Hayley Williams, aka @haylo.skincare

Hayley's is the story we tell most often at MSTA, because it starts in the most ordinary way possible: a capable woman, good at her job, quietly wondering whether this was really it. No beauty background. No business plan. Just a feeling that there had to be more.

Taking the leap into skincare

Hayley had been considering a career change for a while, but it was during the pandemic that she found the space to step back and honestly reassess her path.

“I had been thinking about a career change for a while, but it was during the pandemic that I had time to review my job and think about a new path. I guess the pandemic gave me a new outlook: that if this is life, and this is all we have, then what am I waiting for to try something new? I had nothing to lose by training in a new industry and seeing how it went. I didn’t have a plan at this point, I really did just go and do the course and see if I even enjoyed it, and then I took it from there.”

Like almost every student who walks through our doors, the doubts arrived before the course did.

“I was really worried I was too old and that everyone on the course would be young and know so much more than me. I was going in brand new with no beauty background or experience. I was petrified! I was worried I would be out of my depth and not fit in, but the MSTA team instantly made me feel welcome, and likewise, the other girls on the course. I felt inspired and motivated to learn and grow from the very beginning of my brand.”

A business born from passion

Just eight weeks after completing the course, Hayley handed in her notice at Virgin Trains. She found the right clinic space, built a loyal client base, and grew Haylo to the point where she could take on her first member of treatment staff, alongside a PA and a social media manager. What began as a leap of faith became a structured, professional business remarkably quickly.

“My work hours, although long in many ways, are a world of difference from working shift work, and I now have the freedom to work what is best for me and the business. I have HUGE job satisfaction, an incredibly loyal client base where many have become friends, and I have since trained in lots of other courses and qualifications to expand my skill set and knowledge. Mostly, I am so proud and happy with the place I call ‘work’.”

“I am so proud of the results in clients’ skin that have made them feel more confident in themselves. I love making others feel welcome, safe, and valued from the environment that I choose to provide.”

The moment she knew Haylo was a success

Every founder has a moment when the brand stops being an idea and becomes a thing other people believe in. For Hayley, it arrived within her first six months.

“Clients came in saying how long they had waited to book in on the waiting list, and calling me ‘HAYLO’, then asking what my real name is. It’s that little moment you realise your branding worked, and this little thing I created was being viewed as a successful brand that people would actually be happy to wait 2 to 3 months to see. I still get called Haylo often, and it always makes me smile.”

The industry noticed too. In 2025, Hayley was named National Skin Specialist of the Year at the HBA awards, and she now mentors other skin professionals building their own clinics.

Her advice for anyone considering it

“Don’t feel you have to have a complete plan. You figure a lot out along the journey. Don’t get caught up in what others are doing: this is your business, your brand, and your clients. Find your niche and perfect it. And don’t underestimate the cost of starting up in skin. It’s not cheap, and neither should you want to be when working on people’s faces.”

Would she recommend the course?

“Yes! This was my very first course that I did to enter the industry, so it will always have a special place in my heart. The team are super friendly and supportive, so you feel comfy and can ask questions. The brand is now hugely recognised, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to be associated with them and be a part of a growing community.”

Asked to sum the whole experience up in one word, she didn't hesitate: “DREAMY!”