Today we’d like to introduce you to Chauntae Hammonds.
Hi Chauntae, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
After graduating from UTSA and starting my career as an Educator, I quickly decided that teaching was not for me. I always wanted to do something in the beauty industry but my mom preferred me to go to college, so I did.
I was really into lashes and makeup, so I decided I would enroll in esthetics school. I instantly fell in love with the industry. Oddly enough, lashes were my least favorite thing to do even though it was the driving force for me going to school in the first place.
My instructor kept telling me I should pick up body waxing. Honestly, I was so against it at first, but once I tried it, it became my favorite service. Here I am now, four years later, with a body waxing business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I can honestly say that being a business owner came naturally to me. After graduation, I immediately started my business. The biggest obstacle I faced was having to rebrand because someone in another state stole my entire brand, trademarked it, and sent me a cease and desist.
I had to build my brand over from the ground up. At the time, I knew nothing about trademarking. Now, I’ve educated myself and I have a legal team that assists me in business.
As you know, we’re big fans of Wax Snob Studios. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Wax Snob Studios is the first black-owned full-body wax studio in the city of San Antonio. We specialize in intimate area waxing as well as intimate skin repair. Intimate skin repair focuses on improving hyperpigmentation, problems with ingrown hair, and any other skin issues women may face in their intimate area.
We believe that waxing should be luxurious yet affordable so we offer services to fit any budget. We also were the first in the city to offer Yoni Steaming, which is the holistic practice of using the warmth of gentle herbal steam and organic herbs to help with things like menstrual cramps, irregular cycles, dryness, and much more.
I am most proud when our guests walk into the salon and tell us how comfortable they are and how much they love my staff. We want everyone to feel comfortable no matter their age, race, color, and religion! We welcome everyone!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Opening a business is within itself a risk. I jumped out on faith and went from a 105 square foot room to a 2000 square foot storefront. That was probably my biggest risk because I didn’t know if I would have the clients to foot the bill but I knew I couldn’t fail no matter what!
Another risk that I face a lot is continuing education. I am always taking classes or trying to figure out ways to be better. A lot of those classes are pretty pricy but there have been times where I paid thousands of dollars for a class and didn’t learn a thing.
I offer education classes and business mentorship to other beauty professionals so I make sure that the classes they pay for are full of information because I know what it’s like to pay for a class and not learn anything.
Pricing:
- Our First Time Guest Brazilian is $35
- First time Guest Yoni Steam $35
- Vajacials start at $45
- We offer Student & Military pricing
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thewaxsnob.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thewaxsnobstudios
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/waxsnobstudios/
