Sweet Success Story | Meet Cidy Andrews

Shannon O'Brien  00:00

Hello and welcome back to one of our favorite weeks. It's time for the sweet success story series. Say that five times fast. Each month we feature a body sugaring pro who is killing it in his or her skincare business. We not only follow along on their journey through choosing sugar for their clients, but how it felt to make that decision to learn to sugar, and to ultimately see the benefits of the sweet stuff as it relates to building a strong business. So this month, I wanted to feature someone who has already had big success with her waxing skills, but wanted to take her business to the next level by actually switching her business to sugar, not just adding it to her wax Services.

INTRO:
Welcome to this sugar show. I'm Shannon O'Brien, body sugaring expert and licensed esthetician who's taken my own skincare business from zero to multiple six figures and has helped over 3000 students learn how to do the same. Now let me tell you it wasn't all that long ago that I lacked the time budget and knowledge needed to grow my small business as a body sugaring Pro. If we were to press rewind, you'd see the many failed attempts and lessons learned that have helped me build the profitable business that I have today. One that runs on its own, it gives me the lifestyle and freedom that I only used to dream of. I created the sugar show to hand you my secrets and give you the simple step by step strategies to help you do the same. So if you're a cosmetologist or esthetician or wax professional, who's looking to fill your books, make more money in your business and enjoy greater balance between your work and home life. You are in the right place. Let's dive in.


Before we get to our guest I always like to do a shout out to our community. And this time we received feedback from the spa manager at Vontae Derma spa and she said thank you i sugar you your basic sugaring course helped her estheticians achieve their professional goals we can now offer sugaring for hair removal and we are honored that I sugar you offer such a great course ah my heart is so full I absolutely love Thank you Vontae Derma spa I absolutely love just hearing your heart and hearing just true gratitude for sugar. I am just the vehicle to get you to learn it but for the ability to have your esthetician be able to kind of take it to the next level in your day spa and I love that and thank you for seeing the benefit of sugar for your beautiful facility. Thank you for choosing I sugar you to train all of you restitutions and Cheers to Your sweet day spa success okay, so this month featured sweet success story because citee Anders I giggle because it's a lot of SS sweet success story is it. I adore this woman she has been in our basic certification course. She has been in our sugar tribes since the beginning and I have watched her grow and her business explode once she put down that wax stick and started sugaring instead. So if you are currently waxing and not sure if you could or should toss your hot wax pot in the trash, keep listening.

03:44

Welcome sweet girl, it is your turn to be recognized my sweet friend. Welcome to the sugar show officially.

03:52

Thank you so much, Shannon.

03:56

Officially Yes. And only just officially because we've been together so long in the sugar tribe just enjoying each other's company and there's no other reason then it's just your up. It's your turn to talk about yourself. Awesome. Oh, man, you know, seeing your face inside our sugar tribe on our live coaching calls you might not know this, but you make my day and I'm really

04:22

glad you're here. Thank you. Oh,

04:25

okay, so let's get down to this and talk about you. citee is the own co owner of the nitty gritty hair and waxing parlor. And she named that or you both named that before you knew anything about sugaring I would imagine so we can talk about that as it comes is in Rochester, New York, New York. And she is just smoothened people and taking names up there in in the beautiful east coast. So tell us a little bit about Let's go way back to when you started as an esthetician, how long have you been an actual esthetician?

05:09

18 years. But you're only

05:14

19 What do you mean?

05:16

Right now? Can you believe it? No, yeah, I started 18 years ago. And I went originally because I wanted to be a makeup artist. And I was working with a girlfriend, and she was going to hair school at the time. And I brought all my makeup books to work. And we were just looking at him one day is like, I always wanted to be a makeup artist. And she's like, they have a program there. And I'm like we do and so I signed up I learned really two days about makeup. But I learned about waxing and skincare. And I was like, these are my people. I I just felt like it was what I was waiting for my whole life to do.

06:06

I love it. I love it. And did you like feel? Were you surprised that you like skincare? Kind of more maybe than

06:15

makeup? Um,

06:18

I was surprised. Because I don't know I because I'm a very, I like to make people feel really good. And not that you can't with makeup. But I also believe in the power of touch. So like, that was really important to me how you can just transform someone's day by just you know, talking to them learning about them and like the healing

06:40

touch. For sure. For sure. So you graduate from school, and what was the first thing you did after you graduated? What was the first job you went for? Um,

06:51

I went for a job. A friend of mine owned it. And I was first one he needed help with makeup. He needed an esthetician and girl. So there I was just working there. And it was a very tiny, tiny, tiny salon and it was awesome. But they were like referral only not listed in the phone book. So

07:16

I just kind of was like, oh, man, I I am not getting my hands on enough people, you know. So the esthetician who worked there who was very busy was like, you know, there's this wonderful place I worked there seven years. You'll be busy. They're awesome. Give them a shot. And so I went there and they changed my life. And I was busy from the beginning. One of their waxers went on maternity leave. And so there I was, and I just like became the beaver clean from there.

07:53

Wow. So you just started waxing right away. That's what you're busy with. Not makeup. Yeah.

08:00

Yeah, no, no, no, I

08:01

got my thing. So you said

08:03

the beaver queen. That's the two became oh my gosh, I love that.

08:08

I just couldn't believe that, like, so many people. I mean, and that was 18 years ago, it wasn't nearly as popular as it is now.

08:16

Yeah, I loved

08:17

it. And I actually signed No, I hated waxing when I got out of school, I think because I wasn't good at it. You know? So I'm just like, No, let's just do facials and makeup. And that's where I was confident. But once I got confident in waxing, I was like, holy cow. This is the best job in the world.

08:36

You know, it's funny when we go to school, never in our wildest dreams do we think we're gonna you know, be checking out who he was all day long. Like, yeah, just never. Like you don't go to school thinking, you know, I'm gonna aspire to smooth booties like you just don't think about that. And then it just natural. It seems so natural. So you're working for someone else. You've got a great clientele at the time. You decide to say you're waxing like 100% in your business. And okay, and at what point did you start to hear about sugar? How did that enter onto the scene?

09:13

Probably around 10 years ago, one of my girlfriends actually, who I went to school with she we've always been in touch. We've worked together through times. And she was telling me about this waxing or the sugar in place. And I almost wonder if it was launched sugar, I don't know because it was where they're located. So but that was so many years ago that I was just getting ready to open the nitty gritty and I just could not think of like doing something different. At that point. I wanted to just do waxing and facials and just I couldn't imagine learning a new product at the time for sure. I can't imagine doing that when I was trying to open because it was such a curve from wax. thing.

10:02

So let's go back for a minute and talk about you opening, you're working for someone else, you're busy. You're in a solo room, what inspired you to open your own place,

10:11

I was ready for a change the place that worked was incredible. Like, they could have offered me a million dollars, but I just needed to, I needed to change I needed to grow. So I went back to the place where I originally started as a renter. This time, I didn't need to be listed in the phone book or anything like that, and rented a room and then met my co owner there, and she does hair and I do waxing well. Sugar now.

10:41

Right, right. Okay, so you decide, okay, I really want to start my own thing now. And how did you both you've both come together now? And what finally got you to start your own place? The two of you? Did you find a location first? Did you have a bunch of people that were going to work for you first? Like how? How did you make that jump from the two of you realizing you wanted to be partners to the next thing.

11:09

I played roller derby for a hot second, and I broke my leg. So I had nothing but time on my hands. And I was ready to research. I mean, going into printing, my the owner of the salon knew that eventually I wanted to do my own thing. And I found a space. And my girlfriend was she came to look at it with me. And she was like, this is a great space. But this other face is different. This is better. And then she was ready. Because she wanted to she was kind of on the same path. It was only for hair. And we found this space. And they said it was for rent. And we're like, Okay, we're gonna do. And we're like, worst thing that could happen is you go work somewhere else. If it doesn't work out, you go work somewhere else,

12:02

you know. So, to us. It didn't seem like that scary.

12:07

Yeah. Well, you were the only two renters at the time. It was just the two of you. Yes. Gotcha. Okay, and then did you at what point did you start bringing on other people? I feel

12:18

like a year later, a year or two later. And I don't remember who came first. I know, there was a girl who I went to school with who was looking for a spot. So I'm like, Yes, you can come right here. And then I actually had a client who was interested in waxing. And I said, if you go to school, I'll hire you. You know, I'll take you under my wing, and I'll hire you. And I mean, she's still here to this day. So you know, and then we just started bringing more people in mostly people who I went to school with. And then now they have gone and open their own places, which always part of the plan, you know, and so

13:02

that's, that's so exciting. Okay, so you have a few people working with you. You're waxing your girlfriend's doing hair, which is always a great traffic builder as well. So your girlfriend's doing hair. And then at what point are you like, Okay, I've opened my new space, it's nitty gritty, it is starting to do really great at what point where you're like, Okay, I feel like it's time to learn this sugar thing. What is this all about?

13:28

Yeah, um, that was, I've always wanted a more natural wax. So I went like, through the gamut of, like, trying so many waxes on the market. And it you know, they, they weren't either they were made with products I didn't like or they were leaving the skin more irritated. So I always went back to my original wax that I was using. And then I started looking into sugaring, because I'm like, well, that's as natural as you get. And then I started reading about the benefits of sugarcane, and that it's all natural. And I'm like, I'm gonna give it a try. And I didn't really have time to I think I signed up in August of 2019, for love to sugar. And I didn't have time to like, really get involved. And then the pandemic happened.

14:21

Which is a blessing and, you know, a challenge all at the same time, right? Yeah. Were you watching the sugar in my bathtub? Yeah, I mean, I had to get creative. I sugared the bathtub. I sugared my teenage son on the couch. We had to get creative back then.

14:38

Oh, I was there for all of it. Thank you for joining me.

14:43

Yeah, so you just thought this is a perfect time to learn. Granted, I couldn't really learn because I didn't have any bodies. Right. So that was so once we were able to reopen. I was like, okay, I didn't get to watch everyone first. And then once their hair is done, I'm just gonna sugar them. And then I'm like no sign. You have to wax these or you have to sugar these COVID bushes. You have to do it. Yeah. Because I wanted it to be any bush that walked in the door I could do and I'm like, what the other one to practice on that one that's four months long. So my clients were incredible. And they trusted me and

15:29

God bless them.

15:32

I feel like my, I feel like I owe my first clients like forever free sugar because I was so terrible in the beginning. It's true. Yeah.

15:41

I mean, I was awful. That's nice. You were so supportive. The group is so supportive. The sugar companies are so supportive. And I'm like, if they can do it, so can I can learn this. I can learn this.

15:55

Yeah, you're a smart sassy business owner. You should this little ball of lemon sugar water should not beat you. Right. Like, it's how you feel when it first learn. Easy. Yeah.

16:11

It was a learning. Yeah, so I just like I brought in people and I gave, you know, the first couple, some free ones. And then I gave the next one half off. And I mean, I had been out of work for a while. But to me, it was worth giving it cuz I needed practice. And I'm like, the practice was invaluable. And then like, I will still be able to pay my bills. So I for the whole 10 month, I gave anyone who wanted to sugar $10 Last, like I'm just like, you get to know, as long as you sugar until the end of the year. And and then the first day of the year, I started taking new clients for sugaring. And, you know, raise my prices back up at a girl.

16:58

That's X anymore? No, no.

17:06

July 1 was my official switched over. And about June 23. My wax pot actually broke

17:18

up it. Yeah. So I

17:21

took it as a sign. And honestly, I wasn't sugaring, like 90% of my clients 95% as it was so I didn't have a time left.

17:30

Yeah, um, but I just I had

17:35

to do it. And as every time I was waxing, I would I also thought was very appealing about sugar was the amount of garbage that right you go through or don't go through? I don't know if you're Yeah, yeah. I mean, I remember getting huge boxes that just like drape sheets and sticks and strips and one day these kinds are like what's what's a little back?

17:59

Oh, just garbage. It's just going to the garbage stuff. Like she

18:05

You don't realize how much stuff is required to wax with.

18:11

You don't. And as and so it started being like, every time I was waxing, like I'm like, oh my god, I'm literally so bad for the environment, this environment with the crazy but I'm a little crazy. It's fine. But so that the track was the real thing. And even the my all my clients who I had done it on, you know, loved it. For the most part. I think I had like two or three who still preferred wax, but like, it was a no brainer.

18:44

The switch. Yeah.

18:47

It's so fascinating. When it finally clicks for you. Do you remember when it just clicked and you're like, oh, yeah, I'm just gonna, I'm just going to do this from here on out. There's just yeah, you know what it'd be you is when you smell wax again, like next year, you'll be somewhere and you'll like I I've been waxed recently in a pinch where I was had no sugar. And so I had the esthetician wax me and she put that hot wax on my eyebrows and I could smell it, feel how hot it was. And I thought oh my lord, I forgot what this experience is like, no wonder why my clients like it better. Like what like sugar better, you know?

19:28

Yeah. And I had a couple like when I first was sugary, you know, I in a pinch and like I was losing time, so I'd go. I'm like, I don't have time I just whacked you. And they're like, never again. You never can you?

19:43

Yeah. Yeah. So your clients really are like, they see a difference.

19:50

Oh, yeah. Yeah. So yeah,

19:55

it's fascinating because I just was looking at a thread that was in one of the I think it was a waxing Facebook group. And the girls were going back and forth saying, oh, you know, these estheticians that think sugaring is better? They're crazy. It really isn't. And I'm reading these, these posts, are these the comments and I'm thinking, have they ever been shuttered? Because I can honestly tell you, there are wax companies out there that the owner of the company physically get sugared. One of them I sugar myself, but she sells wax. And when I talked to her about it, she said, Oh, I still wax because it's easy. And people learn it in school, but I won't get waxed, I get sugared. And she runs the wax company. It's at the end of the day, like, that's the biggest testimonial right there. Yeah. So what would you say the hardest part about switching was for you. from LAX to

21:01

I would say

21:04

just timing was

21:06

very hard. I've just now started to get down to like, where I was for waxing, which I also realized people don't care as long as it doesn't hurt, and the hair is gone. You know. So I like kind of gave myself some grace on that. And I'm like, I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna give myself a little extra time and it's all fine. They're still rebooking, so I'm not losing people.

21:37

This is just recently that you've turned off the wax pot like that it broke this last July 1. Yeah.

21:45

Yeah. Yeah. So

21:48

I'm just and like you said, I don't remember when it clicked, but I just remember, okay, I can do strangers now. Like, I am confident to do it. And everyday, honestly, I just, I feel like I get better. And then, of course, you have those days, I had him with wax even. And I guess it's my first day like,

22:07

you, right.

22:09

But that and it just the technique, the technique in general, like, it's just, it's so different, is like the labia is like a nemesis. I love you lady as but like. But that's also hard with last name to like, when you're first starting now, I think just the technique and like going slow to just, like, get a feel. For me, also, the hardest thing was just like choosing a company, because there's so many great ones. And, you know, you just, I want I tried all of them multiple times, then I'm like, but I don't know if this is really helping or hurting me because I'm not getting familiar with just one product to to be able to actually compare. So that was also really hard.

22:56

Yeah, you'll find that you'll land on that one that ships the right way, you know, chips quickest for you that has great consistency, you know, that you believe in you'll, you'll find that that that company, there's a lot of really great companies out there. But you know, the most consistent that can ship to you easily and you know, that's always usually the one that you end up sticking with. Yeah, long time. Yeah. What would you what advice would you give anyone who's like, oh, yeah, we are super successful waxing like, I don't, I don't know if we can switch our staff and switch ourselves to sugar. But what advice would you give, say, that business owner who's kind of wondering if they should?

23:35

I would say

23:39

why not?

23:42

Yeah,

23:43

I mean, I feel like give it a try. Or maybe do it gradually, like I did, you know, like, you don't have to go all at once, or maybe start bringing on sugars or, um, but I definitely think it's worth it. People aren't into it. It's so much better, especially those sensitive skin clients, just like the amount of like, sometimes after you wax, you know, sometimes a little white heads can pop up. That's never happened. Knock on wood was sugaring, right. And I think a lot of it's from just the inflammation like you have heat and the rip out of the hair like your skin's like what is going on? Even if you were to do a lukewarm wax, you know? I don't know. I just think it's better. If you are curious about it, go to love to sugar and try, you know, get certified in practice is it does take practice, though. It takes a lot of practice. It does that. I think, why not? Especially if you're in an area like Rochester here. Like there's not a lot of people who do and learn a new skill.

24:54

What would you say your goal is in the next couple of years with the new be gritty, hair and wax parlor,

25:01

you're gonna get bigger.

25:04

I don't think too much bigger. I don't know, after COVID I don't really,

25:07

I would just like that little dream.

25:10

I tend to resurrected that like when, like in 2019, which is why I was switching to sugar. And now I'm just like content I want to have like time time is a valuable commodity. I want to have time to like, do me and hang out with my friends my family's far away. So I want to be able to see them like, so that I would like to bring on sugars. I have room. So I would like to bring on a couple more, or a couple of sugar. I shouldn't even say a couple more a couple of sugars, for sure.

25:44

For sure. Well, if you were in the Rochester area, sugar tribe, audience, you need to listen up because I knew you would be a hoot to have to work for I'd work for you in a heartbeat if I was up there, for sure. I'm training up there. So maybe we'll train some sugar pros up there to help you out. And I love it. I love it. I love it. Thank you so much for being here. I'm so incredibly proud of you for hanging in there for putting down that wax stick and switching from wax to sugar and just you know, being a true sweet success story because you really, really are and you should be very proud of yourself.

26:21

Well, I couldn't have done it without you. So thank you.

26:26

Well, you're stuck. You're stuck with me now girl. And this. This sugar tribe has been just a great group of women and we're growing every day and it's just so exciting to you know, you can turn around and lift up and support the next woman and or man and you know, really help them along their journey and, and understand that you you have all people understand what it takes to switch to sugar. So thank you for being a good example for everyone. I really appreciate it.

26:52

Yeah, my pleasure. It's been a fun journey so far.

26:57

Right for sure. All right, girlie. Have a great day. Thank you.

27:03

Sugar world, you absolutely can and should toss that hot wax pot and make the sweet switch to body sugaring for hair removal just like it did. If you are new, and this episode got you excited, I highly encourage you to follow us on Tiktok and Instagram at love to sugar or head over to our website. Love to sugar.com to get your basic certification and learn more about our sugar tribe. Remember, we highly recommend that you get certified in this technique to not only get your skills quickly on point, but make sure you can order from the professional sugar supply companies as well. All the rest of our info can be found in the show notes below. And you did not want to miss our next episode meeting the master with Melissa Huffman, who 11 years ago left behind her corporate job to pursue her passion of beauty and helping women look and feel more confident in themselves. After she built a successful makeup business, she realized that it wasn't what she thought it would be. And she was meant for more. So after some deep soul searching and a lot of personal development work, she became clear on her purpose and mission in life. She is a life coach who uses tools to help you uncover and release blocks and patterns that are no longer serving you. So you can step into the person who creates the life and business that you dream of. We will spend some quality time together with this master on the sugar show to help you uncover that you are good enough and worthy enough to have what you want, exactly as you are. So I look forward to seeing you in the next class have sweet week