Unstoppable French Broads Brunch Member and Posh Lounge and Beauty Bar Owner Ginger Kelley: An Innovator in the Beauty Industry
Written by Rosa Linda Fallon
Owner of Posh Lash Lounge and Asheville native Ginger Kelley describes herself as “outgoing” and “passionate” about the beauty industry. At Posh, Ginger and her team create a warm, welcoming and stress-free environment where you can show up in your gym clothes to get your brows done, no explanation needed. “We have a family work atmosphere,” Ginger says of Posh. “That also speaks to the kind of clients we have. When you come into our salon, we are all-inclusive. We don’t see your flaws.”
A total beauty pro, Ginger is a certified esthetician, cosmetologist, and a permanent makeup artist. She graduated with her Aesthetics degree from Blue Ridge Community College in 2007. She was also part of A-B Tech’s first cosmetology program. A go-getter, Ginger was the first person in Asheville to offer professional individual eyelash extension services. Before making her mark, though, Ginger admits that starting her business was challenging.
She started out small and set up shop at Sugar Mama’s Waxing & Beauty Studio in the Asheville Mall while she was pregnant with her son. Soon after, she was introduced to the owner of Willow’s Dream Salon who allowed her to rent out a small space in her salon. “She encouraged me as a fellow business owner that anything was possible,” Ginger says. While working for Willow’s Dream, Ginger’s business started to take off. She has even been voted #1 Aesthetician for the Mountain Xpress since 2012.
In 2016, Ginger opened the first lash studio in Asheville, Posh Lash Lounge & Beauty Bar. The studio soon became so busy that Ginger couldn’t take on any more clients. She expanded her space and hired three more estheticians and a front desk receptionist. In 2018, Ginger got her tattooing license and began helping to boost the confidence of her clients through permanent makeup. After the hair salon next door went out of business, Posh Lash Lounge expanded and took over the space, turning the lounge into a full-blown beauty bar with ten employees.
Posh Lash Lounge and Beauty Bar is now Asheville’s premier one-stop shop beauty bar where you can have all your beauty services done in one place, including lashes, skin care, waxing, teeth whitening, permanent makeup, hair, and nails. Ginger prioritizes not only using the best products on the market, but also creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for everyone who walks through their doors.
She has also expanded her reach into the education scene. In 2020, Ginger created Posh Academy. She partnered with A-B Tech’s cosmetology department in 2021 to offer a continuing education program for estheticians and cosmetologists. While she enjoys her career, Ginger admits the work can be strenuous. She has discovered she is more passionate about teaching. “I got burnt in the stylist-realm”, she says. “I learned that I like helping mentor junior stylists more. I love the sparkle in a student’s eye when they get it.”
Recently, Ginger attended the Las Vegas Permanent Makeup Conference, being taught by the best PMU Artists from all over the world. There she earned twenty-one certifications ranging from new permanent makeup techniques and tricks to the latest trends in permanent makeup, and even new Paramedical services. Ginger is now leaning into the Paramedical field, taking on areola tattooing for survivors of breast cancer, scar camouflaging, and scalp micropigmentation. She says, “This is the most rewarding work an artist can provide, the feeling my client has when they leave is so powerful. I love building the confidence of others. My whole career, I have looked for ways to help others.”
Ginger’s passion for helping others can also be seen in her community involvement. Not only does Posh give back to the community by sponsoring children at Christmas from Eliada Homes, Asheville High School, and Salvation Army, Posh also supports other community businesses ranging from the police and fire departments to the animals at Mountain Area Pet Rescue. She is also a member of Unstoppable French Broads Brunch (UFBB), an all-inclusive women’s group based in Asheville founded by local resident, Sarah Malson. UFBB provides individuals with the opportunity to network with other members of the community and support local causes.
Ginger’s passion and excitement for the beauty industry continually inspires her to be innovative. In addition to being a business owner and a teacher, she recently started her own product line, which she hopes to begin distributing in major cosmetic stores. As a mother of five boys and one rescue dog, Ginger keeps a tight schedule, but she prioritizes her family above all else. She also strives to afford her employees the same opportunities, emphasizing fostering a work environment where everyone works together collaboratively instead of competitively. “The only competition we have is ourselves,” she explains. “We understand the pressures that tend to be placed on women to meet certain vanity ideas, so the intention is to curate a space of empowerment where women can feel confident and beautiful. The goal in empowering other women is to level the playing field and provide a pathway to younger women who are following in our footsteps."
For more information or to book your appointment, visit their website: www.poshloungeandbeauty.com