Nneka Garel-Portes is a native New Yorker, and the owner of Color Lab NYC/ SKinfatuated NYC in Brooklyn, NY. She has been a licensed esthetician in New York since 2013 and a certified and licensed cosmetic tattoo artist since 2016. With a passion for beauty and making others feel like the very best versions of themselves, Nneka launched her first company, SKinfatuated Mobile Spa in 2015, which then led to her opening a studio in Manhattan in 2017.

After 2 years of working in her small studio as a “solo-preneur” in the city, she was given the opportunity to purchase a successful Microblading studio in Brooklyn, Brow Zing NYC, which she re-branded to Color Lab NYC, and has since expanded the menu of services to include several forms of cosmetic tattooing, brow shaping, lashes and makeup.

With a growing team of beauty professionals, Nneka’s goal is to bring excellence back to the community by way of beauty services that make clients feel and look like the very best versions of themselves.

Nneka also mentors juniors and seniors from City-AS High School through their internship program throughout the academic school year. The students participate in a non-traditional education setting that allows them to gain experience through internships. The students Nneka is partnered with are typically interested in the beauty industry and business ownership.

“My business philosophy is simple: maintain a peaceful space, listen, educate and provide a phenomenal experience for every single client. Always.”