Community Highlights: Meet Jazsmyne Durant of Evalv U Esthetics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazsmyne Durant. 

Hi Jazsmyne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Skincare was an important part of my life long before I ever decided to enter into the industry. Trying to figure it out with Ambi, Noxzema, Proactiv, and the list goes on. My start in the beauty industry was in my home state of Florida. Single mom looking for a way to create additional income outside of my career at the time of a Corporate Trainer. I took a class for lash extensions and I later found out I needed to be a Licensed Esthetician to perform the service, as well as get professional insurance. 

After separating from the company, I was working for; I pursued Esthetics full-time by enrolling in school. I went looking to only do lash extensions, and upon speaking with the advisor I found out that they had an Advance skincare program that would allow me to actually correct damage to the skin. 

Being someone who has struggled with acne, acne scarring, and dark spots most of her life, I was almost propelled into taking the course. I had a background in Medicine because my entire life, I wanted to be a heart surgeon, which ultimately, we all know, did not happen. On that journey from Dr to Esthetician, my major changed a few times, medicine, to education, to settling in on Psychology. 

During school, I had to decide what the next steps would be for me after completing school. Knowing that I never wanted my livelihood to be in the hands of another, I took the solo esthetician approach…and then boom the COVID 19 pandemic hit, and class went from in-person hands-on to book learning, and when everything let up, we were able to go back into hands on. Fortunately for me, the extended time gave me extra preparation to feel confident going into practice. 

I started in the back of my cousin’s salon next to the water heater and shampoo bowls, then moved to a private room within her new salon; after making the decision to follow LOVE, I found a salon home in a salon in Sterling Heights with a suite that was larger and a wonderful work family. I am a person that believes in constant evolutions and after a little over a year I decided to follow my vision for my business as well as my family life I am currently in a private suite in St Clair Shores, MI. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Getting people to let you breathe on them in the middle of COVID duh! I kid, COVID-19 definitely made me question whether there was job security in this profession. Having to learn a hands-on skill/trade remotely sometimes became frustrating. I second-guessed whether I would be able to actually service clients and meet their needs by giving them the results they were looking for. 

I’ve had to build a clientele base on two separate occasions. Straight out of school, and then here in Michigan after moving to a place where no one knew my name! 

We’ve been impressed with Evalv U Esthetics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Esthetics has become a very saturated industry. More and more people are interested in self-care. I am a Licensed Esthetician that has a total of 3 years of experience and 2 years in practice. Long before I decided to become an Esthetician, I studied the sciences in preparation for practice in medicine. Therefore, I am most passionate about Corrective Skincare! Getting rid of acne, scarring, and dark spots. 

I have become known for my passion in educating my clients! Skincare change and successful plans are 70% the client and 30% me. My clients trust me. I earn their trust by speaking not only to the service they book for but to their lifestyle and how that translates to them meeting their skincare goals. I want my clients to understand enough to not need me, but understand that they do need me, if that makes sense. lol 

My business is unique not only in the spelling of the name which is the phonetic of “Evolve You.” It speaks to the fact that no two journeys in this process is the same; we all “Evalv” differently. It’s a journey that I take with my clients: Realization, Visualization, and Manifestation of the skin. Realize their area of concern, visualize them as their version of their best self by putting together a treatment plan, and executing that plan together! I am here to meet my clients where they are, because being a brown skin girl that struggled with acne basically her whole life, I just get it! I want my ladies and guys to be able to live a life free of the IG, Snapchat, and Facebook filters. Just to be able to say, in the words of Beyonce, I woke up like this. 

I am proud of the fact that my clients are actually reaching their skin care goals, but I am most proud that they are educated about how to take care of their skin themselves. I use quality products for quality results. I am continuously learning to offer more quality and depth to not only myself but to my client service experience. 

While I offer a wide range of services from eyebrow shaping and lash extensions to facials, I am in the process of shaping my business to focus more on body waxing and corrective skincare packages not limited to face but also intimate bleaching services. I am a minority business owner who is well versed in all skin types dark to light, young to mature. I am here for YOU! 

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I have wanted to give up on this entrepreneurial journey on multiple occasions to go and get a guaranteed safe check! But I am always reminded of why I started. I am a woman and a mom, and both of those things mean that I have to show up every single day. There are times that both of those thing work against me but my passion to heal and help others go beyond any doubt. Things are never as they appear, good or bad, and the moment you stop may be the moment you cheat yourself of the next step being THE step. No one achieved their goals, stopping when it got hard. Every day you are here breathing; it is because you’re supposed to be here! 

There is a viral sound that said in gist, entrepreneurship is all one person! Remember that nothing in life can be done alone except death. Having an amazing team is awesome, but having someone in your corner for encouragement and support when you want to quit or to be your first model for a new service is priceless. I want to thank my partner for being a willing vessel to love and support me. Thank you for all of my family and friends who were in place leading up to him. Most of all, God who keeps me by sending something or someone to remind me this is a part of my purpose! 

Pricing:

• First Time Brazilian Wax $45
• Dermaplanning Facial $85
• Chemical Peels starting at $125
• Eyebrow shape + Dye $45
• Intimate Bleaching starting at $300

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evalvu_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evalvuesthetics
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/evalv-u-esthetics-harper-woods