Raquel’s Path to Her Passion

By Monica Tabrizi

Growing up in Whittier and attending an all-girls school, Raquel Garcia had no idea where life would take her.  Her mom pushed college, but Raquel quickly realized that was not her calling after pursuing nursing coursework.  An accident forced her to question what she valued, which ultimately changed the course of her life.  She remembered getting a facial at age 12 and thinking, ‘this woman gets paid to do this and adults can choose this as a full-time job’; even more, she remembered how it made her feel: happy, calm, and confident.  Fortunately, her mom saw Raquel’s passion and supported the decision; She then enrolled in esthetician school, and here she is 17 years later.

That feeling carried into the genesis of her life’s work: clients coming in feeling one way and walking out better, whether it’s through emotions such as crying, laughing, venting, or just being silent.  With the hands-on nature of waxing, Raquel communes with a client’s energy, which she likens to a form of healing.  She supports them where they are and provides a safe place with no judgment. They can just be.

She practices her own self-care to ensure she is ‘all in’ for clients: often it comes in the form of faith, gratefulness, a sense of responsibility, and work life balance, including the freedom to choose when and how often she works.  Practicing beauty self-care makes her feel good and allows her the ability to see how other folks practice, which ultimately benefits her clients.

Raquel’s journey to Raqstar Waxing emerged by listening to people in their time of need.  Whether it was bartending or performing some beauty service, this skill became core to who she is.  She approached each new change as an opportunity to listen to her gut and God.  One of her first jobs was working at a high-end hotel in Newport Beach, performing facials on individuals where money was no object.  But waxing was always in the back of her mind, and she longed to work at a big box waxing provider where she could hone this skill.  When this opportunity brought her to Long Beach, she could practice something she loved and gain much-needed skills: rising to be awarded the 2019 #1 waxer in Southern California.  With this sign to branch out on her own, she achieved a long-time goal of owning her own business: Raqstar was born. 

Ninety percent of her clients followed her from previous jobs, one staying throughout her 17-year career.  When asked if she missed performing other services like facials, she happily shared her creative way of keeping the skill-set alive by combining it with a bikini wax – otherwise known as ‘Vajacial’.

Love brought Raquel to Long Beach and she stays because of the diverse population, liveliness, and beauty.  According to her, Long Beach was ahead of the time with what the city had to offer. “The minute you think you have Long Beach figured out, you don’t, because something is coming, something great.” 

Here is what she wants people to know about her life’s work: “If you are looking for a place that is 100% judgment free and want to walk out better than when you walked in, Raqstar Wax is your place.”  Raqstar Wax is located at 3714 E. Broadway and is always accepting new clients.