Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayanna Anderson.
Hi Ayanna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. My family always instilled in me that education was power and that I could do anything I put my mind to if I kept God first. I attended Hood College in Frederick, Md. and I believe this was the start of trying to figure out who I was as a young woman and adult. I attended private schools and my parents always protected me as much as they could from the outside world. However, attending college gave me the opportunity to see the world through a different lens. I learned a lot about different cultures, and backgrounds, and even how to represent myself as an African American woman in the world. I truly value my college experience, I met many people that started off as friends/mentors, but later transitioned into family.
At Hood College, I struggled between wanting to pursue a degree in education or marketing and communications. Through prayer, self-reflection, and graduation vastly approaching, I realized education wasn’t my passion. In 2016, I walked across the stage with a Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing and Communications and a minor in English.
After undergrad, I made the decision to go right into graduate school. I received a graduate assistantship in the Academic Affairs Office at Stevenson University. My tuition was paid in full, so there was no way I could let this opportunity pass me by. In May 2018, I received my Master of Science in Communication Studies.
It was during this moment, I feel life started “lifing” as they say on social media. Looking back, it seems that everything happened so fast but it happened when and how it was supposed to. My then-boyfriend, now husband, proposed to me in March 2018. We had our daughter in February 2019 and our wedding in May 2019. During the midst of all the new beginnings, I even started a career in communications with the federal government. Talk about life happening fast.
Throughout my many accomplishments, being a mom is the best one yet. I say this because my daughter helped me realize my purpose and provided me with the motivation to start my business, Lael’s Natural Essentials. My business is named after my daughter, her middle name is Lael and it means belonging to God. My daughter and I both suffer from eczema and during that time, I was experiencing postpartum hair loss and my daughter was experiencing infant hair loss. I continuously faced issues trying to find reliable, affordable, and trustworthy products to help our skin and hair. It was also during the pandemic when the world was in chaos, businesses were closing, and no one was leaving their home. So I thought to myself, what can I do to help both of us?
The next morning, I woke up early and started researching how to make natural skin and hair products. I believe, at this moment, God bestowed upon me the vision to begin implementing everything I needed to start LNE. During my research, I ended up at the infamous, Youtube University, where I met my mentor, Eden. I always say this woman was a gift from God because she has taught me so much from how to properly formulate products, how to design products for various skin and hair types, the benefits of natural herbs, oils, and other ingredients, and so much more.
In a matter of a few hours, I had an entire business plan to present to my husband, and his response was “okay, let’s do it!”. From there, I made a business page on Instagram and posted my hair and skin oils. The response was overwhelming, I wasn’t expecting so much support. To see how my products are helping people with their hair loss, scalp issues, and more, I now understand that God didn’t give me this vision for me and my daughter, but to help others on their natural skin and hair journeys as well.
In March 2022, I became a licensed esthetician. I guess you’re wondering how did I end up here and how am I doing all of these things? In 2020, I contemplated becoming an esthetician instead of starting my own product line, but I talked myself out of it because I didn’t have the “time”. However, when God has a purpose for your life, he will help you make the time. Again, I came to my husband and said, I think I am ready to go to esthetics school and his response was, “okay, let’s do it!” Without my husband’s encouragement, my mother’s support, my family’s motivation, and God’s grace, I couldn’t have done this.
My journey of becoming an esthetician was difficult; there were plenty of times I wanted to give up. However, it’s always in the back of my mind, that I am not doing this for myself. My purpose for creating LNE and becoming an esthetician is to help educate my community and the world about the benefits of healthy skin and hair care. I always tell my clients, as your esthetician, it is my duty to encourage, uplift, and inspire them on their natural skin and hair journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. But, nothing in life worth having is easy or a smooth path. Being an entrepreneur is a struggle within itself. In addition to being a great mother and wife, working a full-time job, having a social life, and being present for myself, I often wonder how I am sustaining!
As an owner of a natural product line, and now an esthetics suite, I face many struggles. For instance, how can I reach a broader target market to help my business grow, as a new esthetician, how do I expand my clientele, where can I learn how to really grow and market my business on social media?
And on a more personal side, I often run into mom/wife guilt, wondering if I am wearing my entrepreneur hat too often and not being present enough for my family.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I always like to say I am a communications professional by choice and an esthetician & natural product creator by purpose and passion!
As an esthetician, I educate, uplift, and inspire my clients on achieving healthy skincare and feeling beautiful inside and out. I identify various skin diseases and conditions and help improve and maintain my client’s skin through various treatments such as facials, waxing, brow/lash enhancements, and more. I recommend professional skincare products to help my clients achieve and maintain healthy skin. I specialize in facials, specifically focusing on hyperpigmentation, dry skin, and acne. In addition, I perform body waxing, brow tinting, lamination, lash lifts and tints, and more.
Also, as the creator of natural skin and hair products, I handcraft hair growth oils for adults and children, body scrubs, facial oils, massage/body oils, and body butters. My hair products are created to help my customers address dry scalp, hair loss, breakage, and shedding concerns. My skincare products are created to help my customers combat dry skin, and improve upon skin concerns, such as sensitive skin, eczema, dermatitis, and more. During the holidays, I always like to incorporate fun seasonal products, that are designed for relaxation and self-care, but also have great skincare benefits! This fall, I’ll be releasing a vanilla chai body scrub and body, massage, and bath oil!
What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to continue to grow LNE as a beauty and skincare powerhouse! I would like to eventually open a larger building and give other professionals in the beauty, hair, or skincare industry a place and opportunity to expand their business.
I am looking forward to continuing to develop more products that one day may be mass-produced and seen at your local stores. In addition, I would like to continue building my clientele and making people feel beautiful inside and out!
Lastly, I would like to create a self-care/empowerment workshop for women that focuses on self-reflection, self-love, meditation, healthy skincare/haircare, and more. I guess you can say, this day would be full of women supporting, learning, and celebrating one another!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laelsessentials.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/laelsessentials?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
