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

Leigh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2021, my business partner and soul sister, Nerissa Manzi, and I found ourselves at a crossroads, both personally and professionally. We had always shared a deep, philosophical connection, with countless discussions over the years that touched on our spiritual and personal evolutions. Nerissa, a profoundly talented Master Stylist and Makeup Artist, had just opened her own salon during the peak of the Covid pandemic, creating an oasis for clients during the uncertainty and isolation of lockdowns. Meanwhile, I was undergoing my own transformation into an energy healer and herbalist, spurred by my desire to offer healing in a world that was in turmoil. Together, we began planting seeds and nurturing a vision – a salon and wellness center where we could integrate her unmatched beauty expertise with my blossoming energy healing and herbalist skills.

Two years later in early 2023, I was listening to a podcast about the Harmonic Egg, a unique and transformative sound and light therapy modality. From the moment I heard about it, I knew that this was the missing piece in our vision, but the decision to bring the Harmonic Egg to Massachusetts was no small feat. It required a significant financial investment and the courage to step away from more traditional career paths in pursuit of something truly transformative.

The risk was deeply personal for both of us. I had spent nearly two decades as an accountant in a family business that didn’t fulfill my creative impulses. The thought of leaving a stable, albeit unfulfilling, career to pursue an uncharted path was daunting. Nerissa had spent nearly fifteen years in the beauty and traditional salon industry, which had never been aligned or combined with spiritual, emotional, and mental wellness, except maybe at a very superficial level. Yet, there was an undeniable pull — a sense that we were meant to bring something extraordinary to a region where wellness and emotional vulnerability are often overshadowed by intellectualism and rigidity.

Ultimately, we took the leap, trusting in our combined vision and our connection to something larger than ourselves by offering a place of rejuvenation and healing that had never been seen in our community. The risk has been life-changing, not only for us but for the individuals and families who have experienced profound transformations through the work we do.

The experience has taught us that sometimes, the greatest risks are the ones that feel inevitable. When you know in your soul that something is right, even in the face of uncertainty, you have to trust that the universe will support you. For us, it has — and we are deeply grateful.

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 journey into the wellness industry wasn’t exactly traditional. I spent nearly two decades working as an accountant in my family’s tax and accounting firm, a role that helped me develop strong business acumen but left my creative impulses unfulfilled. Alongside that, I’m a classically trained actor, and my passion for understanding human emotions and personal transformation led me to seek ways to help others on their own healing journeys. In 2021, after a particularly challenging period in my personal life, I began exploring alternative healing modalities. This exploration led me to become an Advanced Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) practitioner, then a Certified Herbalist, and eventually a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner in early 2024.

Around the same time, Nerissa introduced me to Dr. Brian Weiss’s book Many Lives, Many Masters, which truly changed the course of our spiritual and professional journeys. She had just launched her own salon studio and organic spray tanning business as a sole proprietor, after years of working as a commission-based stylist in a large-scale corporate salon, but she had the gut feeling that there was a way we could forge a different path forward aligning our gifts. Nerissa and I knew we were meant to create something together — something that would combine our skills in beauty, herbal remedies, and wellness in a way that could truly change lives. That vision came to life with the founding of Ivory & Onyx, where we offer a unique blend of services that nurture both inner wellness and outer beauty.

What We Offer:

The Harmonic Egg: Ivory & Onyx is one of two places in Massachusetts where you can experience the Harmonic Egg, a revolutionary sound and light therapy pod designed to support physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. This non-invasive, energy-based modality helps to reduce stress and promote overall wellness. It’s beneficial for people who are dealing with inflammation, chronic illness, anxiety, brain fog, emotional trauma, and so much more. Our sessions focus on resetting the autonomic nervous system and empowering the body to heal itself. Our clients find that the Egg brings them back into balance and harmony and provides a deep sense of peace.

Massage, Energy Healing & Herbal Remedies: We offer personalized massage therapy as well as energy healing sessions (Reiki and IET) designed to clear emotional blockages and help clients reconnect with their highest selves. Our team of wellness service providers are compassionate, deeply empathetic, and highly trained. We also provide herbal remedies from the high-end brand Anima Mundi that support various aspects of health and wellness, from digestive support to stress relief.

Beauty Services: In the salon, Nerissa and our talented team of stylists offer a range of beauty services, including hair styling and makeup artistry. Nerissa is a specialist in ‘lived-in’ color and corrective techniques, making her a go-to for people who want high-end, luxurious, and chemical-conscious beauty treatments. We believe that beauty services should not only enhance how you look but also align with your overall well-being, which is why we focus on using cleaner, less chemical-heavy products.

Workshops & Events: We regularly host workshops on topics like energy healing, herbal remedies, holistic health, and more. Our goal is to empower our community with the tools and knowledge they need to live healthier, more balanced lives. We also offer special events, such as group psychic readings and wellness retreats.

What Sets Us Apart: What truly sets Ivory & Onyx apart is the unique combination of beauty, herbal remedies, and wellness services all under one roof. We’re not just a salon or a wellness center — we are a space where transformation happens from the inside out. We recognize that true wellness encompasses the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of our lives, and we are committed to helping our clients navigate each of those areas.

Moreover, we are one of only two centers in Massachusetts offering the Harmonic Egg. Our clients come to us seeking more than a beauty treatment or a traditional wellness service — they come to us for an experience that harmonizes and restores balance to their entire being.

What We’re Most Proud Of: We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made on our community in such a short time. Seeing clients leave our space feeling more centered, balanced, and at peace is the most rewarding part of what we do. We’re also proud of the collaborative partnership that we have developed, which is grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a deep commitment to spiritual and personal growth.

What We Want Our Clients to Know: At Ivory & Onyx, we believe in the power of holistic healing and the beauty of transformation. Whether you’re coming in for a Harmonic Egg session, a hair appointment, or herbal remedy, our goal is to help you feel your best. We want our clients to know that they’re in a safe, nurturing space where they can explore their healing journey without judgment, and we’re here to support them every step of the way.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

While training and knowledge are essential in any field, especially in wellness and beauty, we believe that intuition, compassion, empathy, and love are the true cornerstones of success. In the work that we do at Ivory & Onyx, we are not just providing services — we are holding space for healing, transformation, and growth.

Intuition is critical because every person who walks through our doors comes with their own unique set of experiences, challenges, and energy. No two clients are the same, and it’s through deep listening and tuning into their needs on a soul level that we’re able to truly support their journey. Whether it’s during an energy healing session, a Harmonic Egg appointment, or even a beauty treatment, intuition guides us to what that person really needs in the moment — sometimes beyond what they’re even aware of themselves.

Compassion and empathy allow us to connect deeply with our clients, creating a safe space where they feel understood and cared for. People often come to us when they are going through difficult times — whether it’s physical pain, emotional trauma, or simply feeling lost in their lives. The ability to empathize, to sit with them in their vulnerability without judgment, and to hold space for their healing is more powerful than any technique or tool. Compassionate care creates trust, and that trust is what allows for true healing to take place.

And then there’s love — the purest form of energy that fuels everything we do. Love is the foundation of every service we offer. When you approach your work with love, it changes the entire dynamic of the client relationship. It’s not just about providing a service; it’s about genuinely caring for the well-being of another person. Love creates a ripple effect, touching everyone who steps into our space, and they, in turn, carry that energy with them out into the world.

In a field like beauty and wellness, where we’re entrusted with helping people feel their best on every level — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually — it’s these human qualities that make the deepest impact. Training and knowledge give us the tools, but intuition, compassion, empathy, and love are what make those tools truly effective.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most profound lessons we had to unlearn was the idea that following society’s rules and living up to the expectations of others would lead to happiness and fulfillment. Following a path because it is what others — family, society, friends — expect of you is creatively stifling and disconnects you from your true self. Nerissa and I both realized we were living lives designed by someone else’s blueprint, not our own.

The most damaging part of following others’ expectations is that it dims your inner light and disconnects you from your purpose. We had to unlearn the notion that pleasing others, fitting into societal molds, or seeking external validation would lead to a fulfilled life. It took courage to walk away from careers that were stable but soul-draining, and it took even more courage to embrace what was calling us: a life rooted in wellness, healing, and spiritual transformation.

We had to embrace our inner rebels to break free from those ingrained beliefs. The more we let go of others’ expectations and began trusting our own intuition and inner guidance, the more our lives began to align with our true purpose. It was terrifying and anxiety-inducing for both of us, but it was also liberating. That’s how Ivory & Onyx came to be — not from following a traditional path, but from Nerissa and I stepping into our power, creating something meaningful that allows us to help others in ways we each are deeply passionate about.

We realized that our paths didn’t need to conform to anyone else’s definition of success or happiness. We should all embrace our courage and our inner rebel because true transformation and fulfillment come when we live authentically, following the whispers of our own hearts, not the voices of everyone around us. Only then can we initiate real, positive change — both in our own lives and in the lives of those we touch.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ivoryonyx.com/
• Instagram: @ivory_and_onyx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559063085690
• Other: Please make sure to include both Co-Owners:
  Leigh Berry, CH (Certified Herbalist, Reiki 2 and Advanced IET Practitioner, Harmonic Egg Guardian)
  Nerissa Manzi (Master Stylist and Makeup Artist)