Welcome our newest addition, Mercedes Dandrea, Licensed Esthetician!

Born and raised in San Jose, Mercedes knows the Bay Area well. This hometown native will now be opening shop at 1445 The Alameda inside of labarre studios and is thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of the community she calls home.
 
Please give a warm welcome to Mercedes Dandrea as she is now the in-house esthetician in the studio and will be located on the first floor in the ROZ vault.
 
Always a fan of beautification of others, Mercedes’ calling came early. “Even as a little kid I loved make people feeling good about themselves.  When my older brother would babysit me, he was always a trooper and I would play beauty salon with him (although it didn’t necessarily make him feel good, he was helping to spark Mercedes’ passion in her craft.). He was really cool and allowed me to be creative in that way.” She laughs.

After understanding that her career could be tailored to fit her love, she went to school in 2007 to pave her way to become a licensed esthetician.  Her adoration grew for the beauty industry and Mercedes insightfully honed her business skills by managing several premium beauty salons in the Bay and surrounding areas over the course of the past decade.
 
Having a daughter (10 year old Siena) changed the course of Mercedes’ path and her thought process as well.  The freedom of being her own boss allowed her to chase the dream as well as reinforce her strengths as an esthetician.
 
With her business now opening in labarre, the expectations remain the same and they are simple and direct.  “I feel like I am personable, and I like to make people feel comfortable.  People can get uncomfortable as some of these procedures are intimate and it takes some time.  I like to create a warming, welcoming environment first and foremost.  I want people to feel safe and comfortable.”

Mercedes’s continues, “I like to tailor my services specifically to my clients.  I want people to get the most out of their appointment.  I know that people have often walked out thinking ‘this is great! It was like a therapy session as well!’ and that’s what I am going for.
 
For a decade and a half, Mercedes has been tackling her mission of making people feel their best.  When she came across labarre studios thanks to our friends at On The Alameda she saw that the studios and founder and owner, Lisa Alberino, was looking to vastly improve on the esthetician offerings.  That was when everything clicked and it weas meant to be.  So much so that it reunited Mercedes with her old roommate in a sense.  The gorgeous and iconic mural that adorns the wall in the historic building (which was restored brilliantly in 2017) was painted by none other than world-famous artist, David Choe… who also happened to be a former roomy of Mercedes!

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“I just LOVE the building and when I heard that Lisa restored the mural I was amazed”, Mercedes says with a smile. “Back in the day we (David and Mercedes) were connected by our love for creativity.  I created and designed jewelry and the artists connection and some friends in the photography world were our common bond.”
 
That connection is a sign that Mercedes is where she belongs, making her dream come true and furthering an already successful career in the beauty business. Her take on why a client would want to try her offerings is exactly why Lisa united with Mercedes’ to be the studios on-site esthetician. “I feel like estheticians are hidden gems.  The good ones all have a unique style and energy.  If you are looking for someone easy going, professional but also extremely thorough, I am the girl! I pride myself in my work and make sure that my client is leaving satisfied in what they are paying for.  I am a picky client as well and if I were to walk into my room I would expect it to be immaculately clean and have pride in this spot.  Other clients should see how much I love my space and career.”
 
We are thrilled to have Mercedes in the building, and she will begin the week of October 16th. Be sure to give her a follow on Instagram @mercedesmakeupandbrows and keep an eye on all labarre channels for more information on Mercedes offerings!