Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Alvarado.
Hi Erika, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Five years ago today, I was working full-time for the friend of the court, under one of the best bosses I know to this day — Jason Walker, who was supervisor and manager of Family Court on the 3rd floor at the time. I’m not sure if he’s still there, but it was because of him that I was able to adjust my schedule and go after a dream I’d had for a while. Being a single mother, it’s not easy to chase a dream unless you have some real steady income — and having that steady income with him gave me the stability I needed to also go to school and become an esthetician.
I adjusted my schedule so I could come in earlier and leave in time to drive to Grand Rapids for night classes at Douglas J Aveda, from 5 to 9 p.m. I made that drive back and forth for six months while working full-time and raising my son as a single mom, and my yes, I took this path as an older student in that class — but I am so thankful that I did. I passed my state boards.
Around that same time, I also took a new position with the State of Michigan, Muskegon County DHS, where I still work full-time today. I built my esthetics business, Esthetics by Erika, from the ground up while balancing both careers. I started home-based and stayed there for two years until I had enough clients and consistency to move into my own suite. After about a year there, I recently upgraded again to a new suite in the Quest Diagnostics building.
I’m 34 now, with a 13-year-old son, and I’ve had some ups and downs and turnarounds along this path — but through it all, my passion for beauty has never wavered. What drives me most is making women feel seen, heard, and beautiful, and reminding them that taking time for themselves matters. I’m truly blessed to be where I am today, and I’m proud of what I’ve built one client, one appointment, and one leap of faith at a time.
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?
It’s honestly not been the smoothest road, and it hasn’t always been consistent. As a first-time business owner, there’s so much you don’t know going in — unless you have close friends who’ve already been through it, it’s truly a learning experience. I had to figure out how to create an LLC, how to open a business bank account, how to build an Excel spreadsheet just to track and record everything, how to apply for my business license, and how to get inspected by the state. Every one of those steps humbled me in every sense of the word.
Going into what’s technically year 5 — though it’s really year 4 of the business itself, since that first year was spent in school becoming an esthetician — I still feel like I’m learning something new all the time. There have been turnarounds, there have been setbacks, and it’s never been an easy path. But I’m thankful for it all, thankful for my clients, and thankful for everything it’s taught me along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
specialize in intimate body care waxing. My services include eyebrow waxing and tinting, facial waxing, and waxing for the armpits, legs, bikini area, back, chest, and stomach.
What I’m truly most proud of is how comfortable I make my clients feel on my table — male or female. A lot of this business comes down to how someone feels, and I want every client to feel their best. It brings me so much joy to have repeat clients who have their schedule down to the day, coming in every 4 weeks like clockwork, or every 6 weeks for their intimate Brazilian wax. That consistency tells me they’re comfortable, that they enjoy their time with me, and that they trust the process. They’re not just taking care of themselves — I’m making them feel good while they do it. That connection and that trust are what set me apart.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
see the beauty industry continuing to move toward more advanced, semi-permanent services, and that’s exactly the direction I’m heading in myself. I’m currently taking a microblading and nanoblading class for eyebrows, which will let me offer a more advanced, semi-permanent service to my clients. I’ll be receiving my tattoo license this year, and that upgrade will happen by the end of the year — it’s going to be big for me and for my business.
I think that shift toward semi-permanent, higher-skill services is where a lot of this industry is going over the next several years, and I look forward to growing right along with it. At the same time, I’m just as focused on honing down and perfecting the skills I already have now.
Pricing:
- Brazilian wax $65
- Bikin $35
- Armpit $25
- Eyebrow wax $20
- Eyebrow tinting and wax $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Estheticsby-erika.as.me
- Instagram: @esthetics_byerika_
- Facebook: Esthetics by Erika
- Twitter: Erika Alvarado personal page
