New spa URZ Professional will promote beauty inside and out in Fountain City
Kryshonna Wilson is an incredibly busy mom of three, and stepmom of two, but she knew she wanted to be in the beauty industry and work for herself.
“I come from a long line of hustlers and it allows me to still be the mom I want to be while pursuing my dreams,” she said of her new spa, URZ Professional. “You are told it is impossible to get everything you want. When you see it come to life, it shows me I can be anything I desire.”
Wilson participated in Co.Starters at the same time she was attending esthetician school and working part time as a salon assistant. Co.Starters is a 10-week business development program through the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center.
URZ Professional provides makeup services, with more of a focus on skin care. “It was really hard for me to find a space to do that, and my friends were looking for space for their businesses, too,” she said.
“We looked at this place at 2904a Tazewell Pike that used to be an insurance office and found it was more than one room.” Finding a larger space allowed Wilson to rent out space to other budding business owners.
“The name URZ (pronounced "Yours") is because my pastor put the words ‘Yours’ over the door of my church growing up, meaning we do things for others not for ourselves, and my Mama raised us to do for others,” she explained. “None of this is mine, this is for my customers. People open spas every day, but this is a second home and a safe space.”
URZ Professional wants to provide hard-to-find products that suit African-American beauty needs and estheticians that help their clients relax.
Wilson specializes in glam, bridal and special event makeup, in addition to selling lashes and glues, glitters and brushes. URZ Professional also provides virtual makeup and skin care consultations and can travel to supply event makeup services.
The licensed esthetician will soon offer waxing, facials, chemical peels and related relaxation services.
“I took the leap because I wasn’t just helping my family but other families too,” said Wilson, who is renting out affordable rooms to other estheticians.
Tachae Payne specializes in waxing, facials and relaxation.
Tiearra Galbreath provides esthetics, facials, lashes, waxing and chemical peels.
"Rain" has her own nail tech room specializing in 3D, natural, acrylic and poly gel nails, airbrush pedicures — any kind of nail art.
Eva Kyle has also rented space. She is a teacher and YouTube star who posts her interviews with local people on her YouTube channel, "Break Bread with E Let’s Eat." She will manage the spa and record her videos there.
URZ Professional wants to save people time and money and give a better understanding of clients' skin and how to care for it. “I don’t just do their makeup, I look at their skin,” Wilson said.
Both Wilson and Payne like to use Aveda products. “God has given us the things to heal us; a lot of the things you find in the store actually do nothing for you,” Payne said.
Facials will stimulate your skin and give longevity to a youthful complexion, and facials also help teenagers with acne, according to Wilson. “It’s about taking care of what you already have,” she said. “This is not just a facial, this is wellness, it’s for relaxation and stress relief.”
The Fountain City location was chosen for easy access for the business owners’ client base in East and North Knoxville and the ample parking.
On Oct. 30, Wilson and the female business owners hosted a blessings shower for the spa. “I don’t want them to worry about the first few months’ booth rent,” said Wilson, of the other women. “I started on a dream and a prayer; I know how hard it was for me to start my own business.”
People came out to see the new space, and in return for their donations will receive a free esthetician service. Payne’s pastor came out to bless the space. They served food and handed out candy.
URZ Professional and the other esthetician and nail technician spaces are officially open for business on Nov. 20. Beauty services will be by appointment only.
The hard-working women are still decorating the space and have plans to host ladies’ nights, bridal shows and birthday parties.
In the front room there is a fun three-way selfie mirror. “People don’t understand when people are going through real depression how often you don’t actually look in the mirror,” Wilson said.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Black women open URZ Professional beauty spa in Fountain City
