Today we’d like to introduce you to Tee Dobbins.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
Thank you for having me. I’m Tee. First, I can honestly say I never knew I would be in the spa industry. Ask anyone close to me, they would tell you I was going to be a nurse after graduation. That was all I talked about. Well time passed, I started a career in Public Health working in HIV prevention and sexual health, but I knew I wanted to work for myself in some capacity but wasn’t quite sure how. Fast-forward about 10 years, I was doing lash extensions as a side hustle and decided to be official with a license, so I looked into my local esthetician programs. I immediately knew this was it, so enrolled in February 2019 and never looked back. I fell in LOVE with skincare and body waxing. I also struggled with acne, so learning everything about skin felt like I was finally getting the cheat codes and I wanted to share! In July 2019, I completed my program with my graduation date being my late mother’s birthday (I love you mommy!) who would have been so proud to see how I was evolving into my purpose. I quit my salaried job 5 weeks later and moved into my first brick and mortar in February 2020, literally 3 weeks before the shutdown in Michigan. I can’t lie I panicked a little lol but I just had this feeling in my gut to keep going. So, I did. February 2022 will be 3 years in!
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
Whew, what challenges haven’t I? To keep it short my biggest challenges were being broke, losing my grandmother during a pandemic while also opening a business which I had very little knowledge at the time. I just moved into my Spa and 3 weeks later I was closed due to the spread of COVID-19. I hadn’t even taken my first client yet! I was scared with not knowing what was next. Although, I worked part-time as an independent contractor, I counted on the Spa being my main source of income. My spa income was going to allow me to also leave my contracting job. Well, it was not the case and I needed to figure things out quick! So, I worked an additional part-time job to help with my personal bills, pay rent on my newly leased space, purchase equipment, supplies and software needed to run my business. Many times, I wondered if I was crazy to still move forward with this not knowing how long we will be closed or where this virus will lead. But I did, I wanted to be ready for whenever I could open my doors, so I built my website, started to be more active on my social media and stayed positive about the outcome.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I specialize in skincare, brows and Brazilian waxing. I have helped many women reduce the occurrence of painful ingrown hairs and lighten pigmentation in their intimate areas helping them to feel more comfortable and confident. I partner with clients to create individualize skincare programs that target specific conditions and concerns to meet the skin goals they want. My experience includes facials, chemical peels, acne treatments, dermaplaning, microchanneling, oxygen treatments and brow services. I take pride in the client experience and treatment plans that are created alongside the client. The truth is when you look good you automatically feel good. I know personally how acne affects self-esteem and no one should ever have to deal with that, and truth is you don’t have to with the right information, treatments, routine and of course your favorite Estie, Me! It’s important for me to not miss the mark with my client’s needs and how I can serve them to help them feel great about themselves. My love for educating and sharing information to help improve lives has allowed me to gain trust from my community which always lends great results. When visiting my spa, you can always expect a 5-star experience to remember no matter the service!
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
If you can see it, it can become a reality. Your imagination isn’t just to pass time but it’s the place where you create, create, create. After you create, you must believe that you can have and deserve whatever it is your heart desires. Sometimes things will get tough, you may have some detours but pull out your GPS (your why to what you are doing) refuel and continue your path without burning yourself out. My most important piece of advice is to take the nap! It’s ok to rest! The grind is real, but the grind can also kill. Take care of your mental space, make time for friends and loved ones and be intentional about every move you make. Yes, time is money, but it’s also very precious too! The last piece of advice I want to leave you with and my friends all laugh when I say this but “If cauliflower can be pizza or wings, you my dear can be anything you want!” Facts!
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success to me means freedom to navigate the world how I want and deserve, financial freedom and security as well as impacting the lives of others for good. Success is also balanced physical, mental and emotion health.
What’s next for you?
On a larger scale, I want to open an Esthetics school that incorporates how to be a spa business owner for students who know they want to branch out on their own after graduating. My vision for my esthetics school is to include business taxes, marketing and customer service and collaboration as an additional part of their curriculum. As for Why Not Skin & Beauty, I’d like for it to eventually become a Medspa and employ other estheticians, nurses, massage therapist, reiki masters etc with multiple locations. I would love to mentor new estheticians and be able to offer them apprenticeships and work studies at Why Not. As for now, I am adding new services to the spa menu and I will be offering classes that I am super excited about! I plan to integrate another passion of mine, event planning so look for some cool events related to health and wellness coming up in 2022 at Why Not Skin and Beauty so you’ll have to stay tuned!
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Yes, please connect! I love meeting people! You can find me on Instagram @whynotskinandbeauty or Facebook at Why Not Skin & Beauty. If you’re not on social media no worries, you can e-mail me at tee@whynotskinandbeauty.com