Today we’d like to introduce you to Philishea Everage.
Hi Philishea , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Barely Blush started in 2017. We started as a premium pop up nail bar experience. In 2020 we launched our signature nail care retail products like cuticle oil and sugar scrub. We also launched our nail polish line with our first collection The Pandemic Collection. Barely Blush was a seed that was planted as a young child growing up in the mid 90’s. I would ask my mother if I could paint her nails and toes when she would get ready for an important event or a night out on the town with her girlfriends.
For me, I think about the simple act of painting her nails and the joy it gave her to see the end product. I recognized it gave me an opportunity to connect and talk to her and build memories. I noticed when I painted her nails her attitude changed and it gave her a boost in self-confidence. As I got older my mother started to get her hair and nails done and she collected polishes in a caboodle box. This box to me was the secret sauce. The box had to contain at least 75 different polished. It has lots of bright colors and nails embellished gems. I was immediately drawn in and fascinated.
Although I was told not to play in her polishes, I would sneak and take her caboodle box and set up shop outside in my neighborhood and provide nail services to other little girls and women who allowed me to do their nails. Of course, I got in trouble when she found out I was playing in her polishes but that still did not stop me from continuing to do nails. Eventually, my mother gave in and let me have all of her polish.
This passion for creativity spilled over into my teenage years as well doing nails for friends and people in high school. Doing nails gave me a good feeling. A feeling that I was giving an extra boost of self-confidence to everyone. Everyone was happy and it gave them that extra bounce in their walk. They knew that they were cute. In the 90’s beauty for the African American woman was a creative outlet and it allowed them to express themselves through bright colors and nail art. African American women were bold and stood on all of their glory unapologetic.
In time today, I see the same opportunity in connecting with women as I did with my mother and all the other people nails I did. Beauty is the bridge to connection or relationships with other women. As a nation, we are so divided as even women are becoming jealous and competitive. Barely Blush helps give women value and worth to build healthier relationships rooted in Embracing oneself, Empowering and Celebrating with other women.
We are committed to a clean and ethical experience. Our team uses only top-of-the-line ingredients. It is our top priority to keep your nails healthy and beautiful. Our products are vegan, cruelty-free and made in the U.S. Our polish is “10-free,” meaning it is free from 10 of the most harmful chemicals found in the majority of nail polishes on the market.
All our polish collections are curated with women in mind. Each collection speaks to the universal experiences and moments women share throughout their lives.
Mission: At Barely Blush, our mission is to empower women to embrace their authentic selves through the acknowledgment of our intercultural connections.
Vision: At Barely Blush, our vision is to create connected communities where women are emboldened through honest self-expression to bring about collective good.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. Of course, there are challenges like managing a full time job and balancing the demands of a new business. There is never enough time in the day. I must try to priorities making time for Barely Blush which requires late nights and early morning. Other struggles can be not comparing myself to other businesses and stay focused on our vision. Getting distracted can be tough when you are a creative like myself. I always dream up something new all the time. I just write the idea down in the notes section of my phone and keep pushing.
We’ve been impressed with Barely Blush, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We specialize in simple safe care for nail care. It doesn’t need to be hard but just simple, clean and fun. We will always create unique polish collections that speak to us. We will never just drop colors just because. Instead, I need to be inspired by what I am feeling and experiencing. Barely Blush is much more than a clean beauty products we are an experience that you didn’t know you needed. I am creative that also specializes in experiential and hope to connect the two and do some Barely Blush events so our customers can experience beauty things.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I would be putting myself into a box if I said I know where I see us in 5-10 years. I hope to be more nationally known and be able to break in to the Indie Beauty scene. I hope to own our own beauty bar here in Cincinnati as a place for people to come get fun, simple nail care experience.
Pricing:
- The Mani Kit- $30
- Nail Polish-$13
- Cuticle Oil-$10
- Press On Nails-$25-$60
- Top & Base Coat Duo-$20
Contact Info:
- Email: infro@barelyblushnails.com
- Website: www.barelyblushnails.com
- Instagram: @barelyblushnails
- Facebook: Barely Blush Nails
Image Credits
@thestudiocreative.co
@lv_contentcreation
