Today we’d like to introduce you to Onyi N. Eruchalu.
Onyi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a teenager, I struggled with acne. I tried proactiv for several months – and while it worked, the products were too harsh and not sustainable for long-term daily care. Right before heading off to college, I received my first facial and loved the entire experience – the relaxing environment, the aromatherapy, and most importantly the ability to nap (except when I was awakened during extractions).
Over the years, I became very diligent in receiving monthly facial treatments, yet I was still experiencing breakouts. After a very bad experience with an esthetician who was not experienced in dealing with skin of color, I became dedicated to finding a dermatologist or esthetician of color. That proved to be an extremely difficult feat, but I finally I found one of the leading black dermatologists in Maryland and made an appointment. She took the time to examine my skin, educated me on various products and ingredients, and strongly encouraged me to get an allergy test.
Three years later, I finally got around to getting the allergy test after moving to Houston and was shocked to learn that I was allergic to a slew of food and environmental items. My allergy doctor encouraged me to eliminate or strongly reduce these items from my diet. I complied with his recommendations, started using the right skincare products, and started to see improvements.
I always dreamed of owning my own business in the skin care industry. However, I obtained my undergraduate degree in information systems and I have spent over 12 years in the oil and gas industry. Over the years, I watched as the oil and gas industry experienced volatility and witnessed many colleagues being laid off. I realized that I needed to take the leap of faith and work on my start working on my entrepreneur dreams. I spent years researching the industry, speaking with dermatologists/estheticians/spa owners, visiting trade shows, and studying ingredients and various products (especially professional grade). When the opportunity came, I returned to school (I thought I was done with formal education after obtaining my MBA) to study esthetics and obtained my license as an esthetician.
MiriEffect Skincare was launched in 2016 in the Sugar Land area of Houston, TX.
While my focus is treating skin of color (defined as persons of African, Asian, Native American, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic backgrounds), I am dedicated to educating everyone about the importance of the correlation between our internal health and the outward appearance of our skin. This is where the business motto “Radiant Skin From Within” stems from.
Watching clients experience #TheMiriEffect, adhere to my recommendations and send me testimonials of their result is extremely gratifying.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think ANY entrepreneur will say that the journey has been smooth – you’re spending your money without ANY guarantee of success, sacrificing sleep, and dealing with moments of self-doubt. In my case, I administer the treatments and manage the administrative aspects (e.g. financial, marketing, inventory, etc). I’m also balancing a full-time job while running the business. However, my passion for self-care and helping others motivates me.
Unlike most solo estheticians, I started WITHOUT clientele. I’ve been building my clientele via word-of-mouth and social media. It is extremely difficult to build and maintain a consistent roster of clients in an industry where the services are considered “nice to have” and not a necessity. But when your clients see results and realize that self-care IS a necessity they come back and tell their network. To all of my regulars, THANK YOU! If you want to become a regular, I welcome you with open arms 🙂
We’d love to hear more about your business.
MiriEffect Skincare is a skincare company that provides customized corrective facial treatments and products from a holistic approach. The products used during the treatment and retailed for at-home care are free of harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulfates, and phthalates – #KnowYourIngredients
The name pays homage to my West African roots. Miri is a variation of the word “Mmiri” which means water. Hydration is essential to maintaining radiant skin, and it is important to receive treatments and use products that keep your skin hydrated.
I started this business because I saw a need for estheticians that look like me and I had the desire to focus on skin of color. My goal is to understand each client’s lifestyle and skin type in order to effectively address their skin concerns. The brand encourages you to embark on the self-care and wellness journey to achieve and maintain healthy, radiant skin.
#TheMiriEffect is the overall experience from the studio to post-treatment testimonials.
What were you like growing up?
As an only child, I was an extroverted introvert (and still am). I loved meeting people and was very skilled at striking up a conversation with anyone, but also enjoyed quiet moments by myself. I was very curious and asked ALOT of questions (and still do) and never took no for an answer. Science was my favorite subject and always had the desire of working for myself. In fact, from the ages of 9-11, I spent two summers running a business selling cookies and frozen slushy drinks. I guess you can say I was prepared for the entrepreneurship hustle. The proceeds from those two summers were used to open my first bank account (thanks Mom!).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mirieffectskin.com
- Phone: Studio: 2814026760 Text: 2818459907
- Email: info@mirieffectskin.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mirieffectskincare
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
