Meet the Owner - Énez (Karen Jiménez)

Graduating cosmetology school in 2014, I wasn’t satisfied with what the beauty industry had to offer. See, I was an artist at heart and felt like the pipeline dream that beauty schools sold was to be behind the chair working at a high end salon. Let’s not forget the rigid time slots, damn those time slots! Art isn’t meant to be rushed! I wanted to create masterpieces, and that takes time. This isn’t Great Clips (no shade), you’re going to get the adequate attention you deserve.

Once you get into the space you should expect just that, someone working on you meticulously and un-rushed. This doesn’t mean slow though. Having 8 years in the industry under my belt, you learn to work more efficiently.

Once I graduated I went from a high end salon to a boutique and felt the need to travel elsewhere to further my education. So I went to the motherland, Colombia. I learned extensively about thicker hair, curly hair, extensions, and keratin treatments. My mentor was one of the top hairstylist and educators in Cali, Colombia and her shop was so unique! It was a live work space. I had never seen anything like that before and I was hooked! There was a cozy feeling to the salon. A sense of community that I hadn't seen before. People getting their hair, makeup, or nails done knew her family. It was beautiful and I wanted to do the same thing in Chicago when the time was right.

2020 came and the pandemic should’ve halted me, but I had a timeline that I gave myself to get my live work space, so in August of 2020, Énez Beauty was truly born. Since then, my partner has joined and has become somewhat of a host in the space. Our child and two small pups are also around. I got to recreate what I experienced in Colombia. People entering the studio know to expect a miniature schnauzer and yorkie running up excitedly to greet them, my child in the back with my partner asking if they want something to drink whether it be tea, coffee, wine, or whiskey. We are here to serve you, to pamper you. To make you feel at home. We like the cozy vibes, and if that sounds right up your lane, come join us for a visit!