Meet Tahjai’ Jarrell | Licensed Esthetician, Model, & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tahjai’ Jarrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tahjai’, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve gone to places which were deemed as “luxury” and the atmosphere is always superb but I still left unsatisfied. It made me take a step back and figure out what as the consumer was I seeking? After thinking about what the missing piece was the word “experience” kept resurfacing in my head.

When I enter establishments these questions always run through my mind:
How am I greeted upon arrival?
Is the place well kept and sanitary?
Does my service provider ask what my needs are?
Are they taking their time while servicing me and handling with care?

l am a person who pays attention to detail from entry to exit. A business stands out to me and I deem them as luxury when those boxes are checked. I feel everyone has their own definition of luxury but in my business I am redefining that. It goes deeper than just how grand something looks. I like to know the person is passionate about what they do and wants to make sure you’re beyond satisfied too. This is what brought me to create Ritzy Retreat.

Ritzy Retreat is a private skincare service dedicated to men and women who are ready to elevate their skin to a higher standard. I believe in making my guests feel grand from arrival to departure. I want everyone who comes in to feel comfortable and at peace while they are being serviced. I love to provide my guests with knowledge of everything skin while they indulge in a relaxing getaway. I will always hold the experience and quality of service to a high standard.

What should our readers know about your business?
I believe the experience that I’ve cultivated within my business is what sets me apart from others. I make sure my guests experience is customized to them as a person and to what their skin needs. They leave feeling grand and educated about how to treat their skin moving forward. I pride myself on being private because I do believe in exclusivity for myself and guests. I love that my business isn’t targeted towards everyone because we all have our own audience. I believe there is a high demand for exclusivity and not everyone wants something that is easily accessible.

I am most proud of taking the leap of faith with opening my business. I am happy of how much my mind has shifted within the last year because I didn’t foresee this happening this soon.

I believe my faith in God is what allowed everything to align this way. It definitely was not easy to open a business like this but I do think my experience with modeling molded my shift within the esthetics industry. I often think back on how scared I was with withdrawing from college to become a fashion model and had no backup plan. I knew if God gave me a vision for something and I kept him first that he would allow me to see everything out for myself. I’ve been modeling since 2018 and during my tenor I have had notable features with brands such as NYX Cosmetics, Vogue, and Target. This is why I wasn’t scared to start something new because I already accomplished so much with modeling that it was inevitable for me to mirror that with Ritzy Retreat.

The main lesson I’ve learned during my journey is that rejection is often protection and just because its not happening now in this moment doesn’t mean it won’t work out later. I’m not a believer in “life gets easier”. I believe that you learn to overcome difficulties and are able to deal with every card you’re dealt.

I want the world to know that everything I do and touch has to align with me before I release it. I create with pure intentions and I hope it shows throughout my journey here on earth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a homebody so I don’t know too many hangout places. Thankfully there are people on TikTok who post great places and activities in local areas all the time. When I do go out though I love to try new food and experience new activities. My best friend and I would most likely utilize TikTok to find some cool places to explore and hang out. Anywhere that has great food is always a good time for us. So the itinerary would definitely consist of finding new eateries and going to places that have games like Topgolf, an escape room, rage room, etc. Then we would have a rest day to go to a spa or just chill at home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout my sister Taz. She is one of my biggest influences because she will always make things happen for herself and others no matter what. She has always encouraged me to chase after my dreams and put the work in to make them come true. I love our relationship because we are each others biggest cheerleaders. I am so happy to call her my sister and my best friend! I can’t give her enough credit on the positive impact she’s had in my life!

Website: ritzyretreat.com

Instagram: @ritzyretreat

Image Credits
Professional photo by Ida John. Makeup by Kiera Holtzclaw