Meet Trailblazer Holly Sheppard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Sheppard.

Holly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a passion for beauty! As a young girl, I was always reading beauty magazines and looking at skincare and makeup, I would have my friends over for spa nights. When I was in high school and trying to figure out what to do with my life, I visited a cosmetology school and knew right away hair wasn’t my thing, Although there was a brief coverage on skincare it wasn’t enough to satisfy my desire.

At that time, I didn’t really know that I could go just to aesthetics school. So, I went to a competently different route… I went to school for medical billing. Everyone who knows me questioned it. My first day of school, I questioned it as well… I questioned it for the next 8 years to be exact. Sitting at my desk at work, I would pull up websites for aesthetics school and just daydream.

I was miserable, angry and unfulfilled. I would come home and cry to my now husband about how unhappy I was. He was so encouraging and really convinced me to follow my dreams. That he would have my back and we would make the transition work regardless.

So, after many souls searching, pep talks and anxiety filled conversations I went for it. It was the scariest, challenging and exciting thing I ever experienced. Anyone changing careers knows exactly what I mean by that!

Although I wasn’t licensed yet, I started to send my resume out while I still had a few weeks left of school. One of the first places I sent it to, called me for a phone interview. After the phone interview, they had me come in for a hands-on interview. I nervously gave my first facial out of school to the manager. The next day, they called me and offered me the position. I turned it down, which boggled the minds of many, “why would you turn down an offer Holly? you haven’t even graduated yet?

Something inside of me told me “your bigger than that spa, do not settle.” About a week later, I was on my last day of Laser Clinic. A student came up to me and said “my daughter has been an aesthetician for 10 years, she is getting really busy and needs an assistant. She works in a medical office, I think your personalities would be perfect together. If your interested here is her phone number, I already told her about you.”

And that is where my Aesthetics journey officially began.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely not. I have definitely been blessed along the way though. About a year before I became an Aesthetician I started seeing one myself. When I would get facials, she would fill my head with facts on skin and even gave me her notes and books to read and study before I actually started school. Then, I had the blessing of mentoring and be taken under the wing of a 10-year Aesthetician where we created a skin care center from scratch. Now, I work in an amazing and supportive office that I consider my family and home.

I was a brand new Aesthetician who had only been out of school for five months once I officially started seeing clients, I had to present myself as a seasoned Aesthetician and deliver results, as I was working in a plastic surgery office who typically require 5+ years of experience! I struggled with so much along the way, but it all really boiled down to was me being my biggest hurdle., I had to prove myself, find confidence, overcome body image comparisons, not let others skew my values, I had to learn to deal with others emotions, truly figuring out how to treat the skin and build customized skincare treatments and to to be perfectly honest finances in the beginning were hard as well.

My advice on your journey is to remember you get out of it what you put into it. You’re going to struggle to find yourself and where you belong, You are going to question your skills but keep fighting for your dream and remember why you started this journey in the first place, for most of us, its to help others feel beautiful.

Success never happens overnight and no one is going to just hand it to you. If you want to be a badass, you gotta put in the hustle. You are 100% in control of your success. AND at the end of the day, you are making such an impact in others life, in ways that go far deeper than just skincare.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in Medical Aesthetics and Laser, but I love to make my patients feel like they are being pampered while achieving and delivering results.

A Medical Aesthetican is under the supervision of a doctor, We are able to use stronger chemicals, lasers and truly treat and correct into the deeper depths of the skin. We also have the option of having the doctor prescribe medications for acne treatment if needed.

You can expect a cozy blanket, soft spa music, a candle burning, some love, laughter, humor, and results when you come to see me. 🙂

I’m most proud of who I have grown into and become throughout this journey, my experiences, my reputation and the loyalty I receive from my patients.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Stay motivated, driven and most importantly network like crazy!

For starters, when you’re in aesthetic school start your Instagram profile. It’s an amazing platform to show your skills, talk with others and make yourself seen by so many. Employers are constantly browsing and following social media to see who is presenting their before/after photos, knowledge, and personality.

Next, Go to every continuing education class you can find, talk to EVERYONE, you never know who is going to be able to get you your “in” to the industry.

Lastly and most importantly, Fake it till you make it girl!!! Be confident, you may feel inadequate in the beginning because you are fresh out of school, but confidence will and can overpower that feeling. Your future self with thank you because you will land a job, you will grow quickly and you will find yourself thriving in your new career.

And remember you are going to be finding yourself in the beginning, finding what you like, what you don’t like. That’s the beauty of being and Aesthetican there are so many different aspects of the career such as working in a resort, spa, med-spa, doctor office, waxing studio, lash studio. Just experiment, find what you like and rock it!!!

Pricing:

• Custom Facial w/dermaplane: $125
• Express Facial: $95
• Hydrafacial: $185
• Chemical Peel: $175+
• IPL/Photofacial: $250+
• Microneedling: $300+
• Microneedling w/PRP: $600
• Laser Hair Removal: *Call for pricing
• FemTouch (women’s wellness): $2,750 Package of 3
• C02 Laser: $2,500
• Resurfx: $400
• RF Body and Face Skin Tightening: *Call for Package Pricing
• Lift and Glow Facial: $335

Contact Info:

• Address: Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center
  8901 E Mountain View Rd #118
  Scottsdale, AZ 85258
• Website: www.drparson.com
• Phone: (480) 282-8386
• Email: holly@drparson.com
• Instagram: @holly_aesthetician

Image Credit:
Kinsley Nicole Photography

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