Following a skincare protocol is one thing. Understanding why you're using every ingredient is something completely different.

In this episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati sits down with Amanda, owner of Loving My Skin Spa and creator of Skin Nerd Training, to talk about ingredient knowledge, continuing education, imposter syndrome, and how The Skin Games pushed her to become a stronger esthetician.

Amanda has been licensed since 2013 and has built her career around understanding skin on a deeper level. After earning the nickname The Skin Nerd, she eventually leaned into what made her different and turned that knowledge into an education platform for other estheticians.

They talk about moving beyond manufacturer protocols, understanding the intention behind your treatments, and why knowing your ingredients gives you the confidence to adapt as your clients and their skin change.

Amanda also shares her experience competing in The Skin Games. She entered her first year convinced she wasn't good enough, struggled with comparison and imposter syndrome, and ended up becoming a finalist in all three categories she entered. Today, she's an 11-time finalist and OG Legend.

In this episode:
Why ingredient knowledge matters beyond memorizing protocols
Turning your niche into something bigger
Imposter syndrome and comparing yourself to other estheticians
How The Skin Games challenged Amanda to grow
Continuing your education as your clientele changes
Building confidence by understanding the "why" behind your treatments

The Takeaway

You don't have to know everything to be a great esthetician, but you should always be willing to ask why. Keep learning, challenge yourself, and don't downplay the thing that makes you different. That may be exactly what sets your career apart.

Connect with Amanda

Loving My Skin Spa | Litchfield Park, Arizona
Skin Nerd Training: skinnerdtraining.com

Connect with Kati & Beauty Talk Confessions

Instagram & TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions
Podcast Page: flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions

Prickly Bare

Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.

Instagram & TikTok: @pricklybare
Website: pricklybare.com

If You Loved This Episode

Share it with an esthetician who needs the reminder to stop comparing, keep learning, and lean into what makes them different.

Following a skincare protocol is one thing. Understanding why you're using every ingredient is something completely different.
In this episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati sits down with Amanda, owner of Loving My Skin Spa and creator of Skin Nerd Training, to talk about ingredient knowledge, continuing education, imposter syndrome, and how The Skin Games pushed her to become a stronger esthetician.
Amanda has been licensed since 2013 and has built her career around understanding skin on a deeper level. After earning the nickname The Skin Nerd, she eventually leaned into what made her different and turned that knowledge into an education platform for other estheticians.
They talk about moving beyond manufacturer protocols, understanding the intention behind your treatments, and why knowing your ingredients gives you the confidence to adapt as your clients and their skin change.
Amanda also shares her experience competing in The Skin Games. She entered her first year convinced she wasn't good enough, struggled with comparison and imposter syndrome, and ended up becoming a finalist in all three categories she entered. Today, she's an 11-time finalist and OG Legend.
In this episode:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why ingredient knowledge matters beyond memorizing protocols</li>
<li>Turning your niche into something bigger</li>
<li>Imposter syndrome and comparing yourself to other estheticians</li>
<li>How The Skin Games challenged Amanda to grow</li>
<li>Continuing your education as your clientele changes</li>
<li>Building confidence by understanding the "why" behind your treatments</li>
</ul>
The Takeaway
You don't have to know everything to be a great esthetician, but you should always be willing to ask why. Keep learning, challenge yourself, and don't downplay the thing that makes you different. That may be exactly what sets your career apart.
Connect with Amanda
Loving My Skin Spa | Litchfield Park, Arizona Skin Nerd Training: skinnerdtraining.com
Connect with Kati &amp; Beauty Talk Confessions
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions Podcast Page: flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions
Prickly Bare
Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @pricklybare Website: pricklybare.com
If You Loved This Episode
Share it with an esthetician who needs the reminder to stop comparing, keep learning, and lean into what makes them different.

Beauty Talk Confessions is a podcast that goes beneath the surface of the beauty industry. The stories, the struggles, the identity shifts, the healing, and the grit behind the glow.

 

Hosted by Kati Wasserman, esthetician, business owner, and product developer, each episode features real, raw conversations with beauty professionals, founders, healers, coaches, creators, and clients who have lived the truth behind beauty.

 

We talk about:


•⁠  ⁠identity and reinvention

•⁠  ⁠confidence, comparison, and self-worth

•⁠  ⁠the emotional and unseen side of beauty work

•⁠  ⁠entrepreneurship and the messy middle

•⁠  ⁠aging, wellness, hormones, and internal beauty

•⁠  ⁠success, failures, pivots, and the lessons that shape us

 

There’s no filter here, just honest conversations that remind us beauty is personal, powerful, and deeply human.

 

Whether you're in the industry or navigating your own relationship with beauty, Beauty Talk Confessions will make you feel seen, supported, and inspired to show up as your most authentic self.

 

🔗 Social Links & Where to Find Us

 

Podcast Website:
https://www.flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions

 

Instagram:
@beautytalkconfessions
@pricklybare

 

TikTok:
@beautytalkconfessions

 

Booking / Contact:
pricklybare@gmail.com

 

 

Beauty Talk Confessions is a podcast that goes beneath the surface of the beauty industry. The stories, the struggles, the identity shifts, the healing, and the grit behind the glow.
&nbsp;
Hosted by Kati Wasserman, esthetician, business owner, and product developer, each episode features real, raw conversations with beauty professionals, founders, healers, coaches, creators, and clients who have lived the truth behind beauty.
&nbsp;
We talk about:
 &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠identity and reinvention
&bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠confidence, comparison, and self-worth
&bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠the emotional and unseen side of beauty work
&bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠entrepreneurship and the messy middle
&bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠aging, wellness, hormones, and internal beauty
&bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠success, failures, pivots, and the lessons that shape us
&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s no filter here, just honest conversations that remind us beauty is personal, powerful, and deeply human.
&nbsp;
Whether you're in the industry or navigating your own relationship with beauty, Beauty Talk Confessions will make you feel seen, supported, and inspired to show up as your most authentic self.
&nbsp;
🔗 Social Links &amp; Where to Find Us
&nbsp;
Podcast Website: <a href="https://www.flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions">https://www.flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions</a>
&nbsp;
Instagram: @beautytalkconfessions @pricklybare
&nbsp;
TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions
&nbsp;
Booking / Contact: <a href="mailto:pricklybare@gmail.com">pricklybare@gmail.com</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Beauty Talk Confessions with Kati

Know Your Why: Ingredient Knowledge, Imposter Syndrome & Becoming the Skin Nerd with Amanda

Beauty Talk Confessions - solo 20

Should you open your own esthetics business right out of school, or should you work for an established salon or spa first?

There is so much pressure in the beauty industry right now to go solo, become your own boss, open a suite, and build your own brand. And while owning your own business can be incredible, there is another side of entrepreneurship that doesn't always make it onto social media.

In this solo episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati breaks down the pros and cons of going solo versus working for an established salon, spa, or franchise after beauty school and shares her own experience with both.

Kati started her career working for other businesses before eventually becoming a spa owner herself. When she moved specifically into waxing, she intentionally chose a franchise because of the ongoing education, structure, team environment, and opportunity to build her skills before trying to do everything on her own.

Looking back, that foundation became an important part of the business owner and esthetician she is today.

What Going Solo Actually Looks Like

Opening a beautiful salon suite is the fun part.

But before you take your first client, there's an entire business that has to be built behind it.

Kati gets into some of the things new estheticians may not realize they'll suddenly be responsible for, including finding and leasing a space, registering a business, licensing, insurance, purchasing equipment and supplies, setting up the treatment room, choosing products, sanitation, and covering your expenses before you've built a consistent clientele.

And that's before marketing, booking clients, answering messages, cleaning, laundry, rebooking, inventory, taxes, social media, and actually performing the services.

Being your own boss also means becoming responsible for almost every part of the business.

The Benefit of Working for Someone Else

Working at an established salon or franchise doesn't mean you're giving up on the dream of owning your own business.

It can actually be one of the best ways to prepare for it.

You have the opportunity to work with more clients, improve your timing, experience situations you may never have seen in school, learn from coworkers, receive additional education, and figure out what you do and don't want to bring into your own business someday.

There's also something incredibly valuable about having a team around you while you're still building confidence.

You don't have to know everything immediately.

Going Solo Isn't Wrong. But It Isn't Your Only Option.

There isn't one perfect career path in this industry.

Some people are ready to go solo immediately. Others benefit tremendously from spending a few years inside an established business first.

The important part is understanding what you're actually signing up for before making the decision.

Don't choose entrepreneurship simply because social media made owning a salon suite look like the next step after graduation.

And don't think working for someone else means you're somehow behind.

The Takeaway

Your first job doesn't have to be your forever job.

It can be your training ground.

Use that time to learn. Ask questions. Watch how the business operates. Build your speed. Strengthen your consultations. Learn how to handle difficult situations. Pay attention to what creates loyal clients and what doesn't.

Then, if and when you're ready to go solo, you're starting with experience behind you instead of trying to learn your craft and run a business at the exact same time.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to become your own boss.

Just make sure you're building the foundation that will allow you to actually enjoy it when you get there.

Connect with Kati & Beauty Talk Confessions

Instagram & TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions
Podcast Page: Flagstaff Skincare | Beauty Talk Confessions

Prickly Bare

Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.

Instagram & TikTok: @pricklybare
Website: Prickly Bare

If You Loved This Episode

Share it with a beauty school student, new esthetician, or beauty professional who's trying to decide what comes next. Going solo isn't the only definition of success, and working for someone else may give you exactly the experience you need to build the business you eventually want.

Should you open your own esthetics business right out of school, or should you work for an established salon or spa first?
There is so much pressure in the beauty industry right now to go solo, become your own boss, open a suite, and build your own brand. And while owning your own business can be incredible, there is another side of entrepreneurship that doesn't always make it onto social media.
In this solo episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati breaks down the pros and cons of going solo versus working for an established salon, spa, or franchise after beauty school and shares her own experience with both.
Kati started her career working for other businesses before eventually becoming a spa owner herself. When she moved specifically into waxing, she intentionally chose a franchise because of the ongoing education, structure, team environment, and opportunity to build her skills before trying to do everything on her own.
Looking back, that foundation became an important part of the business owner and esthetician she is today.
What Going Solo Actually Looks Like
Opening a beautiful salon suite is the fun part.
But before you take your first client, there's an entire business that has to be built behind it.
Kati gets into some of the things new estheticians may not realize they'll suddenly be responsible for, including finding and leasing a space, registering a business, licensing, insurance, purchasing equipment and supplies, setting up the treatment room, choosing products, sanitation, and covering your expenses before you've built a consistent clientele.
And that's before marketing, booking clients, answering messages, cleaning, laundry, rebooking, inventory, taxes, social media, and actually performing the services.
Being your own boss also means becoming responsible for almost every part of the business.
The Benefit of Working for Someone Else
Working at an established salon or franchise doesn't mean you're giving up on the dream of owning your own business.
It can actually be one of the best ways to prepare for it.
You have the opportunity to work with more clients, improve your timing, experience situations you may never have seen in school, learn from coworkers, receive additional education, and figure out what you do and don't want to bring into your own business someday.
There's also something incredibly valuable about having a team around you while you're still building confidence.
You don't have to know everything immediately.
Going Solo Isn't Wrong. But It Isn't Your Only Option.
There isn't one perfect career path in this industry.
Some people are ready to go solo immediately. Others benefit tremendously from spending a few years inside an established business first.
The important part is understanding what you're actually signing up for before making the decision.
Don't choose entrepreneurship simply because social media made owning a salon suite look like the next step after graduation.
And don't think working for someone else means you're somehow behind.
The Takeaway
Your first job doesn't have to be your forever job.
It can be your training ground.
Use that time to learn. Ask questions. Watch how the business operates. Build your speed. Strengthen your consultations. Learn how to handle difficult situations. Pay attention to what creates loyal clients and what doesn't.
Then, if and when you're ready to go solo, you're starting with experience behind you instead of trying to learn your craft and run a business at the exact same time.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to become your own boss.
Just make sure you're building the foundation that will allow you to actually enjoy it when you get there.
Connect with Kati &amp; Beauty Talk Confessions
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions Podcast Page: Flagstaff Skincare | Beauty Talk Confessions
Prickly Bare
Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @pricklybare Website: Prickly Bare
If You Loved This Episode
Share it with a beauty school student, new esthetician, or beauty professional who's trying to decide what comes next. Going solo isn't the only definition of success, and working for someone else may give you exactly the experience you need to build the business you eventually want.

Should You Go Solo After Esthetician School? The Truth About Working for Yourself vs. a Salon

You don't have to have the newest device, follow every skincare trend, or look like the esthetician you see on Instagram to build a successful business.

In this episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati sits down with Nakeisha Hamilton, licensed esthetician and owner of The Rebute, to talk about finding your own path in the beauty industry, building confidence as a newer esthetician, and learning to stop comparing your beginning to someone else's years of experience.

Nakeisha's journey into esthetics actually started with makeup. What began as doing makeup for friends and family grew into fashion shows, events, teaching, and even working on a movie set. When she realized she needed a professional license to take that career further, she enrolled in beauty school and unexpectedly fell in love with skin.

Today, she's creating a practice centered around holistic skincare and her belief that treating the skin can go much deeper than what we see on the surface.

Finding Her Own Approach to Skincare

After experimenting with different areas of esthetics, Nakeisha found herself drawn toward a more holistic approach.

She shares how she's learning to look at the skin alongside stress, self-awareness, confidence, and overall well-being, and how she's bringing her own beliefs and values into the experience she creates for her clients.

Now, she's taking another leap by rebranding her business as The Rebute and moving into a brand-new space in Goodyear, Arizona.

Her business started with just two clients and a lot of faith. Instead of trying to recreate what everyone else around her was doing, she's continued building something that feels genuinely like her.

You Don't Need the Latest & Greatest

One of Nakeisha's biggest lessons for newer estheticians is something so many of us need to hear: you do not need to go broke trying to keep up with this industry.

There will always be a new device, product, treatment, technique, or trend.

Instead of constantly chasing what's next, Nakeisha talks about mastering what you already know, continuing your education, understanding why you're offering something, and becoming really good at serving the clients in front of you.

It's okay not to know everything.

It's okay to tell a client you need to research something.

And it's okay if what works in your treatment room isn't what's currently trending on TikTok.

The Skin Games, Confidence & Learning Over Winning

Kati and Nakeisha originally connected through The Skin Games, and they dive into how the experience has impacted both of them far beyond competition.

For Nakeisha, The Skin Games helped her become more confident while also teaching her that she doesn't need to know everything to belong in this industry.

After initially focusing heavily on winning, she's approaching her next competition differently. Her goal isn't just an award. It's to learn, challenge herself, strengthen her skills, and see how much she can grow through the process.

Sometimes the biggest win isn't the trophy. It's who you become while working toward it.

Just Show Up

Kati and Nakeisha also talk about participating together in a 30-day social media challenge and how forcing themselves to consistently show up helped break down some of the fear around being visible online.

You don't need perfect hair.

You don't need the perfect treatment room.

You don't need a perfectly scripted Reel.

People want to connect with the person behind the business.

Nakeisha shares how some of her best engagement happens when she's simply on camera talking and being herself, rather than only posting perfectly curated treatment content.

The Takeaway

Stop measuring your career against someone else's.

Someone who has been practicing for ten years is supposed to know things you don't know yet. That doesn't make you less capable or less deserving of being here.

Give yourself grace. Keep learning. Get really good at what you do. Show up even when it feels uncomfortable. Build a business that reflects who you actually are instead of who you think the industry expects you to be.

As Nakeisha puts it: be authentically you. The clients who appreciate that are your clients.

Connect with Nakeisha

Instagram: @the.rebeaute
TikTok: @the.rebeaute
Business: The Rebute

Connect with Kati & Beauty Talk Confessions

Instagram & TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions
Podcast Page: flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions

Prickly Bare

Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.

Instagram & TikTok: @pricklybare
Website: pricklybare.com

If You Loved This Episode

Share it with an esthetician who is comparing themselves to everyone around them or feeling like they have to keep up with every new trend. Your career doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Keep learning, keep showing up, and give yourself permission to build something that feels like you.

You don't have to have the newest device, follow every skincare trend, or look like the esthetician you see on Instagram to build a successful business.
In this episode of Beauty Talk Confessions, Kati sits down with Nakeisha Hamilton, licensed esthetician and owner of The Rebute, to talk about finding your own path in the beauty industry, building confidence as a newer esthetician, and learning to stop comparing your beginning to someone else's years of experience.
Nakeisha's journey into esthetics actually started with makeup. What began as doing makeup for friends and family grew into fashion shows, events, teaching, and even working on a movie set. When she realized she needed a professional license to take that career further, she enrolled in beauty school and unexpectedly fell in love with skin.
Today, she's creating a practice centered around holistic skincare and her belief that treating the skin can go much deeper than what we see on the surface.
Finding Her Own Approach to Skincare
After experimenting with different areas of esthetics, Nakeisha found herself drawn toward a more holistic approach.
She shares how she's learning to look at the skin alongside stress, self-awareness, confidence, and overall well-being, and how she's bringing her own beliefs and values into the experience she creates for her clients.
Now, she's taking another leap by rebranding her business as The Rebute and moving into a brand-new space in Goodyear, Arizona.
Her business started with just two clients and a lot of faith. Instead of trying to recreate what everyone else around her was doing, she's continued building something that feels genuinely like her.
You Don't Need the Latest &amp; Greatest
One of Nakeisha's biggest lessons for newer estheticians is something so many of us need to hear: you do not need to go broke trying to keep up with this industry.
There will always be a new device, product, treatment, technique, or trend.
Instead of constantly chasing what's next, Nakeisha talks about mastering what you already know, continuing your education, understanding why you're offering something, and becoming really good at serving the clients in front of you.
It's okay not to know everything.
It's okay to tell a client you need to research something.
And it's okay if what works in your treatment room isn't what's currently trending on TikTok.
The Skin Games, Confidence &amp; Learning Over Winning
Kati and Nakeisha originally connected through The Skin Games, and they dive into how the experience has impacted both of them far beyond competition.
For Nakeisha, The Skin Games helped her become more confident while also teaching her that she doesn't need to know everything to belong in this industry.
After initially focusing heavily on winning, she's approaching her next competition differently. Her goal isn't just an award. It's to learn, challenge herself, strengthen her skills, and see how much she can grow through the process.
Sometimes the biggest win isn't the trophy. It's who you become while working toward it.
Just Show Up
Kati and Nakeisha also talk about participating together in a 30-day social media challenge and how forcing themselves to consistently show up helped break down some of the fear around being visible online.
You don't need perfect hair.
You don't need the perfect treatment room.
You don't need a perfectly scripted Reel.
People want to connect with the person behind the business.
Nakeisha shares how some of her best engagement happens when she's simply on camera talking and being herself, rather than only posting perfectly curated treatment content.
The Takeaway
Stop measuring your career against someone else's.
Someone who has been practicing for ten years is supposed to know things you don't know yet. That doesn't make you less capable or less deserving of being here.
Give yourself grace. Keep learning. Get really good at what you do. Show up even when it feels uncomfortable. Build a business that reflects who you actually are instead of who you think the industry expects you to be.
As Nakeisha puts it: be authentically you. The clients who appreciate that are your clients.
Connect with Nakeisha
Instagram: @the.rebeaute TikTok: @the.rebeaute Business: The Rebute
Connect with Kati &amp; Beauty Talk Confessions
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @beautytalkconfessions Podcast Page: flagstaff-skincare.com/beautytalkconfessions
Prickly Bare
Professional waxing products and post-hair-removal skincare created by an esthetician, for estheticians.
Instagram &amp; TikTok: @pricklybare Website: pricklybare.com
If You Loved This Episode
Share it with an esthetician who is comparing themselves to everyone around them or feeling like they have to keep up with every new trend. Your career doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Keep learning, keep showing up, and give yourself permission to build something that feels like you.

Know Your Why: Ingredient Knowledge, Imposter Syndrome & Becoming the Skin Nerd with Amanda

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