Photography by Spacecrafting
Ali Nanne
LABB – Lash, Aesthetic + Brow Bar
Ali Nanne has launched her latest experiment: LABB, which stands for Lash, Aesthetic and Brow Bar. The collective focuses on medical-grade skincare, including services like eyelash lifts and extensions, brow henna and lamination, waxing, microneedling, platelet-rich plasma, Aquagold, Botox, fillers, injectable vitamins and more.
A spa, in this economy? Actually, yes.
“Beauty is never going to go away,” she explains. “The economic magnitude of the pandemic on brands and retailers will be far greater than any recession, but there are definite signs that the beauty industry will once again prove its resiliency. Even in the midst of a pandemic, people have been craving their lash, skin and brow services. People care what they look like and want to feel good, even when they’re at home.” And on Zoom, of course, where everyone who’s transitioned to near-constant virtual meetings is treated to a rather unforgiving live feed of their own face.
Nanne has sharply honed her sense for what customers want and need. Her career began in her apartment at the University of Minnesota, where she grew her clientele doing eyelash extensions while studying nutrition. Knowing she wanted to be an entrepreneur within the beauty industry, she went on to attend Aveda Institute. After graduating, she launched the Lash Refinery followed by her second company, Face Foundrié, two years later.
But even after Nanne sold her share of Face Foundrié to make more time for family, an entrepreneurial idea simmered. Inspired by the so-called “skinimalist” look — focused on lashes, brows, and skincare over makeup — she decided to concentrate a few specialized services under one roof in Edina. These are all overseen by a physician and performed by nurse injectors and advanced-practice aestheticians in a space that feels decidedly unlike a doctor’s office.
“This year especially, people are taking care of themselves — doing more meditation and taking action,” Nanne notes. “Our goal is to make an impact on the well-being of our clients by offering small, meaningful enhancements.” Devotees can buy into packages and monthly memberships and even bring home all-natural LABB products like brow soap, brow pomade, and brow and lash serum, with more branded wares on the way.
“The purpose behind beauty services has shifted — what we do is based on how it makes us feel rather than how someone else thinks we look,” Nanne concludes. “The goal is to make people feel good in their own skin. Our purpose is to offer services that enhance their individual uniqueness and self-confidence.”
