6 Beauty Vendors Who Keep Me Flawless

I have written before about how building intentional relationships leads to better service, but I should also call out that it can lead to looking and feeling flawless. I have worked with the same experts for years, following them across boroughs and through the launches of their own businesses. These women are the masterminds behind my look of how I show up in the world. \

1. Color Care: Katiria

I met Katiria in 2012 when I was still using box dye and struggling with brassy, dull hair. For thirteen years, I have followed her from Midtown to Downtown, to Queens, Westchester, and been with her through 2 pregnancies (hers not mine). She is now back home at the place we first met,  Hair Rules. Despite dyeing my hair every three months for over a decade, my hair remains healthy and long. She takes risks safely and ensures my hair is protected, which is why I receive compliments nearly every time I walk outside. 

2. Makeup Mastery: Headay

Our eight year partnership began when I was the VIB Rouge for Sephora Beauty Insider program, which used to allow Rouge customers to get unlimited free full face makeup. I used to go in so often before speaking engagements, meetings, even dates that I joke they canceled the free makeover program because of me. Headay provides a Four Seasons level of luxury. She arrives with a professional light, a comfortable high chair, and a thorough makeup kit with the best products on the market. She tailors the products she uses to specific skin needs rather than just her own preferences. Her skill is the reason I do not use filters on my photos. 

3. Image Consultant: Erika

Where do I even begin with Erika? She is my actual friend, and because of that, she had real hesitancy around entering a business relationship. She did not want to jeopardize our friendship, but I felt strongly that I could not use her clear gift of styling and not compensate her for it. After years of me trying, I finally got her to agree to a contract, and the difference was felt instantly. My look changed, but more importantly, my understanding of my own style and my stress about how to show up completely shifted. My focus on high quality pieces and my commitment to less consumption are direct results of her innovation. Erika just gets it. Maybe that is because she is a Brooklyn girl like me, or more likely, it is probably just because it is her.

4. Laser Specialist: Monica

I started seeing Monica for laser treatments in 2015. Laser can be painful, but her presence creates a spa environment that feels entirely peaceful. When she left a major chain to launch her own practice, I followed her immediately. She is a specialist in darker skin tones and inclusive care, and she solved the skin frustrations that used to make me feel self conscious. I now reveal my arms and underarms confidently and happily. 

5. Mane Maintenance: Paris

When Paris opened Soft and Well in Bed-Stuy, I went to support a friend and discovered a new standard for hair health. Her salon is a sanctuary focused on restorative care and maintenance. I rely on her for treatments that keep my curls strong and haircuts that maintain my shape. It is the high touch, intimate experience that larger chains often lose as they scale. 

6. Laminated Eyebrows: Massiel

Massiel transformed my eyebrows from unruly to polished and full. Like several of my other vendors, I met her at a large corporation and transitioned with her when she opened her own studio in Downtown Brooklyn. Her space is inviting, efficient, and even dog friendly. It is a small, subtle change that makes my morning routine easier and makes me feel flawless on the days I choose to go without makeup. 

Investment in these professionals, who have put beyond their 10,000 hours in to achieve mastery, is an investment in my own elevation.