Look Good, Feel Good
Learn what’s new in treatments and services from two professionals in the beauty and wellness fields.
Lindsey ‘Dez’ Styck Owner, Civilian Beauty, Grooming & Education
Nadin Bailey Owner, Mend Studios
What are some beauty trends you’re seeing right now?
Styck: People are leaning toward more natural beauty. At Civilian, we want to help educate people. A lot of people don’t understand how to work with their hair’s natural texture. People are staying away from services that compromise the foundational integrity of your skin, hair, nails and moving toward natural hair color, texture, nails. We want your hair to be the healthiest that it can be. We want your nails to be the healthiest they can be.
Bailey: Lymphatic drainage is really pushing the boundaries right now. It’s
a massage technique that mimics the lymphatic system, guiding lymphatic fluid away from congested areas to help flush it through the body, and it can often have instant results. There are two types of lymphatic drainage. There’s Brazilian lymphatic, which is used for aesthetic reasons, and there’s the Vodder technique, which is a much lighter technique that mimics the lymphatic system and is used in surgical recovery. We use this approach at Mend.
Styck: We have expanded into somatic healing services, threading and esthetics. Our big push in 2026 is our new waterless pedicure experience. Sometimes, standard nail practices are unhealthy for your nails. Over time, you might start experiencing pain from them. This pedicure doesn’t use a sink, and your feet are elevated above your heart to help with lymphatic drainage. We add a deep tissue massage on your feet.
Bailey: Buccal massage is popular, and all over TikTok right now. People are wanting a natural approach to youth. This technique sculpts the face and at Mend we do this by combining myofascial release, lymphatic drainage and stretching of the buccal muscles of the face to create a youthful, sculpted look
How do you create a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment for your clients?
Styck: We require a consultation the first time we meet with you and customize every appointment after. What that does is create an opportunity for us to find out where you are in your relationship with yourself and your grooming, so we can customize our treatments for your needs and goals.
The other thing that we do is we don’t judge. If you’re using products from a drug store, if you’re cutting your own hair, if you’ve picked off all your nail polish, if you haven’t been taking care of yourself – we want you to come in with your messiest self. We invite that as an opportunity to help support you. We’re also gratuity-free, which means the price is transparent on the front end. Lastly, we ask for pronouns. That’s a really important part – the beauty industry has been gendered for a long time.
Bailey: Our front desk staff always welcome the clients by name. You walk into the studio and you’re welcomed with hot tea or water. Then you’re brought over to a nice area to sit and relax. This kind of gets the client into massage mode –that parasympathetic state where the nervous system is already relaxing.
As soon as you walk in the door or the building in our locations, you can smell the pleasant smells that we have going, and then you can hear the relaxing music. Right away, we create a nice welcoming environment so people can be trusting and relaxed enough to receive body work.
What is a misconception about your industry you’d like to correct?
Bailey: That massage is a luxury, or something you only need when you’re in pain. Massage therapy has so many benefits for everyone. So many clients I see consistently come to me and say they have reduced their pain medication use, they’ve reduced blood pressure. We’ve seen really good results with people coming here after surgery for a couple of months consistently for scar tissue reduction. They don’t have numbness or tingling over their scarring, and the site looks better.
Styck: There are a lot of misconceptions around pricing. There’s this belief that beauty services should be inexpensive and fast. If you’re having a long service and paying a small amount of money for it, that generally means that the technician is not really making a livable wage. I say that beauty should be an investment. Look at things from a larger perspective. You may spend more in one appointment, but there’s value over time – quality over quantity.
If you could share one piece of beauty advice, what would it be?
Styck: Book an appointment! I’m always telling people to think of us as consultants. Everybody wants to go on Instagram and learn how to do these things themselves, and you don’t have to. Let’s work together to establish a self-care routine that is personalized and effective.
Bailey: Take care of yourself. Even if it’s not getting a massage or a facial – go work out, go to yoga. Lay on the floor and relax. Be intentional and make time to take care of yourself. That alone will make you more beautiful because it will lower your stress. It will connect you to your parasympathetic nervous system. Cortisol does so much to your body, to the way that you look, to the way that your skin looks. If you can just relax, everything else will get better. ◆
Fitness and Weight Loss
Looking to get in better shape? These local pros can help you reach your goal.
For activewear… KARmA 262
Don clothes made for your active lifestyle with KARmA 262, the Milwaukee area’s only boutique that specializes in premium active and lifestyle apparel. Each item is carefully curated by owner Kara Nelson, a lifelong fitness enthusiast who focuses on trusted brands that blend style, quality and function. Through special events and collaborations with local fitness and wellness professionals, KARma 262 has become a vibrant community that supports healthy, balanced living. karma262.com
For recovery and wellness… MASON STREET MASSAGE
Through specialized lymphatic massage, sculpting techniques and restorative therapies, clients at Mason Street Massage experience reduced bloating, improved circulation and enhanced metabolic flow, creating a more efficient internal environment for fat loss and exercise. “Lymphatic-focused bodywork doesn’t replace the work of fitness – you still show up,” says May Schmitz, owner of Mason Street Massage. “But it makes the entire weight-loss journey feel more manageable and less overwhelming.” masonstreetmassage.com
For medical weight-loss therapies… MOXIE MEDISPA
Located in Menomonee Falls, Moxie Medispa offers science-backed treatments paired with a beautifully curated boutique setting for a truly refined experience. For patients looking for weight loss solutions, Moxie’s medical weight loss program centers on injectable GLP-1 therapies like tirzepatide, with custom dosing tailored by licensed providers to fit your lifestyle and health goals. Moxie's approach combines the most current science with a person-first approach so every patient feels empowered and cared for with every pound lost. moxiemedispa.com
For a weight-loss treatment plan… VIVA
WELLNESS
This January, the VIVA Wellness team is waiving their start fee for new clients. VIVA’s suite of weight-loss solutions includes oral medications and GLP-1s, supported by advanced services such as lymphatic drainage, colon hydrotherapy, IV nutrient therapy and functional wellness that rebalance the body from the inside out. Each whole-body treatment plan is backed by a supportive team that helps you feel lighter, clearer and more like yourself again vivawellnesswi.com
