Meet Toni Thomas | Holistic Esthetician + Systems Strategist

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

Hi Toni, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
TheToniEdit was born out of finally embracing my connection to sensitive skin and engaging with beauty rituals as a form of deep self-care. I wanted the experience to be more than just a tailored treatment for your skin, but one that supported your entire body and mind as well.

Sensitive skin commands certain distinctions when being cared for. It requires intentional investigation, to pin-point contributing factors of skin sensitivity, and a cautious approach to ensure you are keeping other variables in the crafting of a service.

Medical Diagnosis, Stress both Environmental or Emotional, and of course Nutrition all play a role in making sure you have a Holistic lens to view from.

The deepest reward is the transformation I see from clients connecting these elements to building self-care routines that go way beyond aesthetics, to supporting their mental and emotional well-being in their day to day lives. As so I crafted a business and practice that encompasses these themes.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business evolved from private consulting, working one-on-one with clients to build systems in their businesses. I originally went to school for Interior Design, working in NYC as a Project Manager and Owners Rep in High-end residential Construction for over a decade. As I reached my 30s though I felt as though I was traveling on someone else’s roadmap, one crafted out of other people’s opinion of what success looked like, and it was like trying to make a suit that wasn’t yours fit. All of my life up to that point was about trying to make the most out of a life plan that wasn’t really what I wanted but what I felt I had to do. If that makes any sense.

So I decided to lean on my systems training and use what where traditionally productivity tools, but applied it to the question of what I actually wanted out of life. And the answers slowly started to pour out.

I can attribute that application of systems to well-being to Tanya Dalton a Productivity Expert and Founder of Inkwell Press a line of productivity planners that I often used to build my own planner systems for work and personal use,

This work, along with many other books, podcasts, therapy! lol and reflection, resulted in the realization that I needed to re-align my working path with a larger vision for my life. I wanted to support others on their journey in doing the same, and so I began to pursue a career in Wellness.

Iniitally, Skincare was an area I was interested in learning more about. I have always struggled with acne stemming from both sides of my family, and I could never seem to get any of the over-the counter products my friends and even sisters loved because I was highly reactive to them .

I thought getting licensed might be a way for me finally learn about skin the right way, and gain a skill set along the way and so I went to Esthetics school.

My education and classmates were more than I could have hoped for, Dermalogica Academy gave me an exceptional foundation, but the women I met there gave me so much inspiration. They came from all walks of life, careers (lawyers, actors, corporate admin) and the women already in the beauty space like my educators showed such a passion for educating not only us but our clients. I could really see the intentionality and care these women had for their work and skills excelled as a result.

And then the clients started opening up to me in surprising amounts. Family, friends even old coworkers would come to me in very vulnerable ways to express how they were struggling with many of the same issues I was with their skin, but that they didn’t feel they had anyone they could trust. Could I help them?

So I did, and I found so much joy in it that I kept going! I realized I could approach my client as I would a Project in design, we would review the issues and unlock solutions that fit their needs, budgets an unique skin constraints. The results were empowered, educated clients who achieved sustainable results in a trusted space.

As my practice evolved I realized my largest base of clients where sensitive skin types followed by women of color. So I niched down my practice to speak to these underserved clients specifically.

And finally my practice became my own as I added alternative healing modalities to support relaxation of the physical body and mind, to holistically treat skin conditions beyond topical skincare application.

Now I work with professional lines suited to sensitive skin, collaborate with other wellness professionals in order to give my clients layered resources beyond my scope of practice. Each treatment service is custom tailored to the client at the time of service, incorporating plant-based therapies with modern technologies fit for today’s busy individual.

It certainly hasn’t been easy, the most important lessons I have learned would be to make sure you believe in the work you do, niching down is growth because you can’t be everything to everyone, and collaboration can open doors for your business you can’t even imagine. So find your tribe and build with them. A problem is always easier to solve when shared.

I would want the world and anyone out there struggling with these themes to know that there are practitioners out there who can help, and if you feel I can be one of them, send me an email and let’s start the conversation!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooo there is so much to choose from! But here are some of my favorites:

Places to Stay: Parklane Hotel NYC https://www.parklanenewyork.com/
1 hotel Brooklyn Bridge https://www.1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge

Dining: Cafe China – always delicious great elevated casual dining, service is always friendly and consistent https://cafechinanyc.com/

Dick and Jane’s BK – Amazing Cocktails and Curated American Fare Menu https://www.dickandjanesbk.com/

Hav and Mar by Marcus Samuelson – https://www.havandmar.com/

Yoga and Sauna At Urban Asanas in Crown Heights Brooklyn with the Amazing Jyll Hubbard Salk Founder and Owner
were you can see me on select Sundays too! https://www.urbanasanas.com/

A nail date at Suite Eleven for a stylish atmosphere https://www.suiteleven.com/

Men’s Grooming at Babe of Brooklyn in Williamsburg https://www.babeofbrooklyn.com/shop-services

A walk around Prospect Park and Central Park if the weather is nice

K-Beauty skincare Shopping Spree at Senti Senti – https://sentisenti.com/

Grab a book or 3 from our To Be Read List from McNally Jackson Books in Rockerfeller Center

A Sirobè Facial with me sundays in My Midtown Suite https://sirobe.com/pages/sirobe-midtown

Zuzu Petals – for Some Florals – https://www.zuzuspetalsbrooklyn.com/

A Walk along Dumbo’s Water Front

and lots of Coffee lol

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Clients! There are so many amazing souls who have knowingly or unknowingly bolstered me with the encouragement to continue, but my clients are the ones who have supported my career and evolution as a professional and business owner with their dollars and their trust.

Their loyal patronage over years of my work, referrals to their networks of family and friends, affirms that my work is valued and necessary.

I can’t thank them enough. They also don’t always know that in the healing exchange during our sessions they are supporting my healing as well, and it’s a beautiful exchange.

Website: https://thetoniedit.com/workwithme/

Instagram: @thetoniedit

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetoniedit/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoniedit

Other: @thetoniedit on ticktok

Image Credits
HeadShots MBZ Photograpy (Main photo, Photo in white top, photo of flatlay laptop,planner) all others are my own. Thank you.