Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalana Alexander-Hunter.
Hi Shalana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Louisiana native that moved to Pearland,, TX from Kansas City, MO in 2016. At the time, I had been a registered nurse for 8 years and I was burnt out. I was ready to pivot my nursing career & merge my medical knowledge into my passion for skincare. I opened Gleaux Aesthetics in May 2017. I specialize in correcting skin of color with my niche of getting rid of dark spots.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! Opening and running a successful small business is not for the faint at heart. It is taxing at EVERY level! I have experienced the WHOLE gamut of struggle. Financial, emotional, physical, mental & spiritual struggle! Oh and don’t forget to add the natural disaster struggles from Harvey in 2017, Floods in Houston, Pandemic of 2020- & The Freeze of 2021.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is called Gleaux Aesthetics & Gleaux pronounced “Glow” The spelling was intentional because it is an ode to my Louisiana roots. I grew up on Arceneaux Road and there are many surnames in Louisiana with the -eaux ending.
I am a registered nurse and worked as a Medical/Surgical nurse in a hospital for much of my career in Kansas City, MO. I moved to Houston in 2016 & after taking a hospital job in the area, I realized that I was extremely burnt out & I wanted to transition my nursing career & experience into helping others with their skin concerns.
I specialize in helping those with skin of color address acne, hyperpigmentation and premature aging with corrective treatments and medical-grade skincare products, which are from my skincare line that I released last year. I currently have 22 skincare products that are exclusive to my current clientele.
I’m also working on expanding my business by sharing my knowledge with other skincare professionals or those that desire to enter into the industry. It’s in its infant stages but I’m really excited to share what I’ve learned in starting a new business and my experience from my treatment room!
I’m most proud of the fact that I didn’t give up on myself and my business. Owning a business is extremely challenging but it is also extremely rewarding! Once I experienced freedom of my own time, I was determined to learn all that I could to make my business a success. I could have easily quit and returned back to nursing but I have the determination, lessons in my back pocket and the right people around me on the hard days to continue to push through.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The aesthetic industry is a billion dollar industry and naturally, burnt out registered nurses have been successfully pivoting their skills and knowledge to the aesthetics industry for obvious reasons. There is less stress, more money, more autonomy & it is more fulfilling.
With regard to buying trends, women of color are increasingly spending more money each year on aesthetic services but there is a shortage of knowledgeable professionals to offer these services in a safe & effective manner. I’d like to help close these gaps so that women of color can receive these services by qualified professionals.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.gleauxaesthetics.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/gleauxaesthetics
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/gleauxaesthetics
