, support, total support. Yeah, that's so important.
Speaker 2:
Their client was so great, you know or sometimes there might be a challenge that you can work. You can bounce off each other, Right? It's always nice to have co-workers. Yeah definitely, Definitely. What have been some of the challenges in opening a new space again right, Can you do? You feel like you're starting from scratch on some things, I mean yes, so that part has been really difficult.
Speaker 1:
I shouldn't say difficult, I should say very challenging. You know, you have to do a build out to make the space your own, and that takes money and patience and I don't need to air all my dirty laundry out here but just trust me when I say it's been a lot.
Speaker 1:
Support from friends, you know, coworkers, clients, community is everything. I can't even express how important that is, because if you're a small business owner, you know that there are many times when you feel very alone, you feel scared, like why am I doing this? Am I doing this? Is this worth it? Of course it's worth it, but just having support from people is everything.
Speaker 2:
Everything. Yeah, what advice would you give to somebody trying to open up a small business in this area? To somebody trying to open up a small business in this area. Do your homework, do your research.
Speaker 1:
Do your research for sure. Try not to jump in too deep at first. Right, like, I feel like the solas of the area Phoenix Salon Suites, sola Salon Suites I can't think of the others, but yeah, and those I don't think that a lot of people would go out on their own if it wasn't for those places, because you feel like, okay, yes, it is my business and I am by myself, but I'm also surrounded by like-minded business owners. Right, you know, you don't have a storefront and it's easier to take that step to do that, because I would have never done it if I hadn't had a place like that to do it. I mean, this wasn't always my dream. I never thought. I always wanted to just say, okay, I'll go to work, take care of my clients, which I love to do, but then when I leave I don't really have to worry about anything.
Speaker 2:
Right, someone else can do all that admin work, of course, and I mean at the time, I was a single mom, so that's a lot.
Speaker 1:
It is Taking care of your kids and doing your thing, but it's a lot of different hats to wear. Right, but I fell. I fell into this and I just decided to go for it and I'm so glad I did. But definitely my advice would be also just making sure that you have a really good support system, a network of people that you can talk to and, you know, bounce ideas off of and vent to and and maybe someone's been through something that you're going through and can help.
Speaker 2:
Right, right, right, definitely. Tell me a little bit more about your services that you offer, like, specifically what kind of skin treatments do you offer, because I'm curious to know, so I'm sure ours would be Okay.
Speaker 1:
So I mainly offer fully customized facials, so I call it. My ultimate ritual is my 75-minute, and then I just added a two-hour facial and I can't remember what it is.
Speaker 2:
It's a little bit longer.
Speaker 1:
So it's a two-hour experience that just includes anything and everything that we need to do, plus lots of extra pampering I've just recently added like a hand and foot scrub, and you know, just for extra pampering. But I do dermaplaning. I work with a couple of amazing lines Is Clinical and Lyric Clinical that allow me to fully customize my treatments. I'm kind of like a little scientist. You're on the table and I'm a little scientist back here just mixing and fully customizing your treatment for whatever you need.
Speaker 2:
Based on their skin, whether it's dry.
Speaker 1:
Yes, because I really don't like cookie cutter treatments and I feel like just from listening to what clients get confused about is when they have to make a choice of which facial they think that they need, Because they'll say well, you're the professional, you tell me what I need. So I thought let's just make this easy and do fully customized facial, Because if you book a facial four to six weeks ago and then you come in, is your skin going to be the same as it was then? So we have to change it up based on what your needs are.
Speaker 2:
And do you guide people through the aftercare and skincare? Definitely, cause I know for me, I never know. I'm like, should I put vitamin C on? Should I put retinol on? We talk a lot.
Speaker 1:
So, um, I try to, of course, allow you to relax when you get quiet. I'll get quiet during the facial, but I really try to educate my clients and listen to their concerns and kind of guide them on what would be appropriate for their skin and their skin concerns. I'm sorry, what was the question?
Speaker 2:
Oh no, you're good, no, just guiding through the skincare, the aftercare.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I do try to educate a lot.
Speaker 2:
At least at my age. We are just slapping on so many different things and crossing our fingers and hoping it works.
Speaker 1:
Well, and the problem with social media, tiktok, all of those is that everyone has an opinion and everyone's a, you know, an experienced professional, which is not true. A lot of people are being paid to make suggestions on what they think that you need for your skin, but it's just because someone has beautiful skin on social media does not mean that that product works, that that product is going to work for you. So that's always. My advice is basically just find someone that you trust, build a relationship with a skincare professional that you trust that gets to know your skin, and try not to go through these late night midnight TikToks and start buying stuff online Because next thing you know you're going to have a drawer full of expensive products that don't even work for you.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and it's probably. We probably don't even need half of them, right, right.
Speaker 1:
Right and that yeah, that's another thing. It's like I'm going to help you design a skincare routine that works for you. If you want to keep it super simple, I'm going to suggest to you the key products that you need to just keep it simple but yet get the results that you're looking for.
Speaker 2:
Yes, and have a nice natural glow.
Speaker 1:
Right, yeah, I'm all about the glow.
Speaker 2:
Yes, Smooth, even skin tone yeah. So you're opening up your new space soon. What others are you going to be adding more? I know you're looking to hire. Are you going to be adding more treatments and more services?
Speaker 1:
Well, I will have a massage therapist working with me, which is wonderful. At the moment, she and I share a lot of clients. She's amazing. I'm not going to say her name right now. It sounds like a good fit. Yeah, it's a great fit, and let's see. Like I said, I'm going to hire one or two more estheticians who can kind of expand things and kind of take over some of your responsibilities.
Speaker 1:
Yes, have a team so that I can focus more on more time where I'm able to reach out and reconnect with clients or follow up with them if they've come to see me. I really try hard to do that. I wear many hats during the day, so I do my best to follow up, but I want to have How's this going?
Speaker 2:
How are your results?
Speaker 1:
Yes, and what are your concerns? Or how can I help you, how can I guide you? I don't want people to feel like, when they leave me, that's it. I'll see you in a month or two. I want them to feel like they can reach out to me at any time, rather than going on social media or Google and trying to figure it out for themselves. Right, yeah, I want to be there for them.
Speaker 2:
So you continue that customer service far past the services.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I want to. I try to. That's good, but I want to be better at that. Yes, well, we're all a work in progress right.
Speaker 2:
We realize when something's not working, it's time to change it. Exactly Right, yeah, and reinventing the wheel a little bit, yeah. Are there any last parting words you'd like to leave us with? It can be business advice, life, a mantra that you live by. You talked a lot about not being scared to jump in.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I mean, I have learned so many lessons over the past couple of years, I don't even know where to start. But I think, don't feel like you're alone ever. Reach out to people, connect with people. I think that what I've discovered is that so many other business owners are actually going through the same thing and the same feelings that I have. So you don't have to feel like you're alone. You can connect and talk and I feel like you'll find that that makes you feel so much better. But again, I think that when I'm able to connect with other people, it re-energizes me. Not that my clients don't energize me, because I'm so lucky. I really do have the best clients in the world. Yeah, it sounds like it. Yeah, there's not one client that I wish would disappear. That's a good thing. Yeah, yeah, so um, but I think it's just making sure that you have a good support system is so important when you're a small business owner or if you're considering going out on your own, yeah, and I like what you said about reaching out.
Speaker 2:
I think that's always an important when in doubt, reach out.
Speaker 1:
Yes, right, yes.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, don't quit. Don't quit, reach out, keep going. Yeah, keep going, learn and grow. You got this, you got it. Yeah, well, you've got this direction. Things are going for you. Thank, you so thank you for being here today and sharing your story. Thank you so much for having me, it's a pleasure.
