We recently connected with Studio Citrine and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna and Britani, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

When my sister and I decided to start our esthetics studio, Studio Citrine, we were driven by a shared vision of creating a space that felt warm, welcoming, and aligned with our values of work-life balance and holistic health. After working in environments that didn’t fully support self-expression or teamwork, we realized that in order to live out our vision, we needed to create our own space. We wanted professional freedom and the ability to “walk the walk” when it comes to living a healthy, balanced lifestyle—something that felt out of reach in the traditional work setting. And so, we took the leap into entrepreneurship, grateful to do it together.

In the early days, we took things one step at a time. After deciding to move forward, we found our location by chance, and from there, we began speaking our goals into existence. Each morning, we’d share what we needed for the day—whether it was painting, finding furniture, or securing supplies—and, somehow, the universe always seemed to deliver exactly what we needed. That feeling of alignment reinforced that we were on the right path.

From the start, we knew the studio needed to reflect our personal style, so we curated a vintage, homey aesthetic filled with secondhand furniture and décor from estate sales and thrift stores. Many pieces came from our family, transforming the studio into a special place filled with love and personal history. This is a place where our clients feel at home, and that sense of warmth is woven into everything we do.

The first few steps were intense. We wrote our business plan, found our space, and started hunting for vintage pieces to furnish the studio. With just ten days to prepare before opening, we worked long hours, sometimes staying up until 2-3 a.m., running on little sleep and pure excitement. The process was both exhausting and exhilarating. We were so fortunate to have a supportive community of friends and clients who helped with everything from moving furniture to setting up shelving. Their support was a reminder of why we were doing this in the first place.

Building our brand was about staying true to our style. We incorporated vintage items and drew inspiration from Victorian design, creating a space that felt both classic and unique. We poured our personal taste into every detail, from the décor to the color palette, ensuring that the studio reflected who we are.

Looking back, the biggest challenge we faced was the tight timeline. Setting up the studio in just ten days with barely any sleep was incredibly stressful, but it reinforced the importance of having a strong support system. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing community, which has always been central to Studio Citrine.

If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone starting something new, it would be to stay true to yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in what you think you “should” do, but when you’re building something that isn’t aligned with your true vision, it will always feel off. Authenticity in the foundation makes it much easier to pivot and adjust as you grow. The process of entrepreneurship is always evolving, but staying true to your core values will make those changes feel more seamless.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those who may not have heard of us before, my sister and I are the owners of Studio Citrine, a holistic esthetics studio designed to be a warm, welcoming space where beauty, energy, and self-care come together. We offer customized facials, full body waxing, and tailored brow shaping and tinting treatments that go beyond skin-deep—we believe that true beauty starts from within, and our goal is to help our clients feel radiant inside and out.

What sets Studio Citrine apart is our approach. We’re not just about skincare; we’re about soul care. Our treatments are infused with intention, mindfulness, and the belief that self-care should be a ritual, not just a routine. Every service is tailored to the individual, blending modern esthetics with holistic practices to create a truly unique experience.

One of the things we are most proud of is the space we’ve created—not just physically, but energetically. From the moment you step into Studio Citrine, you’ll feel the love and thoughtfulness poured into every detail. The studio is filled with vintage, hand-selected pieces, many of which have personal meaning to us and our family. It’s a space designed to feel like home—a place where you can relax, recharge, and be fully yourself.

More than anything, I want our clients to know that this isn’t just a business to us—it’s our passion, our calling, and a reflection of everything we believe in. We care deeply about our clients and the experience they have with us. Whether you come in for a facial, Brazilian, or a quick brow wax, we want you to leave feeling cared for, seen, and more connected to yourself.

If you’re looking for a skincare experience that honors both your skin and your spirit, we’d love to welcome you into Studio Citrine.

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

A lesson we had to unlearn was that success has to look a certain way—constant hustle, long hours, and sacrificing personal well-being in order to “make it.”

For a long time, we believed that working to the point of exhaustion was just part of the process, that if we weren’t overwhelmed or pushing ourselves to the limit, we weren’t doing enough. But when we started Studio Citrine, we knew we wanted to create something different—not just for our clients, but for ourselves.

The backstory? Before opening our own studio, we both worked in environments where burnout was the norm. The industry often glorifies non-stop work, and we saw firsthand how that affected not just professionals but also clients, who sometimes felt like just another appointment on the schedule. When we set out to create Studio Citrine, we made a conscious choice to prioritize balance, presence, and intentionality—not just as a service we offer, but as a way of life.

Unlearning this mindset wasn’t easy. In the early days of the business, it was tempting to fall into old habits—overbooking, saying yes to everything, feeling guilty for taking breaks. But we kept coming back to our core belief: success isn’t just about growth, it’s about sustainability. We wanted to create a space that allowed both us and our clients to slow down, breathe, and truly enjoy the process of self-care.

Now, we define success differently. It’s about alignment, freedom, and creating something that feels good—not just looks good on paper. We’ve seen that when we take care of ourselves, we show up better for our clients, and that’s what truly matters.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my business partner the day she was born—because she’s my sister.

Britani and I have been a team since childhood, though we didn’t always know we’d end up in business together. Growing up, our parents encouraged us to express ourselves, ask questions, and follow what makes us happy. That mindset shaped both of us, but it also made traditional workplaces challenging—we found that many jobs didn’t embrace creativity, teamwork, or individuality the way we were raised to.

We both always knew we wanted to work for ourselves, and for years, the idea of creating something together was in the back of our minds. It’s funny to look back on, but we actually worked together at multiple jobs in our teenage years. It wasn’t until we had more experience in the esthetics world that we realized we didn’t just want to work for ourselves—we wanted to create a space that actually reflected our values. A place where people felt safe, seen, and cared for, where we could truly embody the kind of balance and holistic approach we believe in.

Of course, starting a business with family comes with its challenges, but our differences are actually what make us such a strong team. We balance each other out, and our complementary strengths have shaped Studio Citrine into what it is today. Looking back, it feels like this was always meant to be—we just had to take the leap.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiocitrine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiocitrine.va/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554501729122
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/7e3dGRth5wS1CaBeS146mw