Meet Kira Igbowu | Commander & Chief Skin Therapist

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

Hi Kira, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Where there’s no risk there’s no reward. It’s an old cliche but it still rings true today. My entire career path has been built and solidified on risks. As a black 20 something year old I dared to follow my passion of beauty and retail despite not having a degree in either and enjoyed a successful though sometimes stressful career at some of Forbes 500 most prestigious beauty juggernauts.

It was that same audacity that moved me to retire, and find the second version of myself. I take risks, but I’m also respectfully fearful of the outcome. I believe I’ve developed a healthy balance. Now, in my late 40’s, my faith in myself and my certainty in my ability to overcome most challenges has propelled me to go all in and bet on myself once again. And so, March 2024 will mark the 5th year of Full Frontal Beauty & Esthetics, Inc.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My esthetics company, Full Frontal Beauty is definitely a labor of love. I am so proud of my audacity at a time in my life when I “shouldve” just buckled down in my good paying job and prepare for retirement. On top of inexperience and personally feeling 20 years behind my newly chosen profession, Covid19 shut us all down. How do you have a career touching faces when you’re not allowed to come within 6 feet another person?

This called for another risk and that was to grow my online presence by hosting virtual spa nights. This was such a needed respite at the time, for ALL of us. I also dedicated some of my time teaching nurses and health aids how to care for themselves so that they may better care for others. Once we were able to reopen, business never stopped.

The greatest lessons Ive learned so far is to stay true to your core self. If you lose your self and your why in the noise of trying to be popular or booked and busy, you’ll wake up and not recognize who you are. That can ultimately lead to mental fatigue sooner than later. I’m grateful, that no matter whats “new”, or what’s “popular” etc, I’m always able to recenter and refocus.

I chose my slogan, ” You, Only Better” cautiously and organically. I never wanted to change myself, I grew her and I love her dearly. But of course, there’s parts of me I’d like to fine tune without losing the essence. I wholeheartedly believe that is the best approach to beauty and more importantly, aging gracefully. We were made perfectly, why change that?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I get this question all the time! So because I’m born and raised in Brooklyn, I’m gonna tell you that you dont ever have to leave this magical borough, unless you want to experience Broadway, which everyone should! I love Greenpoint where my business is currently housed, there are endless Michelin Star rated restaurants within steps of my studio. I often send clients who traveled to see me to Oxomoco for Mexican, DiandDi for Vietnamese, Kokomo for Jamaican cuisine or ElderGreene for delicious bar bites.

If you’re hanging out in my neck of the woods, Clinton Hill, you MUST visit Speedy Romeos for delicious pizza and Olea, my weekly haunt for Mediterranean.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so grateful to my husband, Nathanael Igbowu, who has always encouraged me to “bet on myself”, and has constantly supported me to do so in big ways and small throughout our partnership. I’m also indebted to one of my oldest and dearest friends, Helene McDonald, who saw the vision clearly, even before I had fully wrapped my head around the concept and the possibilities. I love them both with all of me.

Website: https://www.fullfrontalnyc.com/

Instagram: @full.frontal.beauty

Image Credits
Shoott Photography