Welcome!

Nneka Garel-Portes is a native New Yorker, wife, mom of 4, and the owner of Color Lab NYC and SKinfatuated in Manhattan. While completing her masters in business administration, she held the role of Correction Officer for the New York City Department of Correction. In 2013, she studied esthetics under the best master estheticians in New York City at Atelier Esthetique School of Aesthetics in Manhattan.Two years later, she launched her first company, SKinfatuated Mobile Spa, and traveled across New York City and Long Island providing skin care services along with a team comprised of a personal chef and massage therapist to create bespoke spa party experiences.

 

While running her mobile spa business, Nneka was given the opportunity to manage a top beauty brand in world famous Barney’s New York where she sharpened her client service skills for two years. During her time at BNY, she continued to study multiple disciplines within the beauty world, including microblading, which led her to launch her first beauty studio in Manhattan’s posh neighborhood, Chelsea. 

 

After 2 years of working as a “solo-preneur” in Manhattan, she was given the opportunity to purchase a successful Microblading studio in Brooklyn, Brow Zing NYC, which she re-branded to Color Lab NYC, which included an expanded menu of services in permanent makeup, scalp micropigmentation, paramedical tattoo. Her goal was to bring back higher standards of client experience for beauty services in Brooklyn, NY because she felt that was one of the main components missing with many service based businesses. In 2023, Nneka said farewell to Brooklyn and returned to Manhattan where she now operates a luxury beauty studio on W 37th st in the Garment District.

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From 2017 through 2020, Nneka mentored juniors and seniors interested in esthetics from City-AS High School through the school’s internship program throughout the academic school year. The students participated in a non-traditional high school program allowing them to gain real world experience through on site internships. Nneka is proud to note that several of the students she has mentored have gone on to become estheticians.

 

• 2019- Created and released the first iteration of her online Ombre Brow training

• 2020- Wrote and released a digital book entitled "Beauty Business Ownership: A Guide to Setting Your Beauty Business Up to Win!"

• 2021- Created Brow Lamination and Lash Lift training for Beauty Angels Academy International

• 2023- Speaker/Educator at PMUCon in Houston, TX for needle knowledge

• 2023- Speaker/Educator at PMU Women of Color in Atlanta, GA

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Certifications:

• Esthetics

• Microneedling

• Microblading

• Powder Brow Tattoo

• Eyeliner Tattoo

• Li-FT Tattoo Removal

• Stretch Mark & Scar Camouflage

• Lip Blush

• Lip Neutralization

• Scalp Micropigmentation

• Faux Freckles

• Brow Lamination

• Lash Lift

• Botched INK