Check Out Erica Sicre Rachael Chelgren’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Sicre Rachael Chelgren.

Hi Erica Sicre, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We’re Rachael Chelgren and Erica Sicre — two estheticians turned educators, content creators, and founders of Wax Pro Academy.

Between the two of us, we’ve clocked over 30 years in the industry. We’ve trained teams at major corporate waxing chains, run thriving solo businesses, and seen firsthand how underprepared many new estheticians feel after beauty school. We kept hearing the same thing: “I wish someone would just show me how to actually do this.”

So we built what we wish we had: a place where aspiring and working waxers can finally get the real-life education they need to be confident, competent, and successful.

Wax Pro Academy started with a simple idea: pair solid, professional technique with smart business training, and deliver it in a way that’s unfiltered, accessible, and actually fun. Since launching, we’ve helped estheticians across the country (and globe) refine their skills, master their craft, and build businesses they’re proud of.

Our brand has since grown to include online courses, in-person training, a podcast (“The Wax Pros | Uncut”), a merch line (“PRO AF”), and a thriving online community that keeps it real while raising the standard in this industry.

We’re educators, yes… but we’re also hype women, straight shooters, and proof that you can be both professional and unapologetically yourself.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not a smooth road, but that’s what built the foundation for Wax Pro Academy. We have experienced time and time again that the path to success is not linear.

Like most beauty pros, we started with passion… and no clue how to actually turn it into a sustainable career. We’ve both experienced burnout, inconsistent income, lack of mentorship, and the pressure to “figure it all out” alone. There were times we questioned if we even belonged in this industry.

Starting Wax Pro Academy came with its own challenges too: learning how to film content, build a website, market a digital product, and basically become a media company overnight while still running our own businesses and raising families.

One of the biggest struggles? Changing the mindset of new estheticians who are overwhelmed, underpaid, and unsure of what’s next, and showing them that there is a path forward with the right education and support. (All while still trying to convince ourselves of this as well.)

We’ve made mistakes, we’ve pivoted a dozen times, and we’ve done almost everything the hard way. But it’s exactly those challenges that make us the educators and mentors we are today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Wax Pro Academy, we specialize in continuing education for beauty professionals, specifically estheticians looking to master waxing and build a profitable business. Our mission is to bridge the gap between beauty school and real-world success.

Beauty school teaches the basics, but it rarely prepares you for the pace, pressure, or expectations of working in the field. That’s where we come in. We’ve created detailed, step-by-step courses that teach not only technical waxing skills, but also how to run your business, price your services, navigate client communication, and grow with confidence.

We’re known for being clear, real, and supportive: no fluff, no gatekeeping. We break things down in a way that actually makes sense, and we care deeply about helping other estheticians feel prepared, professional, and proud of the work they do.

What sets us apart is that we’ve lived every part of this industry: from corporate training to solo suites, from burnt out to booked out. We don’t just teach theory, we teach from experience. And we’re most proud of the fact that our students consistently tell us, “You’re the mentors I never had.”

How do you think about happiness?
Seeing estheticians get it. That “aha” moment when a technique clicks or when a student’s confidence finally shines through for the first time — that lights us up every time.

We’re happiest when we’re helping other beauty pros realize they can make a living doing what they love, without burning out or second-guessing themselves. We know how lonely this industry can feel without support, so building a community where education and encouragement are the norm? That’s everything to us.

Also… a good Brazilian wax video, a spicy group chat with our Wax Pros fam, and knowing we’re making a real impact? That’s the good stuff.

Pricing:

• Art of Hair Removal Course ($200)
• Business 101 Course ($200)
• Mastery (Art of hair removal + Business) $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thewaxproacademy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waxpros/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewaxproacademy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@THEWAXPROS
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewaxpros

Image Credits
Julianne Marie Photography