Black Beauty Pros Profile of the Week: Ebony Overstreet of Bella Vida Day Spa & Salon 

In honor, celebration, and acknowledgment of Black History Month, we're interested in sharing more than our own thoughts on this important and momentous month. This month, we're offering insights, interviews, and guidance from successful and admirable Black cosmetologists and estheticians in the industry (all who happen to be Elite Beauty Society members, too). 

These members of the EBS community have taken their careers and their success to whole new heights, and now, they're sharing their passion and fire for this industry with us. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Black beauty pro Ebony Overstreet shares her experience on how she's grown her esthetics business and offers career-boosting advice for fellow Black beauty professionals. 

Meet Ebony Overstreet: Esthetician & Educator Extraordinaire

I was trained by one of the best lash technicians here in Atlanta, GA, and worked at her shop for a few years. I watched her, learned, and all the while just got more intrigued with the beauty industry itself. And that led me to take more classes here and there, go to different shows, and just connect with industry friends. And that's when I realized I could make a life out of this. I was a single mom when I started, but I'd gotten married, I had a blended family, and I was working the normal 9-5 and still trying to entertain the lash industry when I realized it wasn't what I wanted.

So, I got licensed as an esthetician and then trained from some of the best in the country–East Coast and West Coast. When I realized I wanted to do more than lashes, I branded myself as Bella Vida Day Spa and Salon, and that created opportunities for me that I never imagined. I do all things skin–corrective skincare, I'm heavy in acne treatments, and my newest baby in the industry is body contouring. 

I've grown a small community, have a staff that works under me, and I'm focusing on growing bigger right now. 

What's been your biggest achievement in your career thus far?

I think it's two-fold from last year. I did a lot of calling myself a student and a teacher. I did a lot of training, a lot of traveling, and a lot of tradeshows. My goal last year was to implement a mentorship program.

It's one of the things I saw in the industry over the years that a lot of people out there have amazing talent, but they have amazing talent and don't know what to do with a business. So, you're keeping your business at a certain level when it has all this other potential. 

I noticed the more I was a student, the more I had people who wanted to learn from me. So, I launched a mentorship program to help people with amazing talent and amazing business skills. 

What's something you love about being in the esthetics industry? 

It's all about the transformation.

It's amazing, and it's one of the things that pushed me to do more. Even as a lash tech, I remember my very first clients–they were my son's girlfriends–and I was practicing and practicing to get better. But they'd go to having almost no lashes to the lash extensions and it was just something different and transformative. 

And then, as that slowly turned into skincare, it was amazing to see the transformations of women and men–especially men! So, for me, it's about the transformations you see from your clients.

How do you feel the representation of Black beauty pros in the world today has impacted you? 

It's had a huge impact. I'm in Atlanta, GA, and I'm from Greeneville, SC. When I moved here, I was just your plain jane girl, not into makeup, not into lashes. Then, when I got here, it was just such a different industry. 

I'm looking at all these beautiful black people, and you know, they're dolled up, and their skin is beautiful, and it's just a humbling experience. It's just amazing to rub elbows with people that are looking at the inner beauty of people, seeing what they can do with their skill set to enhance outer beauty, and kick down doors. It's all growing, and it's amazing to be a part of it. 

Where do you personally believe you've seen the most growth and progress in the industry that's directly inspired you? 

The biggest progress and growth I've seen is in education. Someone who's inspired me is Niesha Crockett-Ingrams from Alluring Curves out in California. 

I started following her on social media a few years ago. When you go to her page, you get encouragement, education, and skillset. It's the whole beauty and brains that she has going and the empowerment she's giving her audience. It pushed me and really helped me in a lot of areas. I trained with her and continue to learn from her.

So I think if you have someone in the industry who's really pushing you to grow and to be better, that's where inspiration comes from. It's definitely helped me get where I am with my mentorship program and employees and my business. 

What do you think are some ways the beauty industry can do better to encourage Black beauty professionals and education? 

It's definitely education. There are a lot of channels out there for everyone to get an education–whether it's paid or free. I think that making it known to people of color that these opportunities are affordable and there for them. 

How are you celebrating and acknowledging Black History Month–personally or within your business? 

For my business, I have a whole campaign…about some of the most important people in Black history. People that kicked down the doors for us in the beauty industry, you know, like Madam CJ Walker. 

We're standing on the backs of those people so that we can understand where we were and where we are now–it's important to know that the door has been opened to us. 

One of the biggest things I'm doing this month is that some of my classes are (discounted). There are 29 days in February, so I'm doing this whole 29-day campaign where my educational classes are $29, though valued at $1500 or more. This campaign will launch on February 14th.

What advice would you offer new Black beauty pros? 

First, write it all down–your intentions. Make it plain, stay in your lane, and don't waver. Take the time to learn your skillset, figure out how to come into the building so people know who you are, and don't be afraid to network with people.

Don't be intimidated by their history in the business. You'd be so surprised by the amount of vets in this industry that are making good income but are still willing to help you.  

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