We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jen Malavé. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jen below.

Alright, Jen 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?

Genisis Fresh LLC is the name of my company. It was created from the idea of a fresh start. I was re-entering the beauty industry after leaving for over a decade and I wanted to separate myself from the norm. All of the services I offer as an Artist are eco-friendly from hair products to cruelty free makeup including my kit that I use on set for film and television productions. I wanted to keep my clients health and the environmental health in mind while creating my name and the mission behind my business.

Jen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a licensed Master Cosmetologist. An Emmy Nominated Hair + Special Effects Makeup Artist as well as Visual Artist. . I earned my diploma from The Paul Mitchell School here in Atlanta. After graduating I started my first job at an eco-friendly hair salon where I was trained in color formulation for non toxic hair color. I eventually started my own company keeping the same integrity as to benefit clientele that have certain allergies or conditions that did not allow traditional ingredients which lead me to offer all my services with the same intention. My mission is to create beauty and art while remaining health and environmentally aware. To provide the best experience for my community rendering excellent services while using natural and organic ingredients to enhance the physical and mental relaxation. I only use 100% plant based hair color as well as natural hair care products and cruelty free makeup not just in my salon space but on location and on television and movie sets. For the last 11 years I have continued that same agenda in all of my creative work including using water based paint for murals and water based body paint.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think offering something different is key to growing your business or your brand. Once I was made aware of all the harsh ingredients in traditional salon settings I was curious how using non toxic products would work. After a couple of years experience I felt confident enough to step out on my own continuing to build clientele because there were only two other salons in Atlanta that even considered people in that way. As the years went by my artistry shifted and I became more intrigued by makeup and researched the best brands to use that were cruelty free and eventually landed in theater working as the Assistant Makeup Supervisor at the Phantom Of The Opera where I was trained in prosthetic and special effects makeup which furthered my curiosity in finding products that weren’t harmful to use in that space. I started to work in tv and film and have continued to only use non toxic products on all the sets that I am blessed enough to work on.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

No ones journey is ever the same. Sometimes where we start is not always where we land. I started out with just the desire to be behind the chair and to be a multicultural master stylist. My artistry has shifted over the years and makeup artistry became more of my passion then working in theater and now I find myself not only a business owner but I work as Department Head Hair + Makeup in film. I had no idea I would ever be in this space and I do not look to other’s for comparison, only for inspiration because I have learned that every person is on a different journey and the achievements and accolades will come in time and not without a lot of hard work and dedication as well as sacrifice.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://genisisfresh.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/genisisfresh
• Linkedin: Jen.Malave