Beauty & The Trap: Lessons I Took from the Music Industry to the Treatment Room

Let me start by saying this: business is business. No matter what field you’re in—beauty, music, fashion, food—the core principles don’t change. Once you step into entrepreneurship, you start to notice the same themes: launching, marketing, branding, consistency, sustainability, and resilience.

That realization made me reflect on all the professional chapters I’ve lived. I’ve worn many hats, but the most formative experience I ever had was my time working in the music industry. Specifically, hip hop. I worked during the trap era—a time where the lyrics were unapologetically about the hustle: making money, distribution, market saturation, and enjoying the spoils of capitalism.

And while that genre of music can be polarizing or even dismissed as “drug music” by some, the truth is, it teaches some of the most steadfast principles of business—especially if you know how to listen.

So in this blog, I want to show you how what I learned in the music industry—on the ground level—shaped how I run my esthetics business today. Whether you’re in lashes or launches, facials or festivals, I promise you the blueprint overlaps.

The following is how the music industry helped me grow my esthetics business.

Launching: Hustle First, Then Build

Interning for DJ Drama in Atlanta lit a fire in me—it showed me firsthand that anything is possible when you’re willing to work. I tell people all the time: study creatives outside of your industry. Look at anyone who dared to step out on faith and build something from the ground up.

No, I’m not saying quit your job today. But I am saying: start brainstorming ways to shift out of your current position, and slowly transition into working for yourself.

When I was trying to break into music, I did grunt work for little to no pay just to get in the room. In esthetics, this might look like shadowing a beauty professional for a few hours a week. But while you’re learning, don’t lose your vision—start journaling your ideas, defining your vibe, and investing in the tools you'll need.

Before I even had a suite, my living room was filled with facial steamers and skincare equipment. A friend walked in and asked why I had so much stuff. My response? “Because I will soon.”

That’s how launching starts. Prepare before the opportunity comes. When I finally got hired at a major management company, I was ready. And when that job ended? I launched my own boutique booking agency with everything I had soaked up. That same energy now powers my esthetics business.

Ideation & Creativity: Touch the People

The music industry taught me that creativity isn’t optional—it’s your edge. And with social media? It’s never been more powerful.

In college, I helped run a street team for one of our artists. We printed flyers, hit the clubs, passed out mixtapes—what people now call guerrilla marketing. I call it touching the people. When I opened my skincare studio, I used the same playbook. I printed 500 flyers offering a free service and passed them out after work, at places I knew my ideal clients would be.

One of my favorite memories was convincing a well-known female rapper we represented to hand-sign posters. I took them to Spelman College with her latest mixtape, and the whole freshman dorm was blasting it by nightfall.

Moral of the story: don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

And yes, imposter syndrome is real. But feel the fear and do it anyway. Not every campaign will work—some will flop. But others? They’ll hit. I’ve had campaigns that tanked, and then I went back, rebuilt, and relaunched. It’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall. Some slides. Some sticks. The key is to keep throwing.

Your creativity is the strategy.

Marketing: Choose Your Media Wisely

Back then, all we had was MySpace, mixtapes, DJs, and street promo. Today? You’ve got Instagram, TikTok, email, YouTube, and more. But the principle remains: find the media that works for you, and own it.

At our management company, we had four major artists—all with different strategies:

• One dropped free music constantly and built through consistency.

• One rarely dropped music but used MySpace to connect deeply with fans.

• One didn’t do much online but performed live constantly and built locally.

Each approach worked. Why? Because they played to their strengths.

Now let’s apply that to esthetics. So many beauty pros chase virality—but are you converting followers into paying clients? Are you entertaining, or are you booking?

Don’t get caught up in dancing to trends with an empty studio. Instead, showcase your skills, your tools, your results. People want to trust you with their face—not just watch you be funny.

I personally get a lot of clients from Facebook and Instagram. So I double down there. Find your platform—but make sure it’s leading to real bookings, not just likes.

This was a flyer I distributed when I first started my business. I went on a barbershop tour around my city. I performed on site skincare treatments for men to get the word out about my business.

Consistency & Sustainability: Be the Follow-Up Queen

Client acquisition is fun. But client retention is where the money lives.

Back in music, we had to keep fans coming back. Our artists dropped hit after hit to stay relevant. In beauty, the same applies—consistency builds trust.

Here’s what I do:

• Offer referral rewards

• Incentivize Google reviews

• Encourage pre-booking

When people love your work, they bring friends. And those reviews? They build social proof for the next new client to feel confident booking with you.

Now let’s talk sustainability. We had an artist who kept getting locked up, and it hurt our office financially. In beauty, your actions matter just as much. Keep your name clean—online, behind the chair, and in your policies.

Some shops didn’t survive the 2020 beauty boom because of poor customer service, bad attitudes, and harsh policies. Business isn’t just about talent—it’s about how you make people feel.

Your public image matters. In music and in beauty.

Hard Work: Studio Hours Hit Different

Long nights, early mornings, last-minute calls—that was my life in the music industry. And it’s no different now.

When you’re first starting, you’ll wear every hat. You may have to squeeze clients in after your 9–5. Show up early. Stay late. Handle clerical work. Keep track of everything.

And please, don’t wait six months to close out appointments like I did once. Learn from me.

Music artists who ignored their paperwork got trapped in bad contracts. Same goes for estheticians who don’t track income, expenses, or follow-up tasks. It’s all about the numbers. Know your business.

And remember, hard work is just the beginning. Long-term? Build systems. Build teams. Train others. Scale up.

Blind Faith: Bet on Yourself Anyway

This last part is from the heart: you’re going to need blind faith.

You might have to:

• Fund your dream while working another job

• Show up when no one’s calling

• Keep showing up anyway

In music, I watched people couch surf, pour their last dollar into studio time, and still not “make it.” But they tried. That kind of faith is powerful.

Luckily, in beauty, we don’t need a record deal. We need a license and a plan.

If you’ve made it this far, know this: you’re not crazy for believing in yourself. You’re not alone. And your dream is not too big.

Sit in that suite all day if you have to. Post that brow wax before and after. Let people know you’re here.

And no—you don’t have to record in your homegirl’s closet with a sock over the mic to make it. 😉

P.S. I put together a playlist to go with this post—featuring some of the artists I worked with back in the day and some tracks that still fuel my hustle. Check it out here .

– Mo’