Meet Dakota Beck

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dakota Beck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dakota, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Deciding whether to persevere or consider giving up is a significant dilemma. When contemplating a career as an esthetician, it is crucial to reflect on your passion for the field, commitment to continuous learning, and long-term career objectives. Having a genuine interest in skincare, beauty, and aiding others in feeling confident and comfortable in their skin are key factors to consider.

Transitioning from Esthetician school to the job market can be daunting, with many spas requiring at least one year of experience but being hesitant to provide opportunities to those without it. After receiving multiple rejections during my job search, there were many times where I felt like giving up.

I knew I had to take an entry-level position to establish a foothold in the industry or gain initial experience. This was my stepping stone towards achieving my aspirations in my dream spa setting.

Once you are given that chance to grow within the spa, another challenging and daunting task is growing your client base. I can tell you right now, it has taken me almost 2 years to grow my client base and there are still days where I am not fully booked. It definitely takes persistence, patience, and perseverance to keep a positive mentality. Although being such a difficult task, it’s far more rewarding once you have a client base that are coming back every month where you visually see their skin improving. I have never experienced a greater feeling of accomplishment.

I can confidently say the journey I have taken to get me to where I am today has all been worth it. I’m currently in my dream med spa with amazing co workers, reliable clientele, and a boss that truly believes in me. Every worry, every fear, and every “what if” has gone away and I wouldn’t change any single part of it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I will say getting to where I am today was a challenge, but nothing great in life comes easy! I started out the traditional school route, graduating high school not knowing what I wanted to do but knew going to college was the most important option. I graduated from California State University Channel Islands and got my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2018. I realized about half way through my college career that I did not want to be a Psychologist anymore, but at that time I knew how important any type of college degree was so I needed to complete my undergraduate career and get my well deserved degree. Once I graduated and was officially done with school, it was time to actually figure out what I wanted to do with my career. During that time period I had worked in customer service, and marketing/ social media for a couple different companies. I had also been a makeup artist part time through college and realized how much I loved being in the beauty industry and decided to explore what other options were out there and that is how I stumbled upon the career of Esthetician! Looking back, I wouldn’t change my path to becoming an Esthetician. I had a great college experience and made such great memories and friends during that time. I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason and the path you take is what was meant for you all along.

This October, I will have been an Aesthetician for 5 years. It is wild how fast 5 years have flown by and what a journey it has been. I absolutely loved my Esthetics school experience in 2019 at Paul Mitchell The School – Costa Mesa! It was truly the starting point of my career. I would not be where I am today without the Learning Leaders who proved to be such great examples and provided much needed guidance.

From there, I landed my role as a Patient Care Coordinator at my first med spa. This was in 2020 while the world was shutting down due to COVID. I was devastated that I might lose this opportunity with them, but luckily they liked me enough to keep in touch during the shutdown. Once it opened back up, I was brought on to be a part of their team! I learned so much about how to manage the front desk, how a med spa runs, all the ins and outs on the business side, how clients can be, and the relationships that could be made with patients and co-workers.

After working there for 2 years, I decided to go back to Paul Mitchell, but this time as a Learning Leader myself. Since I loved my esthetics experience there, I wanted to inspire future estheticians as well! Being able to go back to the school that started my career, to then teach and be that example for the future generation of estheticians, was more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I consistently keep in touch with my past students and I will always be cheering them on from the sidelines of social media, celebrating all of their accomplishments as estheticians.

This brings me to my current position as Aesthetician at The Aesthetic Retreat in Newport Beach. I have built my dream esthetician room, have amazing co-workers, a go-getter boss, and the most reliable clientele. I get to work with my best friend on her dream of owning her own med spa and seeing her vision come to life. This experience was something we always talked and dreamed about and now that it is both of our realities, it couldn’t make me feel more fulfilled. The best part is we believe and support each other so much, it creates a rewarding work environment. One that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

If there is anything I have learned in the past 5 years, it is everyone deserves a chance. No matter your experience level, your past career history, or anything in between, everyone should be given the opportunity to show what they’re capable of. The last 5 years have been challenging, rewarding, scary, and fulfilling and I can’t wait to experience the next 5 years.

My favorite aspect of the esthetics world is that it is always changing and evolving. I love learning all the new tricks, what’s trending, what will always stay consistent and needed, and what new technology being developed. This industry is quite amazing and I am so grateful to be in it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well first things first, they would be getting a facial with me, their estie bestie at The Aesthetic Retreat!

Next best thing is Disneyland. It is my favorite place on earth and I am an annual pass holder, so Disneyland is an absolute must. We will be going on all the rides, eating all the snacks possible, and definitely rewarding all our steps we’ve taken with a much deserved churro or dole whip.

And to end the day, I love a vibey, trendy roof top bar/dinner spot. Call me basic, but we live in So Cal of course I’m going to love these kinds of places! Especially during sunset or golden hour.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my mom and best friend, Glenda, as well as the amazing women at The Aesthetic Retreat, Heather, Valerie, and Britney! Without these women’s support I would not be where I am today. Also, my boyfriend Alvaro who has and will always believe in me and my dreams. I have a great support system around me and I am truly blessed by everyone in my life.

Website: theaestheticretreat.com

Instagram: Dakotatheaesthetician – the.aesthetic.retreat

Yelp: The Aesthetic Retreat

Image Credits
Thomas Später