Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Boon.
Hi Bailey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I grew up in a really small town about 50 miles southwest of Chicago- Newark, Il. The occupations I was introduced to were healthcare, teacher, farmer, trade school, or union and my first choice was always to be a nurse. I loved the idea of making my own money and being independent so I wanted to work hard to get there as fast as I could.
My small high school was not my thing, I didn’t have many opportunities that I was interested in, and most of my friends were in the town over. They had a slightly bigger school and offered a Certified Nursing Assistant program for juniors and seniors. This was my interest. It wasn’t easy, but I found a loophole to get around the out-of-town tuition & was able to attend Seneca High School. I completed the CNA course in my junior year.
At that time, I was currently working in a nursing home as a dietary aide so my transition to nurses aide was very quick and easy. The rest of the credits needed to graduate my senior year were completed in half the year so I graduated Seneca High School in December 2016 as the class of 2017. Over the next two years, I attended community college for my Nursing prerequisites with the goal of Nurse Practitioner- while working as a nurse’s aide for a local travel aide agency.
In September 2019, I became extremely burnt out with the healthcare field. I picked up a waitressing job instead and started looking at other careers. My next option was a trade- my mother was a hairdresser, so I always played around with hair and makeup from a young age. Throughout high school, I would make a decent chunk of extra cash doing the girl’s hair and makeup for the school dances. So I chose to get a license in esthetics. this would give me the legitimacy I needed to be able to charge solid prices.
After a few school tours in the cosmetology and esthetics field, Naperville Skin Institute is where I decided to enroll. In Illinois, they require estheticians to complete 750 hours of training split into bookwork and hands-on training. My school offered an open clinic where we took paying clients for discounted services, outside of practicing on each other for additional exposure, education, and portfolio building.
In December 2019, I found out that I was pregnant, and shortly after I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravedarum (HG). So in short – I was very sick and in a race with the baby to finish my hours before he was born. In March 2020 covid hit and Chicago shut down. School went virtual. Restaurants closed- which means my boyfriend and I (both servers) lost our jobs without notice.
A month goes by and there was still no sign of an opening so we decided to travel to Florida to stay with my boyfriend’s parents who moved to Florida in 2019. We stayed the whole month of April. Went back to Illinois for a baby checkup and then headed back to Florida on May 4th as we both still had no jobs and everything was shut down. This time we were talking about moving. We traveled once again back to Chicago at the end of May and finish out my pregnancy.
Esthetician School finally went back at half capacity and some restaurants were opening up for togo orders only but could unfortunately not employ everyone so we still had no jobs. At the end of August 2020, I finally graduate from esthetician school. September 7th, 2020, I delivered my baby boy, and on October 20th, 2020 our lease ended and we left Illinois with what we could fit with 2 adults and a car seat in my Chrysler 300.
For 3 months, we lived with our in-laws. My boyfriend got a job right away at a local restaurant and got me a part-time job serving the same owner across the street while I worked on transferring my esthetician license to Florida. I then met a woman at European Wax Center who was my wax specialist. She opened my eyes to the waxing world. I enjoyed waxing in school and I was good at it; however, I guess I didn’t realize that I could specialize in it and make a good living.
I applied in October 2021 and got the job right away- completed their 7-day training in 3 days and within months was meeting their speed and efficiency requirements. I wanted to make sure I was comfortable servicing any types of bodies and anatomy so I focused on perfecting my skill during this time. I also took additional training to service male anatomy so that I can be accepting and accommodating to everyone.
My interest in the sales aspect of waxing trickled over from my serving experience- I paid attention to profit margins, service sales, and product sales, and learned everything I could from other veteran waxers. Although I am so so grateful for the things I learned and the experience that working for a chain waxing center gave me, I quickly realized I did not want to use my skill to make someone else money- especially if I had no say in what I was doing.
In November 2022, I started planning talking to other business owners, watching videos, and trying to learn what I could about starting a business. I decided to try and find another esthetician to share the room with so that making my rent the first year would not have to be a huge stress and I could focus on growing my business. January 2023 I went for it and signed my first lease in Sarasota, Fl. Bare Wax Company is Located on N Washington Ave right before you hit Fruitville Rd. and inside Luminous Sky Artistry.
I’ve thought of a few different directions to take from here and have big plans for the future but my focus right now is just growing my brand for the next couple of years. Follow me on Instagram @barewaxco to keep up with the journey!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far things have gone very smoothly. I have felt stressed/overwhelmed and extremely out of my comfort zone at times but I just push through with the support of my boyfriend, James and it quickly becomes a new normal. New things always feel scary.
One area I have struggled with as a business owner is social media presence for advertising purposes as well as website design. I have no background in those things so I am learning as I go. Networking and reaching out to other fellow entrepreneurs has been my main Strategy in educating myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bare Wax Company was founded on the idea that no two bodies are the same, and your experience should be customized to you and your needs. Personal, yet quick and convenient service leaving you BARE every time. I specialize in Male and Female Brazilian waxing and offer full-body waxing services with a hypoallergenic professional hard wax.
It is such a rewarding feeling to know that my company can be 100% accepting and accommodating of everyone. I love what I do and will never stop learning so my techniques and ways will change as I stay up to date with my knowledge however, your experience will stay the same and be customized to you. I want you to be comfortable and taken care of with a luxury feel.
I also just started offering classes for currently enrolled cosmetology/esthetician students or already licensed specialists to learn all about waxing and how to get started in your own business! So if you’re interested please reach out!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to collaborations and you can email me at thebrazilianwaxspecialist@gmail.com if you are interested in that.
I would love the support whether that means I’m your wax girl, you tell a friend, share my post, follow me, engage in my social media, or if you are a local creator looking to help with exposure and get some content. You can find me on Facebook as Bare Wax Company and on Instagram as @bare_wax_co.
Pricing:
- First-time guest Brazilian $40
- Female Brazilian- $55
- Male Brazilian-$60
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barewaxcompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bare_wax_co/?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089914444275&mibextid=LQQJ4d
