Among the many beauty trends that have been born from and swept across the western world, there is the underlying understanding that the health of your skin can’t be hidden in-person.
This is particularly true in today’s era where the trend is to wear minimal makeup as a means to enhance, not hide, your face (A.K.A. the ‘no makeup makeup look). With this came an increased demand for expert estheticians who could care for and aid in the transformation of their client’s skin.
The problem? Melanated skin can’t be treated the same as non-melanated skin, but most of the esthetic training does not address this issue. Licensed esthetician Amy Tatum, founder of Tatum Skin in Inglewood, is part of the solution.
“Just because you are an esthetician doesn’t mean you can handle all skin tones,” she explained to the Sentinel.
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“Not even all Black estheticians know how to take care of Black skin. I’ve taken outside classes to learn because in school, we’re not trained. But the majority of people who I serve are Black women, and I take that seriously!”
In the three years of owning Tatum Skin, Amy has served more than 175 clients, with nearly one third of those being monthly returning members. She provides whole-body waxing, facial services including dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, nano needling, and chemical peels, and sells multiple skincare products online.
While she loves it all, she has an affinity toward facials, noting, “They have my heart because with waxing, it’s instant. With facials, it’s slow, hard-earned progress,” she remarked.
At the end of 2023, Amy decided to become a full-time entrepreneur for her business. While she did enjoy the stability and surety of being an employee, there was a lack of connection she felt with her clients through rules and policies enforced by larger corporations.
“Sometimes we had 10 minutes between clients and had to sell products. I felt very rushed and stressed. Really, I felt like a salesperson,” she recalled.
“Now, clients have my number, they can pick my brain…sometimes we talk the entire 60 minute facial. They feel comfortable, and that is what makes people return.”
As Amy explained, the most rewarding aspect of being an esthetician is seeing the progression in her clients. Not only is it physical, but it’s also emotional to her.
“It’s exciting and it makes me emotional when people get their confidence back,” she said. “That’s what gets me – transforming skin.”
Book a consultation with Amy by visiting https://www.tatumskin.com/
