Meet Hannah Hall | Holistic Licensed Esthetician & Acne Expert

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

Hi Hannah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Thought process

During esthetics school, I was always drawn to the idea of starting my own business. After school, the job I had allowed me to learn from other incredible Estheticians and provided me with the opportunity to truly lean into the beauty of this career. I quickly realized that taking care of our skin was an internal/external journey of healing and one that did not have to be done alone. The idea of Sunrae Skin was born after I struggled with my skin and the desire for someone to help walk me through the process of healing. I wanted to create a space that clients felt comfortable in to achieve their highest versions of themselves and feel truly happy and confident in their skin. Sunrae Skin was designed to be a place of healing for not only the skin, but the mind as well. I wanted to provide an opportunity for my guests to achieve real results with their skin, while granting them a moment of tranquility in their day.

What are you inspired by?

I am inspired by other business owners in all industries, who are taking that first initial risk of starting their own business and those who have put the past 5+ years into growing their business into what it is today. Owning your own business comes with so many ups and downs and it reveals an insane amount about you (your struggles and your strengths). I am also encouraged by others in the industry who have gone before me and created a name for Estheticians and strengthened the validity of our role in helping manage skin conditions and concerns.

I love learning about the early beginnings of a business and the steps it took to grow it. Whenever I am feeling uncertain (as these moments do happen when owning your own business), I am reminded of the determination of so many around me in similar situations. The education they have sought out, the trials they have been through, and the brand they have built are things I look to for inspiration in my own business and where I want to be in 5, 10+ years.

Creative career
I am so fortunate to be in an industry that allows my creative side to shine. As an Esthetician, I fully customize my services for each client and “cocktail” different ingredients with each other to produce glowing and effective results. I have truly enjoyed designing the overall flow of a service and pairing them with thoughtful details to create an overall positive experience. From curating home care routines for clients and designing a full brand that I now maintain and work to grow, this career path truly fills my cup in allowing my creativity to flourish. I often do not feel like I am “working” as being in a more creative career allows me to fulfill my passions, daily.

Conventional advice that you disagree with
I disagree with the notion that chasing your dreams or following your passions is too big of a risk. I feel we are taught that you get a degree in one subject or area of study and that’s it. That is what you are expected to focus on for the remainder of your career. I feel we should encourage people to take what fuels them, what drives them, and push them to make that leap and grow that into something bigger. Now this doesn’t come without hard work and dedication, ups and downs, and many lessons learned, however, cohesively bringing together multiple areas of interest, strengths, and ideas can birth incredibly successful and impactful businesses and brands.

Risk taking
Taking risks (and through lots of prayer, might I add) has brought me exactly where I need to be. Taking a risk is extremely scary, however, every decision we make takes us one step closer to fulfilling our purpose. If we don’t take risks, we can’t grow fully as individuals. Because of this, I believe that every decision can be looked at as a “risk” in life. Whatever job you take, the school you go to, the city you live in; everything is a risk because every decision could completely alter the course of your life. This is truly to say that risk is a beautiful thing that allows individuals to take small, or very large steps, towards their personal growth and potentially unlock even more opportunities.

Initially, when I thought about this question, I would have said I am not a risk taker. However, as I look back taking risks for me has played a huge role in my life and has brought me to where I am now. I switched from finance to public health in college and after graduation, I went back to school for Esthetics. After that, I was hired at a dream location where I learned and grew so much in my career and personally. A few years later, I moved back to LA (where I grew up) and started my business. If I had never taken the risks to get me to the next step, I would not be where I am today. I feel that life would be quite boring without opportunities to take risks and it is important to put yourself out there and see what happens. As I mentioned before, I believe that risks push us to be the best version of ourselves and grow to our full potential.

Habits:
Habits I feel that help me succeed are not comparing myself to others or their businesses. This is a daily reminder that I strive to maintain and follow. While I can be inspired by others and their work ethic, every business is different and that’s the beauty of it! Success in business means not giving in to the comparison game and putting your full attention on the path in front of you.

Another daily habit is reminding myself that my clients are actual gold (truly, I adore them) and are my “why”. I found it is so easy to feel the need to “show up” on Instagram or social media and while this is important for building a brand and providing education for those that follow you, showing up for my clients every day is the most important thing I can do in my business.

Lastly, I would say a habit that helps me succeed is being confident in my skills and abilities and not letting doubt creep in. There is always room to grow, yes, however, it is important to remind myself that I have put in the time, effort, and training to be where I am today.

Most important factor
Ensuring my clients feel (and know) they are my priority is the absolute most important factor behind my business. My clients are everything in my business. Seeing them succeed in finally managing their acne/skin concerns or walking out confident from a sugaring or spray tan appointment is what keeps me going. Without their success, happiness, or confidence, I would not be successful. As a business owner and service provider, you have a major impact on people’s lives. From the way they are treated to how you make them feel and the results you provide them. It is all an experience and one that I strive to ensure is positive, nourishing, and mindful for each and every person who walks through my door. Building relationships with them, remembering important facts or life events, and giving them my full 1:1 attention and care drive success in my business.

Lesson
My most important lesson in business has been to understand the different roles I have to fulfill in order for my business to survive. You must have the ability to see the big picture, daydream slightly to know where you want to be in 10+ years, be an expert in your industry (which means being a student and continuing to learn), market your business, monitor the financials, represent the brand, and so on. A book I read a few months back (The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber) stated that every business owner has to learn to step into three different roles in order to succeed: The Entrepreneur, The Manager, and The Technician. AKA he states that you have to be, “a dreamer, a planner, and the doer” in your business. I have learned the importance of these three roles and how they can make-or-break a business. It is important to be able to dream and imagine where you want to take your business, but you have to have structure and systems in place to take you there. You also have to be able to perform the tasks or services at hand. Overall, I have learned the importance of stepping into each of these roles in order to grow my business and my brand this past year.

Balance
I would say my work-life balance has completely transformed since starting my business. It is true that owning a business means you never get to shut off that part of your brain. That being said, I could not imagine it any other way. In the beginning, it was hard to adjust to never being able to fully shut off my brain after a workday with clients. Now, I have learned my days need to have a little more structure and built in time to relax. And that works for me! It is important for me to shut my phone off on my days off (as best as I can) be disconnected from technology and reconnect to the life around me. Owning a business has actually helped me to understand the importance of making every moment count (whether that is to relax or to work) and being fully present with my loved ones.

Business idea
My business is rooted in the struggles that I have faced in my past and present struggle to manage my skin. I wanted to create a place that was healing, full of love and life, and one that made you feel lighter when you walked out of it. All of these attributes, to me, describe the way the sun affects our lives. I am a total lover of the sun. I always have been and always will be. Sunshine heals and that is what I wanted for my business. Rae is a family name so it all just made sense when I was putting the name together. The business itself is one I work every day to ensure my clients achieve their desired results while letting go of the stress and worries around them. Sunrae Skin is meant to be a true oasis for healing and I am excited to continue to grow it into its full potential.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Healing, nurturing, thoughtful. These words are three words that I hope would resonate with those who have been gracious enough to spend a little bit of their day with me at Sunrae Skin. When it comes to the world of Aesthetics, it is so much more than just this idea of “looking good”. When I started my business, I wanted to create a space that furthered the notion that skincare is health and wellness and should have a place at the table. Our skin is our largest organ and works with many different mechanisms in our body, including things like our immune system. To manage and heal acne, it requires an external and internal approach- the right skincare for your specific skin conditions and needs and a total mindset shift. This is very difficult to do alone and acne is very nuanced. It is truly a multifactorial issue that takes years to fully comprehend. I started my business to be an ally to clients on their skin healing journey (or healing journey in general). Those looking for 1:1 relationship to provide guidance and education, helpful lifestyle tips for for their skin and overall wellness, and real results. However, I wanted to reach these results while prioritizing the importance of stress management, nervous system regulation, and a peaceful moment away from the chaos of our beautiful lives. We truly heal when our body feels safe to do so and that happens when we have these moments of calm.

Sunrae Skin was created for this reason. I wanted to provide a space to heal, to feel new and full of life, and to be absolutely cared for. I cannot describe the absolute passion I have for wanting to take care of others and serve them. My clients are my everything and I give my heart to every individual that lays on my treatment table. Whether it’s to discuss their skin concerns in my acne healing program or custom facials, melt away stress and release tension in my sculptural facials, or feel confident and empowered after a sugaring or spray tan appointment, I strive to ensure my guests feel truly golden (because they are!).

I have learned so many important lessons in business. The most important being that the way you make people feel triumphs over everything else. Building relationships with others in your community, providing a thoughtful and curated experience every time a guest comes in, and how you treat other business owners, will help you achieve true success.

Sunrae Skin is meant to be a “glimmer” in your day. Just like the sun that shines above us and gives us life, I want every appointment to be one that brings you joy and peace. All while achieving real results and custom, curated skincare, facials, and treatments. My love language is truly building relationships with my guests and watching them achieve their goals!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friend was in town, I would say… welcome to Sierra Madre! The cutest little “mountain” town that you will quickly fall in love with. I would suggest grabbing coffee (or matcha!) at Syndicate and sitting in Kersting Court to enjoy the view of the mountains. After, grab breakfast at Emmi’s and make sure to order their jasmine green tea and banana bread muffin (these are my favorite!). On your walk through town, shop at Collective Co-Op and Savor the Flavor. While you are at it, stop in and get your nails done at Nailtique and enjoy a moment of peace. Now that you have had some TLC, head to RT Rogers for a delicious drink to unwind and relax while playing cards in their beer garden. Before you head out, make sure to stop at Chantry 1975 to stock up on all of your favorite candles and goodies!

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?
My husband first and foremost deserves the biggest shoutout. He has supported and loved me through every single moment of our lives together and in my business. Thank you for the many hours you spend listening to my dreams, being along for every crazy moment of being a business owner, and sitting with me through my endless decision making. Thank you for dropping everything to ensure I am taken care of and well supported while I follow my dreams and grow Sunrae Skin. You are so patient and I would not be where I am today without you. I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me as well. The love that has been poured into my business and into me this past year is something I will never be able to truly express my gratitude towards.

Lastly, Ariel Lowell from Bloom Sugaring in LA. Even though we haven’t officially met, she has been extremely supportive in my endeavors and actually connected me with Shoutout LA! Thank you Ariel!!!

Website: https://sunraeskin.com

Instagram: @sunrae_skin

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunrae-skin-sierra-madre

Image Credits
Sara Coutant Rizzo
@sara.c.rizzo