Conversations with Leeann Nanney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeann Nanney

Hi LeeAnn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
What is an esthetician? This is something I asked myself while I was on a tour at my local cosmetology school. I was 24, looking to switch my studies but wasn’t sure what I was looking for. All I knew was that I wanted to help people. On the tour, I was shown the esthetics program. The smells, the lighting, the atmosphere, it all instantly felt safe, like I was home. I felt that I wanted to help other people feel like that too, and that esthetics could be an avenue for that. What really solidified my decision to become an esthetician, though, was discovering the mental health benefits it offers, specifically for people who suffer from anxiety and trauma; something that I deeply resonated with.

I started my esthetics career as soon as I graduated and took state boards. I worked in chain spas, management, waxing studios, med spas, and day spas. I learned the ins and outs of the industry, while also learning a lot about myself as a provider. In 2021 I gave birth to my first daughter. I was in love with the family my husband and I created; something I wasn’t prepared for, though, was the challenge of postpartum depression and anxiety. I sought support through family & therapy; through this, I came to realize that I had also given birth to a new version of myself. A version that allowed me to find what made me bloom. One of those things was skin care. I started focusing more on consistency in my skin care/self care. Over time, I found that the act of practicing self care had brought me back to myself after the grueling (yet rewarding) trenches of motherhood. I had a revelation that skin care is so much more than just what I do for a living. Skin care IS self care. A seed had been planted to build something of my own, a place where clients can treat both their skin and their minds by practicing self care; thus, Bloom Skin Studio was created. That year I started a home studio which I opened to friends, family, and close clients. In 2024, I had my second daughter and I knew that it was time for the planted seed to be nurtured to grow; Bloom Skin Studio moved locations to a suite in Clarkston. I am happy to say that I am now taking new clients, while still being able to be close to home to take care of my girls.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think that some of the most inspiring stories come from a place of resilience and perseverance. Throughout my career as an esthetician I was always looking for a place that matched my values and standards in an industry that is extremely competitive. There was a time when I considered leaving the esthetics industry because I was unable to find a place to call home, and it began to make me question my career; maybe I didn’t have what it takes. 2021 was one of my hardest years but also a year of incredible growth and clarity. I slowly started feeling more confident as I came back to myself through therapy & self care. I began to dive deep into the reason that brought me to my esthetics career and used that as a catalyst in how I run my business and treat my clients today. I learned through this struggle that “the only way out is through”. I think Chuang Tzu, a chinese philosopher, says it best: “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly”.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My goal in creating Bloom Skin Studio was to create a space that is safe for all, without judgment, where they can make mistakes and learn, and where they can cry (if need be) and be comforted. You never know what people are going through and I meet people where they are, in some of their deepest insecurities, in a very intimate environment. I am an esthetician with a focus on mental health, who not only provides skin care treatments, but also incorporates practices that promote mental well-being. I recognize the connection between physical self-care and emotional health by creating a calming, safe environment that promotes relaxation. I strive to educate my clients on how best to take care of their skin based on their lifestyle needs, which in turn positively affects self-esteem, overall mental health, and skin health. Focusing on mental-wellness is a huge part of healing the skin, as stress and anxiety are known causes of skin issues. The constraints of social media, aggressive age management procedures, and the pressure to conform to look a certain way can lead to body dysmorphia; this is not talked about enough in the esthetics industry. I am proud to have created a space where people can come and be affirmed that they are, in fact, beautiful just the way they are.

How do you think about luck?
No luck. All God. Everything that I have lived through and experienced has brought me where I am today. God has given me empathy to meet people where they are at, He has blessed my hands to give rest, He has made me congenial so people feel comfortable opening up to me, and He gives me the wisdom on how to speak so my clients understand me. I am just a vessel and He works through me. I am just following His plan the best I can, and even if I veer off the path a little bit now and again, I trust Him to bring me right back to it.

Pricing:

• $120 Hands-On Skin Consult
• $130 Signature Bloom (60 min facial)
• $180 Full Bloom (90 min all-inclusive facial)
• $95 Dermaplane Express
• $40 Brow Shape & Tint

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/bloomroomesthetics
• Instagram: @bloom.skin.studio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomskinstudiollc