Graduate Story - Luisa Finau
Luisa Finau has high standards for her business, Inspired by Isa, ensuring her clients receive the best possible beauty treatment.
From sitting and watching her mum in awe doing her skincare and makeup routine before work each morning, Luisa is now Founder of Inspired By Isa, helping people to feel as beautiful as she thought her mum looked. Going with her gut she knew starting her own business she was on the right path. She aims to offer her clients a unique experience, ensuring her clients not only leave with glowing skin, but they leave feeling ‘nurtured, loved, and relaxed’, giving them a glow from within.
Wanting to commence study in beauty, Luisa spent time seeking out beauty schools that offered top tier education as well as a place that made her feel she belonged. She commenced her studies at The French and felt it was a place filled with like-minded people passionate about the same thing. It exceeded her expectations.
What motivated you to pursue a career in beauty therapy?
My passion for beauty started when I was young! I used to sit and watch my mother do her full skincare routine and makeup before work every morning. It started from going through her makeup bag, to experimenting with different eyeshadows, lipsticks and watching YouTube tutorials for hours on end. The beauty space, from either doing my own skincare or makeup always felt like a space where I could be 100% myself and feel good! That feeling started with my Mum.
I knew from then, that one day I wanted to help transform other people to feel as good and beautiful as I thought my mum looked.
What was your main motivation for studying at the French?
Whilst searching for a place where I could receive the best education, I wanted to also ensure I found a place where I felt I belonged. When I stepped on campus for the first time, I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, like I had found my second home. A place full of like-minded individuals with the same passion and drive. Not to mention, The French, was just so beautiful, clean and had state of the art facilities and trainers. Exceeding all my expectations.
What was your favourite part about studying at the French? How would you describe your experience from the day you started at orientation?
I think my favourite part about studying at The French was rediscovering my self-confidence and finding a group of people who I now call my closest friends. The experience at The French was truly a life-changing experience for me. I remember on my orientation day being filled with lots of excitement and nerves but reminiscing on that day, there are no words to describe how I was feeling. I just knew from that day forward that this was where I was supposed to be. During that first day, I met a group of the most amazing girls and we just clicked. From that day, we all promised to ourselves and each other that we were going to work hard and graduate so we could walk across that stage together. Having these girls believe in me, helped me realise that the only person I needed belief from was myself. Once I had rediscovered confidence, I was able to work hard and make the most of my time at The French.
How did the French help prepare you for life as a professional beauty therapist?
The education was simply unmatched. The education staff would go above and beyond to ensure you had a great understanding of both technical and practical aspect of learning, so that I could feel confident as a well-rounded therapist in the industry. Instilling personal grooming and uniform standards helped me develop my own personal brand. I could then go out into the industry and accurately represent myself as a professional. The French also equipped me with the confidence to strive to be my best and to never stop learning and evolving.
Did you have a favourite teacher / subject at the french? Why?
I had so many amazing teachers! Trudie helped ignite my passion for all thing skin science, as well as help develop connection and client care/ experience during treatments. Carleigh encouraged and instilled confidence in me to strive to do my best work hard towards my goals.
What is the best advice you received from your study at the French?
My best advice would be, is to show up for myself. You only need one person to believe in you to make your dreams come true and that only person needs to be you.
What were some of the invaluable lessons or most important thing that you learnt at The French that you have been able to apply to your new career?
Jump into your dreams and freefall into what your passionate about. You’re always ready for greater and bigger things, even if you think you are not. Trust in yourself and your strength and you will reach unimageable heights. We are also taught to give back to ourselves because it is just as important as giving back to others. This is what makes a great therapist, taking care of ourselves ensures that we can help give that gift back to our clients.
How easy was it for you to gain work after graduating? Tell me about your first career ‘break’?
I secured a job as a beauty therapist before graduating at the French. I was fortunate enough to work in an advanced skin clinic which helped me perfect my craft and equipped me with the skills to one day own my own business.
What elements of your study allowed you to obtain your new job? Were there any specific skills that you learned from your time at The French that you then highlighted in order to be hired?
My advanced skin knowledge and training such as microdermabrasion, peels and having experience with different modalities in treatments helped me become a favoured candidate whilst seeking a job.
The Future of Beauty
How are the French graduates perceived out in the industry?
Frenchies are perceived a knowledgeable therapist who deliver luxury experience in every treatment! Professional, clean, and well presented, always!
What do you most enjoy about your new job? Has there been a memorable moment since you graduated?
It’s changing people’s lives with the gift of newfound confidence in their own skin. Creating results for your clients and making them feel beautiful is the best part of the job!
Describe a day in the life of you on a working day?
A typical day in the life is waking up and making coffee – A MUST! With my go-to breakfast of raspberry chia seed pudding with granola and fresh fruit. I then get ready for my day starting with my skincare routine and lots of sunscreen! Light face of makeup and a fabulous attitude to tackle the day ahead. I then go through my client bookings for the day and set up studio space so that I’m ready to treat my beautiful clients. It is then a day full of creating luxury experiences and dreamy facials where I have a small break that consists of lots of water, as small snack and puppy cuddles with my only coworkers that keep me company throughout the day. After I’m finished for the day, I catch up on emails and messages that I may have missed throughout the day. Upload content onto my Instagram story. I pack down for the day, clean and sanitise everything. After a big day, I will usually find myself up the LED light, having the best nap! LED naps are the best kind!
Why is it so exciting to work in the beauty industry right now?
The industry is always changing and evolving! As a therapist who is also evolving within this time and emerging as a business during covid, it was important to me to not only provide results for clients but also create an experience. It’s more than just a facial and having good skin, it’s about being present with your client to ensure they feel nurtured, loved, and relaxed during their time with you. It’s exciting that beauty is now more than just vanity, it’s a feeling – where you glow from within.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE WANTING TO STUDY A BEAUTY THERAPY DIPLOMA AT THE FRENCH BEAUTY ACADEMY?
My best advice would be taking the leap and just do it! Stepping outside of your comfort zone is uncomfortable and that feelings means you’re making the right decision. Harness your passion and use that to strive to do the best for you. Waiting on the other side is some unimaginable opportunities.
What are your goals for the next few years? Do you have an ultimate career ambition?
In the next few years, I would love to expand on my business and my own personal brand. My ultimate career goal would be to have my own shop front! Being known as a business who creates the most amazing experience and results for their clients. I also have such a specific vision on a salon aesthetic that I can’t wait to bring to life! For right now I am furthering my education to grow within different spaces such as health and wellness and am studying a bachelor’s in health science majoring in Naturopathy. I would love to help create results for my clients starting with gut health and holistic medicine.
MY SIGNATURE BEAUTY GO TOS…
Scent: Wild Vanilla Orchid – Floral Street
Lipstick: Mac lipliner – Whirl and Laniege Lip mask! Unmatched combo!
Blog: Beauty uncut
Best Kept Secret: Skin care is better than botox! Ageing won’t happen if you take care of your skin.
THE FRENCH EDIT…
City: Dubai
Beauty Muse: Monet Michael
Drink: Peppermint tea wtih a dash of honey
Song: Good Days – SZA (but honestly love all her music!)
Quote: “What’s meant for you will never miss you”
"I have been featured in the top 10 beauty and
skin specialists in Brisbane for the Courier mail"
- Luisa Finau
Why did you decide to start your own business? Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
I started my business in 2020 whilst still being in the midst of Covid. Starting a business was something I had to think long and hard about but it’s something at the time that just felt right. I quit my full-time job at a skin clinic and worked hard for the next 4 weeks after to get everything off the ground, with a lot of tears, sweat and sleepless nights, I opened my home studio in November 2020. My parents were a massive support for me and invested money into my business so that I could live my dreams! My vision for my business was to create a safe space for clients where that could shut out the world and just treat themselves with some much-needed self-care. This vision came from working in salons who were focused on getting clients in and out rather than taking the time to give someone an experience. For the first two years of having a business, I worked at The French at the Brisbane campus working as part of the front of house team. Recently, I started working within my own business full time! Whilst a tough and hard decision, I had to make myself uncomfortable to see myself and my business thrive, and it was the best decision! Since then, I have expanded my clientele, started offering 1:1 training courses for other therapists and been featured in the top 10 beauty and skin specialists in Brisbane for the Courier mail. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for Inspired By Isa.
What were the first few steps you took to set up the business?
My very first step was coming up with a business name and mission statement and funny enough that was the only easy part about setting up a business. I set up my ABN along and then made a spreadsheet about how I was going to make everything work. I then started my Instagram and worked on marketing online to gain some new clientele. I first started doing all lash and brow services until I could afford to invest in equipment and products to start offering more treatments.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
Gaining new clientele and getting them to trust you. As a young and fairly new beauty therapist, I started from scratch. Finding my target audience and niche was super hard to refine. However, no one is going to know who you are if you don’t get your name out there! So, I made some flyers, dropped them in mailboxes in the local area, partnered with other small business and local community groups and that was the perfect start. Now my very first clients are my regulars and friends!
How you overcome any obstacle when running a business is to push yourself to work hard because no one is going to do it for you.
What is a decision or perhaps a mistake you've made that has led to a very valuable lesson in running or starting a business?
In the beginning, working two jobs and not giving myself a break to rest, really effected my health. Don’t glorify overworking because your body will eventually tell you to stop. Just like I tell my clients to take care of themselves and pour into your own cup, I needed to do that too, so that I could be the best therapist and person for myself and my clients.
What did you learn during your time at The French that helped prepare you when starting your business or during the course of your business journey?
The importance of client care. From your consultation, during the treatment and as the client leaves, it’s all an experience. Putting your client first and treating them with the best care during your time with them, ensures that you’re setting yourself apart from every other facialists or therapist. This has helped me during my business journey, the client is never a number, they’re a person that are entrusting their self-care time with you.
What are your plans for the future of your business, and where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I will have my own holistic medspa and a shopfront! Where I can employee other likeminded therapists to deliver services like no other salon has before. I can’t wait to create a space that is beautiful, calming, and relaxing. I also would love my own facial tool collection as well as accessories to help create that luxury experience at home. I want Inspired By Isa salons everywhere!
If you had just 1 piece of advice for our Frenchies who are wanting to start their own business, what would it be?
Have a vision and absolutely go for it! If you don’t try, you’ll never know. You are so capable, use your passion for beauty and dream big. Opportunities are endless.
Get up every day and do more than you did the day before, never stop growing and evolving.
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