We were lucky to catch up with Dana Waldie recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dana , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
This is a really great question! When I think about it it comes from curiosity. Growing up in a small town in Michigan I wasn’t exposed to much. At a pretty young age, I knew I wanted to move to California. I was curious about life outside of my small town in Michigan. At 20 yrs young I packed my bags and moved to Los Angeles, CA. Looking back, I realize what a fearless move that was for me… courageous act #1 which ultimately helped me build my confidence and self-esteem. I was living in a big city with SO MUCH competition. I mean, no matter what industry you’re in, it’s the “best in class” candidates that you’re competing with. For whatever reason I’ve always had a “knowingness” that whatever I set my mind to there was no way I was going to fail, even if my resume didn’t hold next to my competitors. I just kept going, taking classes, getting certifications, and honing my craft. Failing and then getting back up. You have to fail to build self-esteem. You have to be CURIOUS about your own limitations. Honestly, I believe failure serves us; the more you fail and get back up the more self-esteem you build. So I guess my message is to always be curious. Be curious about what is possible and who you can inspire along the way.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Dana Waldie a holistic esthetician & wellness practitioner. I own a boutique spa located in Joshua Tree, CA called Methods + Rituals Spa . I have 20 years of experience in the beauty and wellness industry. I specialize in holistic facials. I combine my deep knowledge of skincare with holistic practices to deliver transformative results. My unique blend of expertise in skin care and energy healing offers a comprehensive approach to beauty and wellness. I integrate advanced skincare techniques with energy healing practices to create personalized treatments that address both the physical and energetic aspects of my clients’ well-being. My commitment to using natural, high-quality products and cutting-edge holistic modalities such as Facial Cupping & Gua Sha ensures that my clients receive the best care possible; treating both skin + spirit.
I am most excited about a new endeavor I am preparing to launch. A holistic training course for licensed estheticians. My program includes techniques for Lymphatic Drainage, Kansa Wand, Gua Sha & Facial Cupping. It is perfect for estheticians looking to add unique holistic offerings to their current menu. Learning ancient holistic aesthetic practices is a great way to expand your knowledge and up your game in the industry. My program will be available virtually and eventually in person in a workshop setting.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe to be a successful esthetician you have to be SUPER passionate about skincare, ingredients, skin types & truly want to help your clients with their skin concerns. I live, eat, and breathe the aesthetic industry. I invest in continued education every year and am always seeking out new cutting edge modalities to add to my offerings.
My best advice for any new esthetician starting their career is to seek mentorship. Go work for a spa, med-spa, or doctor/plastic surgeon. There is SO MUCH to treating skin that you don’t learn in school. You learn in the real world with hands-on experience. You need a mentor to help guide you. I was super fortunate when I graduated school to work for Vera Kantor; owner of Vera Bella Skin Therapy in Beverly Hills. While in school I worked the front desk. This is a valuable position for any esthetician-to-be. You learn about customer service, how to troubleshoot difficult clients, and the ins-and-outs of running a spa. When I graduated school I went to work in the treatment room as an esthetician. I am eternally grateful I received a mentorship from a seasoned vet. Vera is best in class…almost every A-lister in Hollywood came to Vera Bella for facials.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
As a small business owner, you wear many different hats. Balancing the various roles I have to take on + being a mother can be challenging. My biggest challenge currently is balancing the two; being a business owner and mother. I am fortunate that my business is thriving but I also have a 2 yr old and am pregnant with another baby on the way ( due March 2025). I have to prioritize my time and say no to a lot of things and only say yes to the things that will serve my business and my family.
One of the main things I am focused on is coming up with my 1 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr plan and taking small steps to execute each goal. For example; planning for my maternity leave for next year. As a business owner, I don’t get paid time off. I have to think outside of the box on how I can continue to generate income for my family but be able to take a decent maternity leave so I can bond with my new baby and family. This is what pushed me to create my Holistic Training course for estheticians. It will be a pre-recorded digital offering. This will enable me to generate some income during my time off. As I build momentum and a following with my pre-recorded offering, it will catapult my 5 yr plan of offering in-person workshops. I am SUPER focused on how each component of my business will lend itself to the future of my business over the years to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.methodsandrituals.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/methodsandrituals_spa/
- Other: Google Reviews: https://www.google.com/search?q=methods+and+rituals&oq=methods+and+rituals+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDAgAEEUYORiABBiiBDIMCAEQIxgnGIAEGIoFMg0IAhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgoIBBAAGIAEGKIEMgYIBRBFGDwyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEINTk1MmowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#mpd=~10605439832880127174/customers/reviews
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