Urban Alchemy Aesthetics

I grew up in a small mountain town where my mother owned a hair salon. I often went to work with my mother and quickly fell in love with the industry. I loved watching the stylists measure out hair color; perfectly formulating it; so that, it would have the desired effect. By the time I was in middle school I could look at something and adequately relay the color theory of that item. I knew exactly how to identify the underlaying tones, and how to manipulate an outcome of a color change. This sparked my passion for art. As I aged, I ran through different career goals just like every other child. Only my goals were a bit different... By age eight I had my heart set on becoming a tattoo artist. At age 18, I did it. I successfully became certified in all modalities of micropigmentation; my main focus was in SofTap permanent makeup. With my mother by my side, I had owned and operated my first business "Elysian Esthetics." During the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to close my doors and secure employment in a corporate franchise where I was able to hone in on my waxing skills. Several years later, I got sick. I had been performing an average of 15 brazilin waxes a day and my body began to fail; I had to go on medical leave. It was a time for deep contemplation and recalibration. I believe "the body keeps score." I was being flooded with doctors giving me diagnosis after diagnosis. Eventually, I acknowledged a void I had been feeling for some time. I had been operating as a robot for so long, dictated by a script and judged on the amount of products I sold. I spent my days selling a false "cure." A service combined with a product filled with toxins and fillers. While on leave, I remembered that is not who I am; I am not dishonest to others, and I respect myself enough to honor my core values and beliefs. I will no longer allow others to dictate my life. I am a disabled woman in STEM, owning and operating a small business. I was born with a rare genetic disorder called hEDS. With that comes many comorbitities. One being Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. A disorder that causes too many defense hormones to be released when the body comes in contact with an allergen. As my team of doctors laid on diagnosis after diagnosis, it led me to look into what I was putting in, on, and around my body. It's no longer a mystery why my body decided to uncover its truth. Products today are loaded with terrible ingredients! That is what sparked my passion for low tox products. After my wake up call, I now honor my roots. I respect my passions, never at the price of someone else's health. I spent my childhood observing my mother and her other stylists. They took time to listen to their clients, they respected them enough to never lie. They saw their clients needs, and used their expertise to cater to that. That is why I have started Urban Alchemy Aesthetics. I want to use what I know to help others. I love science, connections, and finding solutions. I find pride in continuously educating myself; I am currently a full time student, double-majoring in Bioengineering and Computer Science. I have decided on this major as a way to continue supporting me in supporting others. I see my clients as people, and with that they deserve to be given care that combines science and compassion.