Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronda Austin.
Hi Ronda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After working almost a decade in Retail Management, I realized the toll it could take on one’s body, and not to mention the stress. On top of being a new mother, caring for one’s self isn’t always a priority, especially when you’re always on call. It wasn’t until I started scheduling time for myself that I was truly able to overcome my postpartum, lower my stress levels, clear my skin, and ultimately start being the best version of me. During my self-care journey, I found many people around me were struggling with the same things, so in 2017, I decided to make a career change entering school for Medical Massage Therapy, and later Esthetic’s, switching the way I would serve people, hence Wink and Relax was born.
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?
The road has been as stop-and-go as highway traffic, and even that’s an understatement. Deciding to change careers was a major struggle, I become a retail store manager at the age of 21, so leaving a salary position to reenter school was extremely frighting. I began school the fall of 2017 and shortly after found out I was pregnant. Soon after the birth of my son, I found myself battling with postpartum depression, all while still pushing myself through school. I was able to complete both Massage and Esthetics school but, found even though I held my Licenses, I didn’t have a space to provide services, and because I was inexperienced people were reluctant to schedule with me.
After a few months of footwork, and word of mouth, I was able to acquire one client that turned into 2 that quickly grew into many really fast; that was short-lived as I found myself non-essential in the break of the worlds 2020 pandemic covid-19.
As you know, we’re big fans of Wink and Relax. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I love instant gratification which comes in the form of eyelash extensions, I didn’t/ you don’t have to wait really long for results which brings us the Wink; because life be lifing (lol), I know recovering from beautiful trauma like childbirth, body pains, regulating stressors, and clearing your skin takes time that brings us the meaning behind Relax. My brand is all about the way one feels, helping others be a little more gentle to themselves, all while teaching helpful habits. We specialize in eyelash extensions, skincare, and body works (massage therapy); what set us apart is our meticulous attention to detail, and customer service, rather you’re a first-time client, or returning consistency is key. We’re most proud of our pre and post-care procedures, teaching our client what to expect in a lash service, and/or skin care appointments.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’ve found paying attention to detail has aided me a lot in my business, along with listening to what people want and let’s never forget consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.winkandrelax.com
- Instagram: @winkandrelax
- Facebook: @winkandrelax
