Meet Kristen Floyd

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Floyd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
To be honest…I think I’m always finding my purpose. I think it’s a journey, to walk in one’s purpose. It shifts, it evolves, as we grow and evolve. Growing up in a very abusive household, while being simultaneously bullied relentlessly at school for the majority of my life, really led me to believe all the negative they said I was. All the name calling, all the tormenting, the fat shaming, how pale I was, how ugly I was, the glasses I wore, the clothes I wore, my red hair…everything that made me different from everyone else. You name it, they picked me apart. At home and at school. I truly didn’t think I was worthy of being here, or worthy of being treated with kindness, or respect because I was ugly. The only thing I knew for sure, was that regardless of what anyone could say about my outward appearance, I knew I had a good heart and could lead with that. I could not stop it, but I could control how I reacted to the abuse. I could control what I let it fuel within me. It drove me to get the best grades I could, get involved in as many extracurricular activities/groups as I could. Be SADD President, a class officer, yearbook, newspaper, etc. and work as much as I possibly could. I knew that grades and financial independence were how I would be able to get out of that environment. I also knew that the more I poured into others, the more it healed the part of me that needed pouring into. I had always combed through fashion/beauty magazines, looking for ways to make myself “beautiful”. I was always fascinated with makeup, mixing up my own ‘products’ at home. Practicing on friends. Cutting their hair, doing their makeup, waxing their legs on the kitchen floor. It never occurred to me to make it a career. A lot of that was the negativity I received. That I was too ugly to be a Makeup Artist, too fat to ever be taken seriously and be in a magazine or on TV as an ‘expert’. So I was focused on Wall Street. I wanted to be a Stock Broker, be successful and as far away from my hometown as possible. It wasn’t until I started that journey, that I realized I would hate it in the long run. I knew it would not be sustainable because I didn’t love it. One of my several jobs, had been at a local salon/spa. Being THERE made me happy. I knew that was where I belonged. It made me happy to be there, take care of others, talk with them, listen to them, show them the beauty I see in them. THAT was my purpose. Of course, there was negative feedback to that. But it fueled me. It led to the attitude of, “Watch Me.” Oh you don’t think someone ‘ugly’ like me can be an Esthetician? That I’m too fat to be on TV? That no one will take beauty advice from an ‘ugly’ Makeup Artist? It drove me to prove them so wrong. And in showing my clients the beauty I see in them, by running a highlighter over the beauty in them, I realized I was learning to find the beauty in myself. I thought I was teaching others to love themselves, but I was also teaching me to love myself. Being an Esthetician & Makeup Artist is SO much more than skin deep. My clients joke it’s like coming to therapy. It’s creating bonds, being vulnerable, connecting. I’ve known many of my clients for the entirety of my so far 20+ year career. I’ve been there with them for some of the best moments of their lives, and some of the worst. I’m privileged to be able to a part of that, to be here for as long as I have been, and to create the bonds and relationships within my community that I have. It makes me proud to be here in my hometown, to have my whole career here, and to be involved and passionate. At the end of the day, I’m just holding a mirror to the beauty my clients reflect to me. They feed my spirit, as much as I feed theirs. My purpose is to help people feel confident, empowered, beautiful, and provide a safe space to be vulnerable and lean into the process. It’s not about covering up, it’s about highlighting the beauty that already exists, in all of us. My purpose is not singular, or linear, and I know it will continue to grow and evolve as I do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Being an Esthetician & Makeup Artist for over 20+ years has been wildly fulfilling. I’m a Licensed Esthetician in DC, MD, and California, with thousands of hours of continuing Education and multiple certifications. I will soon be NCEA Certified, which is the highest voluntary credential in the United States as an Esthetician. As an Educator, I’ve also had the honor of teaching other Estheticians continuing education, and the Director/ Educator at an Esthetics school. I’ve had the pleasure of taking care of countless Brides and their wedding parties on their big day, done runway makeup for New York Fashion Week, written a monthly beauty column in B Woman Magazine, been featured in Baltimore Magazine, Baltimore Style Magazine, Washingtonian Weddings, Baltimore Weddings – along with spotlights on the blogs Munaluchi Bride, Aisle Society & Wedding Sparrow. I’ve also been highlighted in business publications from The Daily Record, Baltimore Business Journal, Canvas Rebel, and Baltimore Voyage. You can regularly catch me on WBFF Fox 45 Morning News where I have been featured for the past 10 years as a Resident Beauty Expert, and a Featured Beauty Professional for Bmore Lifestyle. The highlight, and the proudest moment in my career thus far has definitely been owning my own spa, OCB Spa. I wanted to create a space that was welcoming, safe, inclusive and supportive. I created the space that I longed for, and new others longed for as well. Owning my own Spa allows me to share my voice, support social causes and increase community involvement.
I’m so proud to say that OCB Spa won Baltimore’s Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Readers’ Choice for Best Spa, Best Lashes and Best Brows in 2022. And just named Best Wax in the Jewish Times Readers’ Choice for 2023. OCB Spa also won Best Brows, Best Lashes & Best Cosmetics in Baltimore Weddings Best of Baltimore Readers’ Choice 2022. Kristen Floyd Bridal won Best Makeup in Baltimore Weddings Best of Baltimore Readers’ Choice 2022.
As OCB Spa continues to grow and evolve, we are also adding our own signature products. We currently have OCB Spa Cold Brew Beard Oil, Oil Cleanser, and two OCB Spa plumping lipglosses. We’ll be adding more products, and holistic supplements ones as well. Most recently, I’ve become Certified in Gua Sha. An amazing traditional Chinese medical treatment, Gua Sha is the practice of using a small, hand-held tool with rounded edges made of jade, rose quartz, or metal to scrape the skin with a stroking motion. It’s a simple but rigorous technique that has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments and promote healing within the body. It releases tension from various parts of the body, and removes toxin buildup while increasing lymphatic and blood flow to the area to decrease inflammation. Especially beneficial for those with autoimmune diseases. I’ve had such success with clients that were experiencing chronic conditions, experience complete and lasting relief. I am so excited to use this treatment as an alternative approach to those seeking relief, or just to relax. I’m very excited and passionate about all that Gua Sha can do, and bringing more education and awareness to the forefront. October marks OCB Spa’s 5th Anniversary, and we’ll be celebrating…so be sure to follow us for all the latest happenings!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Communication, empathy and compassion. It’s how we connect with people, how people feel safe to connect with us, to trust us. Knowledge of your field, expertise, practicing your craft, continuing education, are all important. You can have ALL of these things, you can have all the talent in the world, and it won’t make up for lacking communication, empathy and compassion. If there is anything I’ve learned over these years, it’s that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s strength. Vulnerability is the cornerstone of connection. Many times in my profession, the client can feel so vulnerable when they first come to the spa. Of course being skilled at what I do is imperative, but what keeps them coming back, is the way they felt. It’s something I hear over and over, even from Bridal Party members who’ve only met me once when I’ve done their makeup. What sticks with them is how comfortable I made them feel, how they felt seen, heard, and understood. That they trust me. That’s what sticks with me, that’s what drives me, that’s what elevates my skill and passion. My practical skills would be nothing without all the qualities that build connections.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Especially when your livelihood is tied to pouring into others. It can feel draining if you’re not also pouring into yourself, and you can burn out. It happens to the best of us. The best piece of advice I have, is get back to center. Pour into you. However that might be for you. For me, it’s back to the basics. Getting back to a regular sleep pattern, not staying up extra late for the sake of finishing work tasks, making home cooked meals, getting some self care. Wether that be mediating, taking a yoga class, or getting a massage. As a service provider, we are often the least taken care of when getting services done. So making an appointment to have someone pour into you, can be revitalizing. I also find in these times, I need to spark my creative spirit as I’ve been so focused on other things, it’s been neglected. What gets my creativity flowing is being in nature, like a park or an arboretum. Live music, particularly Jazz. And museums. Art always feeds my spirit, and I leave feeling renewed. Back to center can be hard if it’s been a while, but just one of those things can get me out of the state of being overwhelmed enough, it sparks the journey.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Madeline Serio Laura Black Milton Lawrence Andrea Rodway

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