Mentorship Over Competition: How Kate Sprouse is Changing the Beauty Game

Kate Sprouse stumbled upon sugaring while teaching at a holistic aesthetics school, and something about this ancient hair removal technique captivated her completely. "Once you touch sugar," she explains, "once I held it, once I got certified, I started playing around with it at home. I sugared any friend or family member that would come around, and I was like this is it? This is the ticket?" Fifteen years later, Kate's intuition has proven remarkably accurate. Her Portland-based business, Sugar Me, now boasts two thriving locations and recently claimed the coveted "Best Hair Removal" title across all techniques in Portland's 2024 citywide competition. This recognition feels especially meaningful as it signifies sugaring's emergence from relative obscurity into mainstream awareness. What truly distinguishes Kate's business model isn't just her singular focus on perfecting the sugaring craft, but her revolutionary approach to team building. Rather than viewing employee departures as failures, she's created an ecosystem where team members can flourish under her guidance and eventually open their own studios—with her full blessing and continued support. "I've kind of created a business model where they come, they work, and if they wish to, then they can go out and do their own business as well. And that cycle has kept rolling through," Kate explains. This philosophy of abundance—believing there are always more than enough clients for everyone who does quality work—challenges conventional business wisdom but has created a tight-knit community of sugar professionals in Portland. For those considering entering the sugar world, Kate offers simple wisdom gained from her journey: recognize that success is "a marathon, not a sprint," appreciate each chapter of your professional development, and understand that business ownership requires entirely different skills than being an excellent practitioner. Want to experience this unique approach firsthand? Visit Sugar Me in Portland, where Kate and her team continue redefining what professional mentorship looks like in the beauty industry. If you’ve connected with or been inspired by this episode in any way, leave us a review and let us know your biggest takeaway - I’d love to hear how you embrace Sugaring For All!! And while you've got your phone out, make sure to follow us on Instagram @Love2Sugar.