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Transcript/ScriptCONNECT Esthetician
HEADLINE: Making a Living: Esthetician
TEASER: Beauty stylist juggles expenses for a satisfying New York life
PUBLISHED: 03/21/2022
BYLINE: Ailin Li
CONTRIBUTOR: Meggie Miao
DATELINE: New York, New York
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ailin Li, Laura Luan
PRODUCER: Ailin Li, Laura Luan, Jack Lacy
SCRIPT EDITORS:
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 03:05
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((Eds: This is a self-narrated feature.))
[[INTRO: Making a living in one of the world’s more expensive cities is not always easy. But as VOA’s Ailin Li finds out in this financial profile of an esthetician in New York, careful planning goes a long way. ]]
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
Hi, my name is Morgan Hawes. I'm 36 years old. I live in New York City and I’m an esthetician specializing in eyelash extensions. And this is my ordinary life.
I've been doing exclusively eyelash extensions now for 14 and a half years.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
Hi there. And here’s my office where I do eyelash extensions all day.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
I sort of fell into this industry. I thought I was just going to do it for a year or two, just to keep me busy between undergraduate and dental schools. And 14 and a half years later, here I am.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
My business name is Primp Daddy. It was given to me in a sense as a moniker. I think it's been a good business name. It's funny and it sticks in people's minds.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
I'm not terribly expensive, particularly for being in New York City. So typically, your new set is a two-hour appointment and I charge at my base rate $110 per hour, so $220 for the initial set. Then most people come back around every three weeks or so for a fill and that's usually just an hour appointment.
In terms of income potential, so let's say on a normal light week, I do 30 hours per week. So that would be 110 times 30. So that's $3,300 per week. And if I simply times that by 52 weeks in a year, I could gross $171,600.
((MUSIC))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
I grew up, for the most part, in a really small town in the middle of Oregon and I was fairly obviously gay. And that doesn't sit that well in a small town in Oregon. And I always thought New York as kind of the place if you want to go be gay and have that be, quote-unquote, “normal”. At least be just seen as another person as opposed to somebody that was standing out constantly.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
The single biggest business cost here in New York City is inevitably going to be rent. My little space is roughly $3,000 per month and it's just a small, windowless room.
Then, of course, there's materials. Overall, I'll probably end up spending around $5,000 per month on overall costs.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
I live in Hell's Kitchen. It's midtown west. So, I actually live two avenues away from Times Square. My apartment is a 5th floor walk-up. It's a very typical New York City, not exactly a railroad style, but it's long and narrow. It's a two bedroom which is luxurious for here.
I live with my partner, Derek. We've been together for eight years and have lived together for basically just as long. We spend, I think, a little over $4,000 for our apartment and that is, for what it is, really a great deal in the area.
((MUSIC))
((Morgan Hawes Esthetician))
My definition of success has certainly morphed and changed over the years
((End Courtesy))
and as I've gotten older. I think when I was younger, it was this strict how much money you have made and the more money you make, the more successful you are. I feel very successful because I thoroughly enjoy my life. I work hard but I like what I do.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)New York, New York
Embargo DateMarch 21, 2022 16:26 EDT
BylineAilin Li
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
