Meet our wonderful staff! -- Urban Waxx: Best Wax in Portland

Shannon

Hi! I'm Shannon Conley, and I am the proud founder and owner of Urban Waxx. I became a licensed Esthetician 14 years ago, and during that time I have waxed literally thousands of clients. I began my career in my home state of NJ, and since then I have worked in some wonderful day spas in Charleston, SC, and Los Angeles. I've even had the pleasure of waxing some celebrity clients! Waxing has always been my favorite part of being an Esthetician. Why? Well, to put it simply, because I have a lot of fun, and I'm great at it! I have always loved putting clients at ease and showing them how enjoyable waxing can be. Although I truly enjoy all types of waxing, I specialize in Brazilians and brow design.

There are some serious misconceptions when it comes to waxing, and nothing pleases me more than when a new client gets up from the table and tells me it was the best wax they ever had. That is my goal...and our motto!

We moved to Portland in January of 2007, and I have never felt so at home or welcome. We are here to stay...I can't imagine living anywhere else! My husband Cody and I have one daughter, Stella, who is the light of our lives and we are expecting our 2nd baby, a boy, in early November.

I feel blessed every day to be in Portland, own my own business, and have such amazing clients and co-workers. I feel like every day I am living the dream. Thank you for being a part of it!

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback and would like to reach me directly, feel free to contact me at shannon@urbanwaxx.com

Mindy

Hello! My name is Mindy Good and I must confess that I am addicted to waxing. I have been at Urban Waxx since the day we opened, and it's thrilling to see how much we have evolved! When we started, just a few years ago, there were only 4 of us...now we are a team of 12! It's been a wonderful experience for me, from becoming a little family with my coworkers to meeting all of the extraordinary clients that I see every day! We have the best team of waxers in Portland! I truly look forward to coming into work and hearing my clients say: "That was the best wax that I have ever had!"

I grew up in a very small town south of Portland, and could not wait to move out and experience all that life has to offer. I first moved to Cleveland, then on to Boston where I spent the next 10 years. One day I realized how much I missed Oregon, and I decided it was time to come home, settle down, and get down to business. I moved to Portland over 13 years ago and I have loved every minute of it. I wouldn't live anywhere else. In addition to being a licensed Esthetician, I have also been a massage therapist for the past 5 years. My favorite thing to do is travel! I have taken many trips to my favorite island, Jamaica, and a few years before that I spent one month in Morocco. I have also been to pretty much every state in the U.S., and I still think Oregon is the best! My next dream vacation is Fiji...I'll keep you posted!

Well, thank you for reading about me! I hope to see you soon!

Heather

Hi everyone! My name is Heather and I am one of the Estheticians here at Urban Waxx. I am truly excited to be a part of such an amazing bunch of women. We take pride in all we do, have a blast and are excited about our fabulous clients!

I've been a licensed Esthetician since 2004 and waxing is my favorite thing by far. How wonderful to be in a profession that allows me to have fun and work at the same time; I feel blessed to be able to say that I look forward to my job!

In addition to having my Esthetician's license, I also hold a BA in English. One of my dreams is to write a collection of creative nonfiction essays and be published. I was born and raised here in the beautiful Northwest and I absolutely love Portland! In 2005 I married Tyler who, in my humble opinion, is the best guy out there! We have one daughter, Farris Nicole, who is our absolute pride and joy!!!

Come in and see what a great experience waxing can be I look forward to meeting you!!!

Jenny

Hello Friends!

My name is Jenny & I have been at Urban Waxx for over a year now & couldn't be more thrilled! Growing up I have always had a passion for products and skin care and I am so blessed that I am working at the best salon in Portland, pursuing my career. Everyday I cannot wait to come to work and see all the lovely faces that come our way. I absolutely LOVE my clients!

I have been in Portland for over two years now & cannot believe how fast it has gone by. "Time flies when you're having fun!" The vibe here is so positive and the options are endless with things to do: shopping, coffee shops, music, finding new places to get a bite to eat, meeting new people- the list is endless.

All of us gals at Urban Waxx look forward to showing you our warm and comfortable atmosphere, while giving you the best wax you will ever have. I'm serious!! I look forward to meeting you!

Beth

Hello! My name is Beth Kuriger and I am proud to be waxing alongside the lovely ladies at Urban Waxx! I love to wax, and have been practicing my craft as a Licensed Esthetician since 2005. I have gained most of my experience working at the beautiful Breckenridge ski resort in the rocky mountains of Colorado.

I also hold a BA in Graphic Design and an Associates degree in Animation. As much as I enjoyed working in the design field, I have discovered most satisfaction in the field of Esthetics. I must admit, the designer in me loves to transform an unruly & bushy brow into a perfected arch! To see examples of my wonderful clients modeling their beautiful brows, please view my brow portfolio here: http://bethbrows.blogspot.com/

So, who am I? Well, I am just a Jersey girl enjoying all of the culture and beauty that the wild west has to offer. When not working, you can find me spending time with my bulldog, Rosie, exploring, creating, or shaking my booty at a rock & roll show!

Thanks for reading about me, I looking forward to hearing about you! Hope to see you soon for the best wax you've ever had!

Adriana

Hi There!

My name is Adriana Ryding, but my friends call me Adri. I am an Oregon native but received my Esthetics training in Victoria, British Colombia. I have been back from the Great White North for four years, committing myself to making sure Portland is hairless and happy. I believe getting waxed should be a fun experience, something we should look forward to; after all, nothing is better than being smooth and hair-free!

I love the spa industry and couldn't imagine doing anything else. Recently I had an article published in an online magazine on how to keep your facial contours firm and youthful. I plan to keep writing, as I love passing on the many helpful tips I have learned from my years in the industry. In fact, I write a blog called: Ask the Skinxpert, where I discuss and answer questions pertaining to skincare.

Urban Waxx is truly the best place to be waxed. I am proud to be part of a business that is welcoming to everyone who walks through the door. You will be super comfortable and have the best wax of your life.

I look forward to meeting you! Thanks for reading about me!

Megan

Hello!

My name is Megan and I am an esthetician here at Urban Waxx! My favorite part of my job is getting to know all of you. My clients are incredible!

A little about me... I grew up in good ol' Eugene Oregon all of my life, until I decided to step outside the box and try a new city. Although family means everything to me, getting out of my home town has been a very rewarding experience, and I adore Portland and everything it has to offer. I love the idea of exotic travel, and hope to see every beautiful place on my list someday.

In my free time I enjoy scrap booking and other crafts, a good shopping spree and dinner gatherings with good friends. Fashion is a big part of my life and I love to shop! I have an adorable white Persian cat, and although he has always been known as "Kitten", he is far from it. He is 12 this year and I must say has become quite stubborn with is old age. There are far too many sides to my personality to describe in this one paragraph, so come on in and enjoy the best wax of your life!

Hope to see you soon : )

Gina

Hi, my name is Gina and I am so stoked to be waxing in such an awesome environment. Everyone here is fun loving and we all love waxing!

After attending the Aveda Institute I am happy to say that I was blessed with a job here at Urban Waxx.

My husband Derek and I are thrilled to be back in the Northwest after spending almost 2 years in Florida. I am originally from Bend and have been traveling and moving around for the past 7 years. However, I am happy to say that Portland is now my home.

When I am not working I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, rafting, camping, and spending time with good friends.

It is truly a blessing to work here and I have loved getting to know everyone! Come see what I mean!!!

Sara

Hey guys!

My name is Sara, and I am ECSTATIC about being an esthetician at Urban Waxx! Before I started working here I was a client, so I truly believe that the best waxing services come from the ladies at this salon!

After high school, I moved to Corvallis and graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelors degree in psychology. I decided esthetics was the route I wanted to pursue, so I enrolled at the Aveda Institute Portland, which is an amazing school. I loved every minute of working hard, met wonderful people, and am so thankful to my instructors for showing us how to be the best.

In my spare time I love reading books, playing guitar, studying Buddhism, snowboarding, and painting among all the other crazy things to do in Portland. I can't wait for the years to come here at Urban Waxx!! I look forward to meeting you!

Alix

My name is Alix and I'm thrilled to be a member of the Urban Waxx team. I am originally from Long Island, New York and after bouncing around the New York City area for several years, I decided I needed a big change in my life, and I found it in Portland. Moving to Portland and deciding to become an Esthetician are two of the greatest decisions of my life.

In my free time you can find me on the track skating with the Rose City Rollers, Portland's own Roller Derby League. Amongst this rag-tag bunch I'm known as Layla Smackdown. Come check us out some time.

The crew of Urban Waxx have made me feel more welcome and at home than I could have ever imagined. I'm sure once you stop in, you'll feel the same warm and welcoming vibes. It would be my great pleasure to introduce you to the wonderful world of waxing.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Becky

Hello future clients! My name is Becky Howell and I have been a licensed esthetician for over a year now. I just recently moved here to Urban Waxx, although it took me a while to find my calling. I started by completing two years of general courses at Portland Community College, then pursued studying hair yet nothing seemed to feel right. It was then that I decided to give my interest in beauty and passion for perfection a try! I attended the Aveda Institute here in Portland then went on to work at an Aveda spa all before making this wonderful transition to Urban Waxx!

I love chatting and getting to know my clients, all while giving them the best wax they've ever had...seriously!

In my spare time I enjoy eating good food, sleeping, traveling with my boyfriend and of course, hanging out with my super cute dog!

Thank you for reading about me, I can't wait to meet you and make you feel amazing!!!

Katie

Hello! I am Katie, one of the newest members of the Urban Waxx family. I was born and raised in Southern Oregon and moved here 2 years ago with my husband, Mat. We absolutely love the area are so happy to be here. I graduated from the Aveda Institute here in Portland and fell in love with waxing. Brazilians and backs are my favorite and am very excited to be part of the Tanasbourne location of Urban Waxx. When I'm not waxing I can be found playing with Delilah, my Chihuahua-min-pin mix who is the love of my life. I also enjoy a variety of crafts, gardening, sewing, and gluten free cooking.

Come on over to Tanasbourne for the best wax you'll ever have! Seriously!

Jen

Hi! I'm Jen, I'm originally from Kenai, Alaska. When I was 16 my family moved to Tri-Cities WA. I recently came to Portland to live in a fun new place. So far, I love it here!

I have always known that I wanted to do something in the beauty industry, but I wasn't quite sure what. Over the years I have worked at multiple salons, and that's when I found out how amazing skin care was. I went to Aveda Institute Portland to get my Esthetics license. I enjoyed every minute there, and best of all I found my true love... Waxing!

When I'm not waxing I love to shop and spend time with my girlfriends. Most of all I love my dog, Chloe! Chloe is a Maltipoo and we go to dog parks every free chance we get. I'm a total animal person; especially dogs, I love them all!

Have an amazing day and I hope to see you soon!!

Kimberley

Hello!

My name is Kimberley and I look forward to meeting you!

I moved to Portland three years ago this fall and I love it here! I attend Portland State University, and I am pursuing my degree. For most of my week you can find me at Urban Waxx, at the front desk.

Urban Waxx makes me feel like I'm coming home everyday when really I'm coming to work! It's a pleasure with such lovely ladies, a light atmosphere and a calming environment surrounding me. At Urban Waxx we really try to make each experience that our guests have warm, fun, and truly the best! My favorite thing about being at the front desk is interacting with all of our fabulous clients and putting new guests at ease!

Come join us and treat yourself!

Lou Lou

Well hello there! My name is Lou Lou and I am so honored to be a part of this team of beautiful and empowered women here at Urban Waxx! I have lived in the Northwest for seven years and am completely smitten with it! The admirably lush, green forests are gorgeous and the city life is quite intriguing as well! I am currently attending beauty school for hair and esthetics and it has been awesome! In my free time I enjoy reading biographies, walks in the park, and exploring Portland! I have a terribly obedient, one year old cat named Arly, who acts more like a dog than a cat! I absolutely love him to pieces!

Being at Urban Waxx is a truly amazing treat and our clients are absolutely marvelous! My position at the front desk is to ensure that your experience here is remarkable, and I greatly enjoy doing so! Please, come in, have a seat, sip some wine, and bask in the astonishing experience of Urban Waxx!

Carly

Hello future and current Urban Waxx devotees; I'm Carly! Most days you will find me at the front desk at both Urban Waxx NW & Tanasbourne. Hopefully I will get the chance to meet you and give you outstanding customer service, because that's what I strive for!

I was born and raised in Eugene, OR, but spent most of my time growing up in Portland and Lake Oswego because of family. That given, Portland has always felt like home to me. My boyfriend Gerdy, our Cat Rudy Furnandez and I live downtown and try to live it up to the fullest. You are most likely to run into us at a Happy Hour or a Blazer Game. There is so much to do here and I love what this city has to offer!

The past 5 years of my life I have been a Makeup Artist/ Esthetician. I worked for MAC Cosmetics for 2 years and earlier this year I was doing makeup for the show "Studio 6" for KOIN TV. All that a side I still wasn't quite content with what I was doing in life. So looking for a more stable career, I applied at Urban Waxx. I instantly made a connection with this place and all the fantastic women that work here! I now look forward to coming into work everyday. I absolutely love Urban Waxx! And from the looks of if so do all our amazing clients, and you will too! So, come in a see us!

Sara G.

Hello Friends!

My name is Sara Ghafouri and I am one of the newest members of Urban Waxx. I love Urban Waxx's friendly atmosphere and am proud to be apart the team. I moved to Portland three years ago from sunny California, but I have fallen in love with the Portland rain. I hold a Juris Doctor degree from Lewis & Clark Law School with an emphasis in environmental law and B.S. in Biochemistry from UCLA. I went to law school to pursue a career in environmental litigation in hopes to one day protect our environment. I love the hiking and camping and enjoying the Oregon's beautiful scenery.

I am also the proud owner of two cats Pete and Benny. Although I have been accused of being a "cat lady," I love hanging out with my cats.

I look forward to seeing you at your next visit at Urban Waxx!

Kali

Hi!!

My name is Kali Vise and I'm one of those smiling faces you will see when you walk into Urban Waxx. I've been a loyal client from the very beginning and the transition from client to co-worker has never been easier! I love this group of ladies and I sincerely stand by our motto: The best wax you'll ever have. Seriously.

I'm an Oregon Native from Medford and I moved to Portland in 2005 to advance my career in Real Estate. When the market went belly up, I decided to make a change and go back to school. I'm currently attending PSU, pursuing my degree. When I'm not in the salon offering you a glass of wine or at PSU, I am a nanny for 3 amazing little girls. I am also a newlywed as of August 2010 and I spend as much time with my husband, Ryan, and our black lab puppy, Rogue, as possible. I love everything that the Portland area has to offer and in my spare time you can find me with Ryan & Rogue on the waterfront, hiking, skiing, rafting, wine tasting, enjoying the amazing breweries downtown or partaking in any of the other exciting things Portland has to offer!

Thanks for taking the time to read about me and I look forward to meeting you!!

Katie S.

Hello All!

My name is Katie and I am one of the newest gals here at Urban Waxx! I am originally from Olympia, WA and came to Portland to pursue an education in Communications. I am an absolute lover of life, people, music and the great outdoors. I am quite ecstatic to be a part of such a fabulous team of women that is Urban Waxx. You can find me at the front desk at the Tanasbourne location!

Can't wait to see all of your beautiful faces!