Smooth talk: Opulence Waxing Spa owner Tenika Foster-Jones mentors future estheticians
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but also a multi-billion dollar industry. So Tenika Foster-Jones hopes to usher in the next generation of estheticians as she develops her own business empire, Harlem’s Opulence Waxing Spa.
Originally from Mount Vernon, Foster-Jones began her journey in high school, where multiple trade courses were offered. But New York State’s 1,000-hour cosmetology education largely focuses on doing hair, not removing it. And her passion was in waxing.
“Of our 1,000 hours, we spend 700 of our hours on hair,” Foster-Jones said. “So you mostly learn hair. Skin is there, nails [are] there. Everything else, you learn a little bit. Just enough to pass your state exam.”
As a result, she ended up working in a full-service spa after high school. Thirty years later, Foster-Jones does everything from skin facials to teeth whitening to of course, waxing. Two years ago, she moved into her location on Adam Clayton Boulevard.
But as Foster-Jones keeps Harlem looking good, she also desires paying it forward. It runs in the family.
“I was a very young little girl, my mom was a community activist,” she said. “She was very involved with the community. But I’ve always loved teaching and sharing. Yeah with the younger youth, you know, so I would talk to groups whether it’s in the church or whether you’re at a community center.”
Through such conversations, she met young people doing makeup or nails as a side hustle. Foster-Jones always asked if they were licensed, and if not, would offer to help them “take their work to the next level.” A few years ago, she partnered with Department of Education students.
“I go through [the] breakdown [of] each part of the appearance of [the] enhancement license to show them what it would take and how long they can get there,” she said. “Then once they get there, [I ask them] what’s a realistic goal of how they can make money.”
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