Life and Work with Ami Fagan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ami Fagan.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ami. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started off growing up all over San Diego. I never stayed in one school for too long before moving on to the next. When I turned 15, my parents and I moved out to a small town in Colorado and even there, I still ended going to a different school all four years of high school. With moving so often, it was hard to keep friends or keep up in school at times. By the time I graduated, I had no plan and no idea what I wanted to do for a career. It took a few years of trying different jobs to grasp on what really felt like my passion. I hosted and served through high school, worked as a customer service representative for a tool company, and was a pre-school teacher for toddlers for a while. While I loved each job for its own reason, I still felt like I was missing something. I knew I loved working with people, I loved building other’s confidence and making them feel good, and I love to be detail-oriented.

When I was 18, I had my first facial and it was the most magical experience. Not only was my esthetician friendly, thorough, and made my skin feel new and refreshed, but she instilled a new confidence in me that made me feel glowing! I knew then that I love every bit of the facial process and I wanted to follow this journey as my career! It took a few years to get on track but I ended up taking a wonderful opportunity and moved back in with my parents in Denver, and applied for an esthetics program. I was put on the waitlist initially for the following spring part-time class since it’s all that was available at the time. But instead, I was ecstatic to get the call if I wanted to attend the fall full-time class instead! I knew then that this was meant to be. All signs were saying take this wonderful opportunity! From then on, I put my all into my school work and busted my butt for five months! All the long days of going to school full-time and work part-time had paid off! I had landed my first esthetician job a month before graduating and nothing has topped that feeling knowing I made the right choice for myself and my career.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This journey hasn’t been easy. I thought figuring out my career path was going to be the hard part but going through all the hoops was stressful. Going back to school as someone who wasn’t really good at it was nerve-wracking. Entering a new field as a beginner was taunting. But at the end of the day, I can be proud of what I accomplished because I got through those hard stressful times. If it wasn’t for the confidence I have in my abilities and supportive friends and family I probably wouldn’t have made it so far and so quickly. When I was feeling unsure of myself I was lucky to have a very loving support system to help build me up. When I was feeling nervous or anxious, I faked my confidence until it was real. Reminding myself of how hard I worked to get where I am now and what I’m working towards is what motivates me.

Please tell us about your work.
I am an esthetician at Hand and Stone in Englewood. My passion and goal is to help you reach your skin goals, feel confident in yourself and educating on how to better care for your skin. No one wants to feel bad about their skin or feeling tenser than before your facial. As an esty, I want to not only elevate your skin goals but your mood as well. At Hand and Stone, we have several services to choose from! Anywhere from a classic facial for a first time guest, chemical peels and microdermabrasion for a heavier exfoliation or even just a relaxing hand treatment with aromatherapy to add to your experience. Not to mention including a relaxing massage to make it a complete spa getaway.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I believe some of the biggest barriers women face today are inequality in the workforce creating it harder for women to step into a leadership role. As well as being confident and speaking up for ourselves. I have struggled myself with speaking up about an issue or an idea that could help. Another barrier being, not building a sisterhood in our communities, I think it’s important to help build each other up by cheering each other on and networking together to help grow.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5050 S Federal St #25B Englewood CO 80113
• Website: https://www.handandstoneenglewood.com/
• Phone: 7207579419
• Email: aestheticsbyami@gmail.com
• Instagram: aesthetics_by_ami

Image Credit:
Ariel Herrera, Tyler Kosec

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