Community Highlights: Meet Nicole Hastert of True North Esthetics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Hastert.

Hi Nicole, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Stilwell, a small town outside of KC. I think my rural beginnings there gave me an appreciation and love for being outdoors and in nature. As I grew up, I spent a lot of time hiking and camping. When I graduated high school, I was a bit lost with what I wanted to do. Although I’ve always loved skincare and makeup, I had no idea there were so many avenues in the industry I could explore to build a career.

The first step in my career journey started the day I went to tour a Cosmetology school. I vividly remember the program director asking me what I was interested in. I replied with skincare and makeup. The program director mentioned that I should look into esthetics. After doing some further research, I knew this was exactly what I had been looking for.

Fast forward to 2016, I graduated from esthetic school and was looking for any position in the field (since I had no prior experience). I found a position opening at a small holistic skincare studio in KC and instantly fell in love with the holistic ideology. Still spending the majority of my free time outdoors, I was fascinated by the power of herbs and plants and their ability to heal from the inside out. Science was a subject in school I was always extremely fascinated with. I became adamant about researching ingredients and learning about how they interact to benefit the skin and body. I spent the next five years there honing my skills and evolving into the esthetician I am today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If things go smoothly, it always makes me a little suspicious. There will always be challenges along the way, but those challenges have helped me grow, evolve, and mature, so I don’t always view them as negative. I opened my business in January, which is one of the scariest decisions I’ve made, especially during a pandemic. Putting your livelihood on the line will always be an intimidating and overwhelming step, but I did my best to trust the process and am lucky to have such a great support system around me. I’ve encountered several challenges along the way since opening my doors, and I do my best to look at each one from multiple perspectives. Sometimes it’s easy to find a silver lining, and sometimes it’s not, but I believe each challenge has the possibility to be a catalyst for self-improvement, personally and professionally.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I created True North to be a space where everyone is welcome. I strive to make every client feel safe and cared for from the moment they walk in the door to when they leave. Since I follow a holistic ideology for skin, I have a broad knowledge base on the body, different body systems, and how it affects the skin. I don’t follow the mainstream beauty trends and encourage clients to embrace their natural looks. I want to help them feel as comfortable as possible in their own skin.

My books are mostly filled with facials, lash extensions, and brows- all of which I love! I’ve been a lash artist for six years and immediately fell in love with the artisanship of lash extensions and enjoy helping my clients feel like they can go makeup-free. Each set of lashes is customized to the client, accommodating each lifestyle and desired look appropriately.

I think that brow tinting is the best-kept secret of this industry, as it’s not widely talked about or advertised. I love seeing client’s reactions when they get their brows done for the first time. They’re always surprised at what a difference tinted brows can make, and again, it allows them to go makeup-free!

My facials are a tad longer than what you would typically find on a facial service menu. I’ve always felt a slower pace in the treatment room leads to more focus on the client’s needs and enhanced relaxation for the client’s experience. I incorporate a lot of massage: head, neck, shoulders, face, foot, and leg. This helps circulate blood + lymph and adds detox benefits to the entire body.

I came up with the name “True North” by using my last name, which is Dutch, and means north corner. I played around with the options, and one day a good friend suggested “True” North, and I knew that was it. It seemed like a very appropriate name for what it meant to me to open my own business.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Listen to your intuition and have confidence in your ability to make your own decisions.

My intuition guides a lot of my choices, both professional and personal. It’s often led me against the norm, and learning to embrace what feels right has been a massive accomplishment for me. This followed by confidence, something I’ve developed in my adult life and lacked growing up. Trusting my ability to make decisions has been a life-long endeavor for me. I knew starting my own business would reveal my ability to be autonomous in my career.

Pricing:

• Facials range from $70-$115
• Lash Extensions Full Set $175
• Lash Retouch (maintenance every 3 weeks) $70
• Brow wax + Tint $35

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.truenorthestheticskc.com
• Instagram: @true.north.esthetics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/True-North-Esthetics-102380298544731/

Image Credits
Madison Noordhoek
Instagram: @nrmewski