Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Morgan.
Hi Rachael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In the beginning, I was working as an Assistant City Clerk for the City of Richmond, helping coordinate City Council and committee meetings. I enjoyed the position because I was involved in many of the new things happening throughout the city and had the opportunity to work alongside so many interesting people. At the same time, the work could sometimes feel a little stiff and serious, and I found myself wondering whether there might be a career that better reflected my personality and passions.
Then, one evening, I received a call from my aunt. She told me she had decided to return to school to become an esthetician. I was immediately intrigued because esthetics seemed like the perfect combination of two things I had always been passionate about: beauty and helping people. I could not stop thinking about our conversation. After talking it through with my husband and receiving so much encouragement from him, I decided to take the leap and attend esthetician school with my aunt. From my very first day, I knew I had made the right decision. I loved it so much that I continued my education and became a Master Esthetician.
After completing school, I worked in several different environments, each of which helped me develop a different area of my craft. I began at a business that primarily specialized in hair removal, where I learned full-body sugaring and waxing, along with lash and brow services. From there, I transitioned to a franchise spa, where I primarily performed facials. I later had the opportunity to work at a medical spa, where I gained experience with more advanced skin treatments while continuing to provide a full range of esthetic services.
I am grateful for everything I learned at each of those businesses, but those experiences also helped me understand what kind of environment I wanted to create—and what I felt was missing. Too often, it seemed as though financial goals came before the well-being of the estheticians and the clients they served. That was never why I became an esthetician. I wanted to genuinely help people feel good about themselves, from the moment they walked through the door until the moment they left. My favorite part of this career has always been getting to know my clients, building real relationships with them, and creating a place where they feel comfortable, cared for, and valued.
Eventually, I realized that the best way to provide that experience was to create it myself. I decided to open my own business so I could treat every client—and every esthetician—with the care, compassion, and respect they deserve.
Seaweed + Pearl began in my home while I searched for a suite to rent. I was incredibly fortunate that many of my regular clients chose to follow me and were so patient and supportive throughout the transition. I officially opened Seaweed + Pearl at the end of November 2025, and I was lucky to have one of my esthetician friends, Lauren, believe in the vision and join me from the very beginning.
We started with around 15 regular clients, and today we have more than 300 clients in our system. I recently welcomed another esthetician friend, Taylor, to the team, which has helped us tremendously as demand has continued to grow.
I always dreamed that Seaweed + Pearl would eventually have a larger space of its own, but I never imagined we would be blessed with that opportunity within our first year. I cannot fully express how grateful I am for how far we have come in such a short time. None of it would have been possible without our amazing clients, our team, my family, God, and the many people who have supported and believed in us along the way.
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?
Opening a new business definitely comes with a lot of challenges. I’ve had so much to learn and am still constantly learning new things. I went into this knowing how to be an esthetician and take care of my clients, but running an entire business was completely new to me. I’ve had to learn about finances, scheduling, inventory, marketing, managing a team, and all the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that clients don’t always see. Balancing those responsibilities with a full schedule of services has probably been one of my biggest challenges.
It was also scary leaving a job that provided financial security and realizing that nearly everything I made needed to be put back into the business to help it grow and succeed. There was a slow week in January when, for the first time, I had to pay the rent out of my own pocket. That really freaked me out and put a lot of doubt in my mind about whether I could actually do this.
As the business began to grow, I faced a completely different kind of challenge. We went from worrying about slow weeks to becoming so busy that clients were booking weeks or even months ahead. I’m incredibly grateful for that growth, but it also meant learning how to manage the demand, bring new estheticians onto the team, and make sure every client continued to receive the same level of care. We also outgrew our original space much faster than I ever expected, so now I’m learning how to navigate the financial and logistical challenges of expanding into a larger location—all within our first year.
I truly believe we learn a lot from obstacles and challenges. They can be frightening and overwhelming in the moment, but they can also make us stronger and teach us how to handle similar situations better in the future. Every challenge I’ve faced has helped me become more confident—not only as an esthetician, but also as a business owner.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Seaweed + Pearl ?
Seaweed + Pearl is a spa that prioritizes making every client feel safe, cared for, and relaxed from the moment they walk through the door. We offer a wide variety of services, including facials, back facials, advanced skin treatments, lash extensions, Korean lash lifts and tints, brow tints and laminations, and full-body hair removal using either wax or sugar.
We began gaining a following as one of the first spas in the area to offer Korean lash lifts and tints, which have become some of our most popular services. What truly sets us apart, though, is how genuinely we care about our clients. We would never push someone to purchase a product or book a service they do not need. Our goal is to listen to each client, understand what they are looking for, and help them feel confident and cared for.
We also love finding small ways to show our appreciation. After each appointment, clients get to choose a little gift from our “Thank You” basket. It is a simple gesture, but it reflects how grateful we are that they chose to spend their time with us and trust us with their care.
Another thing that sets Seaweed + Pearl apart is how much we value our staff. I started this business because I wanted to create a place where estheticians feel just as respected, supported, and cared for as our clients do. We are always looking for reasons to celebrate our team and remind them how appreciated they are, whether that means giving them a gift card, surprising them with something small, or simply recognizing how much they contribute to the business. I want everyone who works here to know that they are valued as people, not just as employees.
What I am most proud of is that Seaweed + Pearl has become known for having a welcoming, knowledgeable, and sweet staff. We have created an inviting environment that helps our clients feel comfortable right away and allows them to truly relax and be themselves. We look forward to welcoming every new client and cannot wait to help them with whatever they need.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support us in so many ways, and even the smallest gestures mean more than they may realize. Telling friends and family about Seaweed + Pearl, leaving us a review, or interacting with our social media by following, liking, commenting, and sharing our posts all help introduce us to new people. Of course, booking an appointment or purchasing a gift card is another wonderful way to support us, but support does not always have to be financial.
We also love working and collaborating with other local businesses and creators. We are always open to partnerships that allow us to support one another, whether that is through giveaways, community events, social media content, cross-promotions, or simply recommending each other to our clients. We want every collaboration to feel genuine and mutually beneficial, with both businesses helping each other grow along the way.
We would be happy to hear from anyone who has an idea for working together. Building relationships with our clients, other business owners, and the surrounding community is a huge part of what we want Seaweed + Pearl to represent.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://seaweedandpearl.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaweedandpearl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Seaweed-Pearl-61582334793291/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@seaweedandpearl
