Meet Rosalyn Jefferson: Esthetician & EBS Customer 

Rosalyn didn’t set out into the career world with aesthetics in mind. In fact, both her undergraduate and graduate degrees are in the hospitality industry.

But after spending years as a successful, driven hotel manager, she realized something serious–she was burned out.

When the time came to have her second child, she knew something had to give. She took maternity leave and never went back. A winding road led her to esthetics school in 2019.

Despite feeling intimidated and like the “old lady,” as she said, in a class full of students younger than her, Rosalyn tackled it all. She graduated top of her class, scored a job right out of school, and became the best esthetics employee she could be.

When the COVID pandemic happened, she met with clients in her home for as long as she could.

Then the shutdown happened. When things started opening up again, her clients slid into her DMs–was she ready to take them back for appointments in her Baltimore home?

Her at-home suite quickly grew into a thriving business. She’s successful, ever-growing, and making more money now, working for herself, than she did in corporate America. Now, she’s got the keys in hand for her next big venture–her own salon suite for her rapidly growing business.

You can follow along with Rosalyn’s success, experience her esthetic journey, and even book with her in Baltimore by following her on Instagram. 

Our Exclusive Q&A With Rosalyn Jefferson 

What would you say is your biggest achievement/ impactful moment? 

It’s hard to sum it up, but for me, it’s that people are willing to return. Being sought after. Or going from being so shy and timid in the industry to now, and this is not to sound cocky, but to have clients repeatedly coming to me, spending money with me, and forming a bond with me. As far as impact, it’s the relationships and the bonds I’ve made. And knowing that I don’t need any corporate job telling me when I can and when I can’t make money.  

What’s something you most love and enjoy about the industry? 

It’s the hospitality aspect for me. Which might sound cheesy, but it’s all I know. You’re never going to get the same person twice in a day. You're going to see various types of people and different dynamics. Some stories make you cry or laugh. It’s just the exchange you get with people. It can be draining–but it’s rewarding, and I enjoy not sitting behind a desk. 

How do you feel the representation of African American beauty pros has impacted you?

Tremendously. I don’t know if I was living under a rock; I just didn’t know there were as many African Americans in the beauty industry as I do now. And probably because I’m an esthetician, and there’s this thing called social media, which wasn’t around when I was younger. You see people all over in different cities and countries. People are realizing that the beauty industry isn’t going anywhere, and it’s super impactful–but the African American women, and a few men, opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know much about. As a kid, my knowledge of the beauty industry extended only to the “kitchen beautician”. But now my eyes are open to the many avenues of the industry. Black beauty pros are beautiful and magical! Those before me have paved the way and created opportunities for me. 

What are you think are some ways that the beauty industry can encourage more African American professionals to enter the industry? 

Starting at the high school level would be big. Allowing people to know that it can be a lucrative and rewarding career. I know for me, at the high school level, my only options were college or the military. I only saw those types of recruiters represented at school. I went to a trade school, so cosmetology was an option–but it wasn’t a highlighted option in my household and many brown girls like me. College was forced down our throats. And while college shaped me, ’m doing tremendously better with a trade than with my two degrees sitting on the wall and the high price tag they came with. High school students should know trades are just as good and they leave you in less debt. 

How are you celebrating and acknowledging Black History Month? 

My kids are in school, so they have all of the programs we’re planning on attending. They have projects and homework assignments we talk about when they get home. I want to let my children know how important Black History is throughout the whole year! I just posted a video on my Instagram from being in Memphis, visiting where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Telling my kids stories like that, sharing with them, and letting them know they’re Black and should be proud to be Black and make their own history. 

What advice would you give anyone entering the industry? 

Map out where you see yourself first. From that map, puzzle piece by puzzle piece, make a plan on how to get there. Find something in the industry you’re passionate about–your niche, as people say. Study it, hone it, and be amazing at that one thing first!  I say that because I tried to do everything. You want to do eyelashes; you want to do makeup; you want to do facials, and peels; you want to wax–you want to be amazing at everything you see. But you cannot master everything. And everyone isn’t going to come to you for everything. The second piece of advice is that your business has to stand firm and tall outside of social media. Not saying you don’t need it–it’s the best free marketing you can get. Make sure you have a web presence outside of social media.