Meet Essence Moore of Lineage Skin & Hair Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Essence Moore.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Essence. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my career as an Esthetician simply because I hated my previous job as a Flight Attendant. The constant stress of the job made all things self-care related a safe haven for me. For example, after a six-day work trip, all I longed to do was treat myself to a face mask and a hot bath. I developed a passion for skincare and became really interested in how ingredients played a role in so many of the body’s functions. One day, I finally made the decision to pursue something else and enrolled in the Esthetics program at The Aveda Institute. In my five years as an Esthetician, I’ve been everything from a customer services rep to brand ambassador to waxer and now the owner.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been extremely lucky in every role that I’ve had to have the opportunity to learn. I learn from whomever I can talk to about whatever they are willing to share with me.

The struggles I faced working in the beauty industry pushed me to create my own brand. There is a common misconception in the industry that black women who work there aim to look more white. Before the recent wave of natural trends for women of color in self-care, there was no space for those of us who just wanted to take care of ourselves without assimilating into “classic beauty standards.” I once had one of the founders of a global beauty brand and one of NYC’s top-rated spas tell me my look wasn’t “preppy” or “mature” enough. After a while, the microaggressions and coded language became too much to deal with, so I created the brand and the space that I wanted to see in the world.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lineage Skin & Hair Studio – what should we know?
Lineage Skin and Hair Studio is a self-care studio located in Harlem, New York. We provide skincare, hair care and waxing services at affordable and accessible prices. In addition to this, we retail products (in-store and online) that help to elevate the at-home self-care experience. All services are provided by myself and my mom, Rena, who is a licensed cosmetologist. She does everything from cutting to braiding.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
One quality I feel, has been essential to my success is flexibility. Strategy is a great concept in business. However, when things fall apart, or a check doesn’t clear when you thought it would, you have to be flexible enough to work around those obstacles. The people in this world who work around their dilemmas are often the ones being the most productive and reaching goals they never knew they could reach. Always be up for a challenge!

Pricing:

• Facial services at Lineage Skin & Hair Studio range from $60-$200

Contact Info:

• Address: 2130 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
  Suite 109
  New York, NY 10027
• Website: LineageStudioNYC.com
• Phone: 9143102396
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/LineageStudioNYC
• Other: LineageStudioNYC.as.me

Image Credit:
Victoria Lewis

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