Rising Stars: Meet Porcha Woodruff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Porcha Woodruff.  

Hi Porcha, 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 backstories with our readers? 
How I started as an Esthetician, well I knew since I was little that I wanted to own my own salon when I was younger. In 2011 I attended Northwest Florida state college where I started to major in Business Management, I completed my first semester. During my second semester, I applied for a cosmetology program as well because my idea was to know the ins and outs of running and owning the salon all around. Once I got accepted into the cosmetology program, I stopped attending my business management course in college. While attending my cosmetology program I met a fellow classmate which was an esthetician I became close to her during the time we both were in the program she taught me different things about my skin which at the time I had my own issues with. During the course of the time, I attended the cosmetology program I really only took interest in the esthetics part’ I fell in love with doing facials and my classmates loved to let me practice on them. Even tho I didn’t finish my cosmetology program I knew some way that I wanted to still pursue that field. Fast forward I moved back home to Detroit in 2012 once I moved back, I was unsure of the field I wanted get involved in so with my background in healthcare I continued with that field and become a certified medical assistant in 2015. While I worked as a medical assistant, I worked with my own well-known black dermatologist Dr. Hieldenberg for about 1 year and a half it sparked my interest in skin again. After working with a black dermatologist, I learned that all skin types aren’t the same so therefore I took interest in wanted to learn about Caucasian skin as well so I also worked inside another dermatologist clinic inside the providence hospital in Warren where again I meet another licensed Esthetician that became close with and she encouraged me to go back to school for esthetics so I did. The first time I went to school to become an esthetician I was enrolled as a full-time student also working full time as a medical assistant and a single parent, I got halfway through the esthetics program with 300 hours which 600 hours were required to complete the program but I had to stop attending because life happened. So, a year later I signed up again this time as a part-time student working part-time still as a medical assistant and single mother of 2 attending another school that offered a more home-based customized schedule that worked for me. Even though I had already attempted to complete the program the first time the 2nd time around I was determined to complete my program and finish. I basically had to start completely over because going to another school I was only given 150 credits which again I was still required to have 600 hours in order to graduate as an Esthetician. But again, I was determined so unlike the first time I went to school I only had to attend school for 6 months because I was full time, the second time around it was 9 months because I was only part-time. I finished and completed my esthetics program May 5, 2020 yes, I finished school virtually during the pandemic performing services on my Children for class credits. After completing my program, I signed up with the state of Michigan to take my state broad to become a licensed Esthetician. My testing was pushed out for 3 months. Then the day came to test I took my practical test first and passed I was overjoyed. Then I had to wait 2 weeks later to take my theory test I failed overthinking and extremely nervous. I had to wait a month later for an availability to open up for me take the test again which of all this is still during the pandemic. I passed I literally sat in my car and cried! Once I became licensed, I still worked as a medical assistant and I serviced a few family and friends from my home but I wasn’t really comfortable with doing services at home. So, I started my search about 3 months after becoming licensed to look for an affordable suite. I ran across a girl on Facebook that was looking to rent out her suite at a reasonable price. I inboxed her with a time and date to met her and look at her suite. We met I loved the location and her personality so we talked about the space I ended up renting it. At first, business was extremely slow seeing that I had to build my portfolio and clientele from the ground up. I started out just offering facials and Brazilian waxes and lash extensions which were my specialties. I probably still only had 1 or 2 clients a week. It was some weeks that I had no clients did I get discouraged yes definitely but I was still determined to be successful I knew it was take work and patient so I even took a body sculpting class about 6 months later and also a Mircoblading class as well. My clientele and business started to pick up. I also became more serious about selling my strips lash business that I started in 2019 that picked up as well. During that time, I also started attending and hosting my own pop-up shops where I met and networked with other black entrepreneurs in all Different fields, I also did collaborations with other Estheticians as well. Fast forward I continued to work in the Southfield suite for a year. Then the owner moved into a bigger building and I moved into my own building which is now located in downtown Detroit. I’m  still up and coming with my building I’m  still building as I go. I’m still perusing my dream to have a lash tech and another Esthetician at my new building as well as a boutique. I’ve been in business for 2 years now and I can honestly say I’m blessed and growing I faced a lot of trails and tribulations during the process of me growing to become an esthetician truly but I wouldn’t take it back at all  

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road? 
No, it was not a smooth road for me at all. My biggest struggle was trying to finish school while working full time and also beginning a single parent. It was times I had past due notice on rent and bills even car issues and financial issues because I had to move from working full time to part-time and still have time to tend to my children as well as attend school myself and do my own homework and just deal with everyday life issues  

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work? 
I’m licensed Esthetician I specialize in facials and full body waxing including Brazilian waxes (which I’m known for) body sculpting and I have my own mink strip lash line that’s popular called my lady mink lashes.  

What was your favorite childhood memory? 
Taking road trips with my parents to visit my cousins down south in Arkansas 

Pricing:

• Brazilians $65
• Brazilians with Vajacials $86
• Facials start at $70
• Lashes 3 piece boxes $20/ Single box $12
• Body Sculpting Starts at $85

Contact Info:

• Email: www.myladyaesthetics@gmail.com
• Website: https://myladyaesthetics.wixsite.com/mylady
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myladyaestheticsllc/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MyladyAestheticsLLC/?ref=bookmarks