Published: Mar 4, 2009
By Melissa Hill

This Rhode Island esthetician talks about her path from beauty devotee to owner.
 

Alayne White helps lead the spa revolution with every deep, meditative breath her clients take. The Rhode Island owner firmly believes that a change is going to come to the traditional day spa model. With her focus on the health of the skin—facials being a necessity, not a luxury—and treatments that are spiritually driven in today’s über-stressful world, she’s on the leading edge of what’s to come.

How did you get your start in the beauty industry?
My mother used to take me to get facials when I was young. I fell in love with skin care as early as 12 years old, and I always wanted to be in esthetics. I went to college for a few years, but I was miserable so I went to Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics in 1987. It was the early stages of the industry and facials were considered a luxury. Catherine suggested I work in a department store to learn sales. That was probably the best advice I got; I did that for about a year.

How did you end up owning your own business?
I began renting a space in a salon to see if there was a market for spa services. My son was small, so I didn’t want to open a large place and have work all the time. Once I discovered there was a market, I opened a very small 2-room operation. It became so busy after six months that we were booking Saturday appointments three months out. A lot of people think that’s a great problem to have, but it’s really not. It’s business suicide. So we doubled the space. Now I own two spas.

What’s your biggest professional challenge?
As a sole owner, I don’t have someone to share the ups and downs with. You have to be careful not to share downs with employees. A lot of owners say their biggest problem is staffing, but I love staffing, I love leading a team. Our team is amazing. You can’t take the employees for granted. Your employees are treating your clients, and if you’re not treating your employees properly, why would they treat clients well?

What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love every aspect of my business. I think my favorite part is getting a thank-you note from an employee. Also, the ability to be charitable. When people come in and ask, “can you give me a donation?”—I can and do. I think it’s a privilege as a business owner that I’m able to do that and give back to the community.

Alayne White

Alayne White Spa
Bristol and Providence, RI

• vocation: Owner and esthetician
• age: 44
• years in the industry: 21 years
• favorite spa service: Pedicures
• favorite products: Dermalogica’s Super Rich Repair, Essential Cleansing Solution, Treatment Foundation and Body Hydrating Cream
• favorite business book: Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, by Poppy King.
• favorite way to unwind: I teach Sunday school for third-graders at my synagogue. It’s one of the few things that fully removes me from my business brain.
• advice for new people in the industry: You must love to service people from your heart and want people to feel the love. If you don’t have that piece to you, it’s not the right business for you. We have the privilege to touch people. You can’t get a facial online, and that gives us our little niche.