Turning Personal Struggles into a Thriving Career

Davis Esthetics Institute is located at 4330 Highway 78 East, Unit 120, Jasper, AL 35501. To learn more, call 205-300-4475 or visit davisestheticsinstitute.com.

Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill

When she was growing up, Alicia Davis had severe acne. Her mother had never experienced anything more than the occasional blemish and didn’t know how to help Alicia.

“I was really on my own in terms of taking care of it, and I just did everything wrong. The Noxzema pads that you scrub really hard with? Yeah… those…” she laughs. “But, it was just an ordeal. I had to go through Accutane treatment twice, and that was so aggressive.”

These challenges with acne led to deep scarring, which Alicia sought to have treated at DCH Medical Center in her hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Here, she had her first encounter with an esthetician.

“She was in this pretty lab coat in a plush office with cool machines, and she absolutely turned my skin around,” Alicia says. “I later found out she was an esthetician, and that was before esthetics was even a mainstream, recognized career, and I thought, ‘That’s what I want to be!'”

After hearing a radio advertisement for an esthetics school in Birmingham, Alicia pursued her passion. She completed her education, worked as a laser technician for dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and eventually opened her own business in her new hometown, Jasper.

“I loved the medical aspect of esthetics, but I was driving from Jasper to these places in and around Birmingham, and as my family was growing, I wanted to cut that commute. So, I founded Rastore Day Spa,” she says.

Alicia later obtained her esthetic instructor’s license and taught at Bevill State Community College for two years. Her passion for teaching and esthetics led her to open Davis Esthetics Institute in Jasper in 2024.

At Davis Esthetics Institute, Alicia emphasizes the versatility and seemingly endless possibilities within the field of esthetics. “You can have one specialization or multiple. You can work in a spa setting or a doctor’s office or various other settings,” she says.

The institute welcomes applicants aged 16 or older with at least ten grades of completed schooling. The program requires 1,000 hours, as mandated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. The 21-week full-time hybrid program includes hands-on training, daily theory, and practical day spa experience three days a week, with distance education using an online platform and workbooks.

Davis Esthetics Institute covers various specialties, including chemical peels, lash and brow design, microdermabrasion, LED light therapy, microneedling, and microcurrent treatment.

“Employers hire candidates with proven skills,” Alicia emphasizes. “That’s why our esthetics students get certifications in these different specialties.”

Alicia aims to provide quality education, helping students achieve their career goals, pass state certification exams, and secure top-level positions. The institute operates with open enrollment, accommodating 20 students at a time, allowing different students to meet their hour requirements at various points.

Beyond her professional life, Alicia lives on 32 acres in the Townley community with her family, embracing a traditional and old-school lifestyle with gardening and livestock. Her background in Bible college, missionary work, and running a small church has honed her people skills, which she believes make her a more compassionate and effective instructor.

“I love being an instructor because I get to also continually learn and I get to help other people pursue their passions,” Alicia says. “Long-term, I would like to branch into medical esthetics here, but for now, I am happy just to offer the base courses and get these aspiring estheticians on track for long-term rewarding careers!” WL

Davis Esthetics Institute is located at 4330 Highway 78 East, Unit 120, Jasper, AL 35501.

To learn more, call 205-300-4475 or visit davisestheticsinstitute.com.

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