Hidden Gems: Meet Jenn Spain of Simply Skin Med Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Spain. 

Hi Jenn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
In 2016, I was a single mom at 36 in a Corporate America job. I had a 401k and great medical insurance for my 2 kids and myself…I just didn’t see myself doing this job for the rest of my life. I loved my job, but I struggled big time financially. I had utilities shut off, lost my car, and had to move in with my parents. 

During this time, I was starting to get into makeup. I had a friend who at the time owned a salon and did bridal makeup, and I wanted to be a part of that. I saw her freedom and how much money she was making, and I wanted that life so bad. I was not able to as I wasn’t licensed. So, I enrolled myself into Lorain County JVS in the adult education evening esthetics program. 

Here I am, 36, living with my parents, working 50 hours a week, and going to school 20 hours a week. I would work from 6:00 am – 4:00 pm, then drive straight to school and be there from 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm. I missed so much of my kids’ sporting events and felt like the worst mother in the world. I was absent for 9 months. I kept saying to myself during those 9 months…”it will be worth it in the end. Keep going. Don’t give up.” 

During that class, I found myself. I learned so much about skin/makeup, and I really learned who I wanted to be. I originally wanted to go to keep my day job and do makeup with my friend on the weekends and start a YouTube channel. By the time I was done with school…I wanted to own a spa! I graduated in 2017 and started my first job as an esthetician at Ulta Beauty in Sandusky. 

When I left my office job, my family was not supportive. They told me I was stupid for quitting my job. They would say “What the hell are you thinking? What is wrong with you?” I did not let that stop me. I had a vision, and they just didn’t see it yet. 

While working at Ulta Beauty, I learned all the skincare products I could. The products in the store were my biggest educators. In my downtime there, I would read the product labels, and cleaned and organized the skin care so I knew exactly where everything was. Anytime a guest was looking for a skincare product, I was right there. Stalking them so I could learn their skin concerns and learn what products they needed. This is also where I met Dermalogica. The professional skincare line that I carry in my spa. Out of all of the product lines I learned, this is the one I wanted. I wanted a product line that was treatment focused and was a clean line…and they offered that and so much more. The support and education that Dermalogica gave to me really made me who I am today in my career. 

The day I decided to go out on my own was the happiest yet scariest day of my life. It was also sad. I was the top esthetician in my district weekly. Every week, that report would come out and there I was…at the top of the list for Dermalogica sales and Ulta service sales. I was so proud. September 10th, 2019…I was finishing up a service on my client. I didn’t have a client after her, so she sat in the chair, and we were chatting for a bit. My store manager came up to me and interrupted our conversation and threw a piece of paper at me, literally, as if she were disgusted with me, and said, “You made it in the top 100 professional skin therapists in the nation” and walked away. I was speechless. Speechless that she just threw this paper at me and said it the way she did and speechless that I made it in the top 100! My client and I looked at each other at the same time as I cried, and she hugged me. Her exact words were “It’s time for you to go out on your own”. I said there is no way I could do that (at that time). She encouraged me and a few days later wrote me a check for $3000 to start my own business! If it wasn’t for her support and encouragement, I don’t know where my career would be today. She supported me more than my own family did. She was so positive, encouraging and was my biggest cheerleader. 

I took that $3000 and opened Simply Skin in October 2019 inside of an established salon. I literally cleaned out their storage room to make it happen. Although my room was the smallest little spa room, I didn’t care. That was all I could afford, and I was so grateful that the salon allowed me to do so. They allowed me to have my own creativity and so it all began. They allowed me to approach their clients while they were getting their hair done to give them free hand and arm massages with my business card to let them know I was there. I was so jealous watching all of the stylists come in and have all of these clients all day. Their schedules were so full, sometimes even no time to eat. I wanted that so bad. I was talking with a stylist one day and I told her I was envious of her career. I was just having a down day. Instead of rolling her eyes or walking away, she said “In this industry, you have to do 2 things. 1…put yourself out there. Let this community know you are here. 2…be patient. It will come. And boy was she right! 

In March 2021, I had enough of a clientele to move into a larger space. I was so scared. My rent at the salon was only $300 a month. Now, moving into this larger space, my rent is $500 a month. I had to hustle so hard. Having a single income, this was very intimidating. I moved into a loft setting and my room was 3 times larger than my little storage closet spa room. I was in an environment with massage therapists and spray tanning, so skin was more known to the clients than in the salon. My business increased 6 times more within the first 6 months. I couldn’t believe it. Each month when I ran my reports, literally watching my income increase each month was so exciting yet so rewarding. 

In July/August 2021, the coordinator of the cosmetology program at Lorain County JVS approached me to become an adult esthetics instructor. Although I was honored and wanted to do it, I had to turn it down. In June 2021, I gained full custody of my 3 nieces and nephews. There was some trauma in their lives, and they needed me. I couldn’t be away from them 3 nights a week. Being there for my extended family (along with my own) was my number one priority. I was so grateful that my business was doing so well that financially, I was able to take them in. 

June 2022, a friend of 26 years and client approached me with an opportunity I never saw coming. She is a cosmetologist and had the opportunity to move into a building but wasn’t able to do it on her own. She asked me to partner with her. August 2022…I turned my little solo esty spa room into Simply Skin Med Spa LLC and had a staff of independent estheticians by December. This staff also included a nurse practitioner to administer neurotoxins and dermal fillers. The partnership my friend and I created was splitting the rent and the utilities, giving us each the full freedom to have our own individually to make our businesses what we wanted. Simply Skin Med Spa and Confident Colors Salon. Two businesses under one roof owned each by two small town girls who went to high school together and had a dream to be successful. 

September 2022, I was approached again by LCJVS to become an adult esthetics instructor. By this time, my 3 nieces and nephews were thriving in life and doing so well, that with the help of my daughter, I was able to take this on. Most moms say “I wish I had another me”…me being a single mom…I definitely had another me. My daughter is so responsible that she talked me into taking this position and took over the “mom responsibilities” 3 nights a week. Dinner, homework, showers. I am so grateful. 

Keeping in mind that when I first became an esthetician, I started in Sandusky. When I went on my own, I moved to Ashland…about an hour away. My clients from the Erie and Huron County areas were driving to Ashland to have facials with me. In March of 2023, Simply Skin Med Spa will be opening a location in Norwalk. The location is larger than my Ashland location, so I have big plans with this space. I don’t have a partner in this location. My long-term goal is to open my own school there. 

I have a son who is a husband and a dad. A daughter is off to college in the fall. My bonus kids (3 niece and nephews) are excelling. My grandson came into our lives. My business is thriving. My life is perfect for me! I designed a life I love. It wasn’t easy. There are easy days and there are hard days. If I have one piece of advice for anyone going out on their own in this industry or any career…hustle hard. Keep going when it fails. Because it will. It just makes you stronger and appreciate the journey along the way! 

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?
This career definitely has not been a smooth road. Number one…what the hell was I thinking? Leaving Ulta in Sandusky to start my own business in Ashland with NO CLIENTS??? Sure, a handful followed me…but not enough to pay the bills. I didn’t get a second job. I was all in 100%. I didn’t give myself the option that if this failed, I could land in another meteoker job. I wanted this. I wanted this bad! Building a business in a very competitive industry was one of the hardest struggles. What makes me different from the esthetician 2 blocks away? I didn’t allow myself to put too much pressure on myself for that. I focused on perfecting one service at a time so I could grow. Each esthetician is different. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I specialize in anti-aging and teen acne. The services that I offer are everything skin, everything lashes, everything brows. Permanent makeup (brow, eyeliner, beauty mark, freckles and lipstick tattooing) and coming this year, paramedical tattooing (camouflaging stretch marks, scars, 3D areola tattoo and more)… Also available with the rest of the team is full body waxing, Botox, fillers, hair services, relaxation massage, spray tanning and more services to come as we grow! Not only do I teach adults esthetics, I certify them in services at my location. 

I certify estheticians and cosmetologists and students enrolled in a branch of cosmetology program in lash extensions, microblading, chemical peels, all about brows, lash lift and tinting, dermaplaning, nanoneedling and microdermabrasion. More certification services will come as I grow. 

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I had an attitude and a mouth. It got me into trouble sometimes. I was grounded a lot as a kid because I always talked back to my parents. As I became older, I learned how to turn that attitude into a confident voice that spoke up for myself. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.simplyskinashland.com
• Instagram: simplyskin_medspa
• Facebook: Simply Skin Med Spa

Image Credits
Natalie Bowers Photography