Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Osterberg
Hi joan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started cosmetology school at the Douglas J Aveda Institute in E. Lansing in 2001 when all my friends were going to University. I was unsure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I had been cutting my own hair including friends and family then realizing I was good at it naturally when I was about 12. I’m a natural born creator. I didn’t choose hairstyling, it chose me. I never saw myself as a hairstylist and never fully felt I fit in with most typical folks in the industry. I have more of a casual, intuitive style of doing hair. I love empowering my clients by giving them easy styles that work with their natural hair, lays perfectly around their face, then grows out beautifully for months. I’m not one for forced styles that need to be overly styled and believe a good haircut should look just as good air dried even months later. I love to teach my client how to style their natural hair in an effortless simple way using all non-toxic products, without harsh chemicals and big conglomerates.
Within my 20+ years of being in the beauty industry I have expanded my education in Natural nail manicures and art, Lash extensions, hair extensions, facials, waxing and many cutting and color classes through different educators and companies. I have worked in many types of salons trying to find where I belong and am now happily working from my own private studio in Muskegon specializing in hair cuts, razor and dry haircutting techniques, bangs and fringe, curly/wavy and ultra fine/thin hair. I love hair challenges and trusting the process to achieve healthy hair. After not doing nails for about 10yrs, I am back doing manicures only using non-toxic gel products from Korea and the US. I’m obsessed with painting tiny pictures and flowers on nails of any length.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest obstacle was getting diagnosed with Ulcerative Pan-Colitis in 2016. My career was slowed down and even paused at times from being super sick, surgeries and hospital stays. I am forever grateful to my loyal clients who stuck it out with me throughout all that. It was a very scary time and I thought my career was going to be over. I am so grateful to be healthy enough to work full time in the salon again, spending time with all my beautiful guests.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love cutting and carving peoples hair to flow with their natural shapes, balance out the weight to perfectly lay on their face and head. I enjoy my time with clients getting to know them, the people and things they love and building a relationship with them. My work is custom and special for each person who sits in my chair, I love vintage and Parisian styles, Naturally worn and lived in curls and waves, styles inspired by music and art and gender afirming styles . I give my clients confidence to trim their own bangs and have even taught clients how to cut their kids hair because everyone does it and it’s better to help them to is in an easier way to prevent less mistakes. This industry can be so gatekeep-y, but I love sharing my knowledge and helping others when I can.
My client’s hair health is top priority, I will not do a service if it risk compromising the integrity of their hair. I spend a lot of time consulting and getting to know my clients and enjoy our chit chats. I take pride in my work, the most valuable part to me is when I see my clients face light up after a service and they feel like the baddie they are, when they send me thank you notes with pictures or tag me on selfies or a positive review is more valuable than anything to me. Same goes for nail services, I want our nail journey to be healthy and rewarding so we can watch your nails grow and shine. My favorite things to paint on nails is flowers and abstract art, anything cats too.
I love my cozy studio located in an old warehouse turned artist studios and offices. I have an open space with exposed brick and an old loading dock including a garage door! I make and sell embroidery art using all vintage materials, My main goal is your comfort, I try to create a very cozy, welcoming space, with lots of plants, vintage curated furniture, natural smells from my beautiful non toxic, earth and animal friendly, professional products. You will be treated like a friend that you are just here to hang out in our shared space with a cup of hot tea and blanket where a friendly studio bunny will be here to welcome you while I do your hair and nails.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
When I was about 12 I bought a book on hairstyling, updos and how too. I would practice on my younger neighbor and my own hair. The Girls mom thought I was good enough she hired me to do her daughters hair for her sons wedding! I think I got paid $20 for crating something that came easy to me and was fun, but it didn’t occur to me I could make a profession out of it. I thought work was suppose to be hard and something people didn’t enjoy. I also thought I was going to be photographer for National Geographic.
Pricing:
- Haircuts $65-$80
- Structured Gel Mani $65
- Add on Nail Art $25-$50
- Hair color $85-$125
- Dimensional Color $180-$375
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebeautyboxmkg.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyboxmkg?igsh=dDNrYnpwajlnaWdn
