The salon’s owners created a clean, soothing design.
Bringing Green to OKC
Well Beauty Studio founders Aimee Ahpeatone, Amy Yousey, and Beza Yosef were inspired by their travels to open their salon. “We are frequent travelers and we have had so many great experiences in other markets with nail salons that catered to green and clean,” explains Ahpeatone. “Oklahoma has been late to the green beauty industry movement. We wanted to do this as a gift to our community and to have a place we would enjoy that was fresh, clean, and that would act as a part of a healthy lifestyle.” The salon focuses on providing healthy products and high-quality services. They use 10-free products such as Zoya, CND, and Bio Sculpture Gel for traditional and gel manicures and extensions.
Quick Look Salon name: Well Beauty Studio Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. Owners: Aimee Ahpeatone, Amy Yousey, and Beza Yosef Square footage: 1,600 Opened: 2016 Number of nail techs/employees: 10/13 Specialties: Healthy services, traditional and gel manicures, nail enhancements Compensation structure: Employees with commission Website:www.wellbeautystudio.com
Well Beauty Studio aims to bring green services to Oklahoma.
Local Color
The salon is located in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District, an area that’s home to the Lyric Theatre as well as other arts organizations, retail, and restaurants. Adding to the artsy vibe, the salon’s design celebrates local artists. “We have a giant door made into a mural from local artist Erin Cooper and a space designed collaboratively with local architect Ken Fitzsimmons,” says Ahpeatone. The salon hosts parties and creates events in collaboration with local neighborhood art walk nights and festivals. “We have done everything from bingo nights and henna nights to having wineries come in to do parties,” she says.
Products include Zoya, CND, and Bio Sculpture Gel.
For the Love of Nails
Nail techs range from those who have chosen nails as a career to techs in college who work in the salon because they love nail art. The salon partners with local schools to recruit employees, as well as placing online job postings. They offer group training and have brought in a trainer from Los Angeles for a week twice this year. “The technicians love this opportunity to hone their craft and artwork,” says Ahpeatone. “We will continue to bring in training and do training in-house regularly as well.”
The salon is located in a vibrant arts district.
A Luxurious Space
To match its healthy focus, the salon was designed to be soothing, artistic, and clean. “It was a fun project to do,” says Ahpeatone. “I love to design spaces and this project sort of designed itself due to the size and shape of the historic building remodel that coincided with our opening.” She was inspired by other salons she’d visited in New York City, Los Angles, and Denver. To bring in new clients, the salon offers promotions, discounted services, free upgrades, and client loyalty programs. The varied clientele includes women, men, children, those seeking a green experience, and those seeking a luxury experience.
Salon owners Amy Yousey, Aimee Ahpeatone, and Beza Yosef were inspired by green salons across the country.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.