Ky Ann Smith worked for two national waxing franchises before opening her own waxing boutique, Femme Flora, at 1610 Buddy Holly Ave. in the Depot District.
“Over time, I began to feel a calling to create something different,” said Smith, Femme Flora’s founder and owner. “Waxing is such a personal service, and something that can give people so much confidence should not feel like a fast-food experience.”
A ritual, not a routine
She wanted to bring “artistry, craftsmanship, and intentional hospitality back into waxing,” she said, and to create a place “where clients never feel rushed, where the smallest details matter, and where the experience itself is just as valuable as the results.”
“My goal has always been to change the way people view waxing,” she said. “What is often seen as an uncomfortable beauty maintenance appointment can actually be something you look forward to. At Femme Flora, we believe it should feel like a ritual, not a routine.”
The small details
Smith calls Femme Flora a hospitality-driven waxing boutique. It is appointment-only, an approach she said is designed with client privacy, comfort and safety in mind. Clients text a private passcode when they arrive and are notified when the team is ready to welcome them inside. Treatment beds are warmed, and little chocolates are waiting.
“We believe even the smallest gestures can make a difference,” she said. Smith said the retail collection prioritizes women-owned brands whenever possible and features two local businesses.
She is most passionate about balancing efficiency with genuine hospitality. “You’ll never feel like you’re being rushed out the door,” she said. “Most appointments feel more like catching up with an old friend than checking something off your to-do list.”
Why the Depot District
“I’ve always loved the character, history, and creative energy of downtown,” Smith said. “There’s something special about being surrounded by independent businesses, artists, and people who aren’t afraid to do things a little differently. Femme Flora was never meant to be a cookie-cutter waxing studio, and I wanted our location to reflect that same individuality.”
Watching clients bloom
What means the most to her, Smith said, is “building something that both my clients and my employees can be proud to be a part of,” a place where “people feel a sense of belonging.”
Over the years, she has watched clients graduate, get engaged, get married, start families, start new careers “and find themselves again through some difficult seasons.”
“The 20 minutes we share in the treatment room have always been about so much more than a wax,” she said. “Sometimes it’s celebrating a milestone, having hard conversations, and sometimes it’s helping someone find a little confidence they thought they lost. I genuinely love getting to watch my clients bloom!”
What’s new
Femme Flora recently added its newest Florette, Destinee Mesquias. With her on the team, Smith said, the shop has been able to expand availability to include more evening and Saturday appointments, along with its signature Night Bloom hours: early-morning and late-night appointments on the first and third Mondays and Fridays of each month.
“We love any excuse to throw a party!” she said. “We enjoy creating opportunities for our community to connect, so there’s usually something fun on the calendar.” She encourages people to follow Femme Flora on social media to keep up with “what’s blooming next.”
‘I’ve been on the treatment bed myself’
“I know the nerves, the insecurities, and all the little thoughts that can run through your mind before a waxing appointment. I get it,” Smith said. “I want people to walk in feeling comfortable, leave feeling confident, and look forward to coming back!”
Not built alone
Smith said she has been “incredibly blessed” with a support system. She has worked closely with America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University, and she called her mentor, Chuck Edwards, the Regional Director of the SBDC, “such a valuable source of guidance and encouragement.”
“But above all, my family deserves so much credit,” she said. “I am a single mom to twin boys, and building a business while raising them has been an adventure.” She is also grateful to the clients who followed her into this new chapter.
“Femme Flora may have started with my idea,” Smith said, “but it certainly hasn’t been built by me alone.”
Visit
- Femme Flora, 1610 Buddy Holly Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401, in the Depot District.
- Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Night Bloom hours: first and third Mondays and Fridays of each month, 6 to 8 a.m. and 9 to 11 p.m.
- All services are by appointment only. Book at femmeflora.com.
- Phone: 806-583-3375.
- Social: @femmeflorabeauty on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
- Finding it: Per the shop’s website, look for a big black door. Parking is on the north side of the building or directly in front.
Sources
- Interview: Ky Ann Smith, Founder & Owner, Femme Flora, email reply to Hub City UnCovered, Nov. 9, 2026 (~10:14 a.m. CT); Gmail message 1a1c116d09dcd2eb, thread 1a1ac5bb50c9d9a0
- Fact-check reply: Ky Ann Smith, Nov. 9, 2026 (~12:40 p.m. CT); Gmail message 1a1c19cce7c844f9, thread 1a1ac5bb50c9d9a0
- Femme Flora website (full street address, ZIP, phone, Night Bloom hours, arrival/parking note), accessed Nov. 9, 2026: https://femmeflora.com