We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karenleen Irlanda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Karenleen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
The name The Sacred Beauty Lounge came to me like a divine whisper—one I couldn’t ignore. I pulled an Oracle card one day that had the word sacred, and something about it just stuck with me. Soon after, I kept hearing the word in songs, conversations, and moments that felt too aligned to be coincidence. It felt like the universe was guiding me—confirming that this was the name meant for my dream.
I’ve always been drawn to crystals, angel numbers (222 is even tattooed on me), and the power of intention. So the word sacred didn’t just sound beautiful—it felt right. It reflected everything I wanted my space to be: intentional, healing, elevated, and magical.
The Sacred Beauty Lounge isn’t just a salon—it’s a manifestation. A high-vibrational space where beauty rituals meet soul care, and every client is treated like the divine being they are.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Karenleen, and I’m originally from Newark, New Jersey. I’ve had a love for beauty for as long as I can remember. At five years old, I wouldn’t let anyone touch my hair—and I was already mixing “skincare potions” using lotions and perfumes on my Barbie dolls. As I got older and struggled with acne, my passion for skincare and beauty only deepened. I began studying cosmetology in high school and was set to graduate with a license, but life took a turn when my family moved due to my stepdad’s military assignment. Even then, I never let go of my dream.
I eventually moved to Florida, earned degrees in Business Administration and Accounting (graduating cum laude), and while finishing college, I enrolled in esthetician school. Everyone said I was doing too much—but I graduated top of my class in both programs. I knew this was what I was meant to do.
After working for others, I took a leap of faith and opened The Sacred Beauty Lounge—a space built with intention, love, and the lessons I learned along the way. I wanted to create the kind of environment I never had: a non-toxic, drama-free studio where artists and clients alike feel safe, supported, and inspired.
At The Sacred Beauty Lounge, we offer lash extensions, lash lifts, brow waxing and tinting, brow lamination, body waxing, facials, permanent jewelry, and accredited lash education. Soon, we’ll be expanding into needleless lip filler and medical aesthetics, as I pursue my BSN and MSN-FNP to bring safe, holistic wellness into the beauty world.
What sets me apart is the energy behind everything I do. This isn’t just about services—it’s about transformation. I combine technical skill with intuitive connection, creating an experience that leaves people feeling confident, aligned, and empowered.
What I’m most proud of is how many lives I’ve touched—clients who’ve left my studio glowing inside and out, and students who now feel confident enough to build their own beauty empires. The Sacred Beauty Lounge is more than a salon—it’s a movement rooted in healing, luxury, and self-worth.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Absolutely. One of the most defining moments in my journey was being fired from my dream job as a medical esthetician. I had worked so hard to get there—through years of school, self-doubt, and sacrifice—only to be let go for not bringing in “enough money.” It hurt. But that moment made me realize that no one was going to hand me my dream—I had to build it myself.
Instead of quitting or shrinking myself, I channeled that pain into purpose. I opened The Sacred Beauty Lounge and promised myself it would be everything that place wasn’t: empowering, supportive, drama-free, and intentional.
I didn’t have a blueprint, just a vision—and resilience. I’ve now built a thriving business, created a name for myself as an accredited lash educator, and I’m currently pursuing my BSN and MSN-FNP to expand into medical aesthetics the right way.
That moment didn’t break me—it built the woman and business owner I am today.!
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Yes—and the path wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. I started lashing from my home while still in school, then moved into a tiny back room in a hair salon. It was humble, but it gave me the space to build my skills and start growing a clientele.
After graduating esthetician school at the top of my class—and earning my business and accounting degrees cum laude—I started working for other people to gain experience. First, I worked at Amazing Lash, which gave me a great foundation in technique and speed. Then I landed what I thought was my dream job: a medical spa. But after a year, I was fired—not for poor performance, but because I “wasn’t making the owner enough money.” That moment broke me, but it also lit a fire in me.
I moved on to work for a beauty salon owner who initially supported me, until I told her I planned to eventually open my own business. She fired me on the spot.
That was my breaking point—but also my breakthrough. I knew then that I couldn’t pour my energy into anyone else’s dream anymore. I needed to build my own. And that’s how The Sacred Beauty Lounge was born.
What started as a side hustle in my home has now become a full-time, thriving brand—one rooted in intention, artistry, and empowerment. I’m now an Accredited Lash Educator, a multi-service beauty provider, and currently pursuing my BSN and MSN-FNP to expand into medical aesthetics with integrity and care.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: The.minx.fairy & Thesacredbeautylounge (changing to SacredLuxStudio at the end of the year)
- Facebook: The Sacred Beauty Lounge
