An affordable luxury, close to home

Beauty by Kellie Dawna, located in Suite 209 of the Comerica Bank building, is a long-time dream come true for Kellie Whitt. (Courtesy photo).

Kellie Stockwell Whitt grew up working in the restaurant and food business. And she loved it, even as the hard work took a toll on her health over the years.

But now, she has found something that she “loves, loves, loves” even more — and that’s helping others find their true inner (and outer) beauty in her new business: Beauty by Kellie Dawna.

Located in the Main Street Suites above Comerica Bank, Beauty by Kellie Dawna is an oasis of girly-ness in Kellie’s otherwise mostly male-dominated life. With two sons and three grandsons, she feels like she’s always been surrounded with guy things and was thrilled to be able to buy pink flowery sheets, curtains, and other feminine decor. Her suite can also be a relaxing spa experience for her guests, whether they come for the specialized skin-care techniques, waxing, facials, lash or brow treatments and tints, or to get make up for a special occasion.

“I started school at the Aveda Institute to be able to do make-up professionally,” Kellie explains, “But I found out that being surrounded by a lot of motivated and determined women really inspired me.” And she decided to get her complete certification for the numerous other services that she now is able to offer. “And now that I’m here,” she says, waving her hands in the air, “… it’s like a dream come true.”

She started taking appointments in late February, and was doing “great,” when the dream came to a screeching halt, of course, in mid-March. Her reopened facility is completely COVID-compliant and she has just recently passed an additional state board walk through. Her salon is fully licensed and she is currently certified to do most esthetic procedures.

Kellie is proud to be able to offer esthetician services right here in Manchester, at far more reasonable prices than if her guests were forced to travel to Ann Arbor or elsewhere to get these “luxury” treatments. She has also lowered her prices for teen facials from $80 to $65, to encourage her youngest guests to develop good skin-care habits. She carries an excellent but reasonably priced line of skin care products from Skin Script, and also will recommend drugstore brands if she believes they are a good fit for her guests.

She does specialized massage treatments including foot massage, hand and arm massage, scalp, face and neck massages, and lymphatic drainage. She offers foot detox treatments and stress-relieving treatments. You can come in and get beautified from the inside out, and head to toe.

“Guys need good skin care routines, too,” Kellie reminds us. She enjoys helping teen boys get great skin through her esthetic services. She also works with local salons for referrals and to help keep people right here in Manchester.

In future, she would like to offer nail service if she can find a technician who would like to work with her. She also eventually plans to offer micro-blading, a semi-permanent enhancement of eyebrows that has become popular in recent years.

Stop in and see what can make you look and feel more beautiful, at Beauty by Kellie Dawna.

The treatment room, where facials, derma-planing, stress relieving treatments, and other services are performed. (Courtesy photo)

The vanity is where guests get to “play” a bit with make up, whether for a special event or just a special time out! (Courtesy photo)

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.