Former engineer who started a spa at her home now has East Douglas address

After two decades as an engineer, Tiffany Owings said she knew it was time for a change.

She decided that after being a client of medical spas for years, she wanted to start one of her own.

“I could tell my husband was really nervous,” Owings said.

So first, he built a spa onto their house, and Owings ran it while still working as an engineer.

She built her client base and now has moved Poise Aesthetics to its own space at 2216 E. Douglas a couple doors down from Reverie Coffee Roasters.

With 3,600 square feet, Owings said, “I can literally have every type of profession within the beauty industry in here.”

She renovated half the space for the spa and is in the process of renovating the other half for a salon.

Owings didn’t want to manage employees, so she’s renting space to others. So far, she has nine people renting from her and can take five more.

Rentals are $400 to $550 a month.

Services include a variety of facials, chemical peels, lash work, waxing, massage, injectables, nail care, infrared sauna, red light therapy and, coming soon, hair services.

The idea is to have everything in one place, Owings said.

She said a lot of people are intimated going to a medical spa.

“It kind of feels like a doctor’s office to them.”

Owings wants to create a different environment.

“I want a place that’s like a second home.”

She said what she likes about spas is how they are communal gathering places of friendly support.

“I want to be around that. I want to create that kind of environment.”

It goes back to leaving engineering — a career that paid her well.

“Everybody’s like why, ‘Why?’ I have not been happy in my career for a very long time.”

Owings said she considered, “What can I do that will truly make me happy?”

Part of that is making others happy.

She said she’s guided by an Audrey Hepburn quote: “For poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Owings said, “I don’t want anyone to ever feel alone.”

She said she’s focused on more than the outsides of people.

“You can’t have beauty without wellness.”

Stephanie Wise of Street Commercial handled the deal for the space, which Owings said she’s infusing with her own artistic, imaginative style.

“I’m very vintage,” she said. “I’m kind of like Joanna Gaines but with some tattoos.”

This story was originally published June 5, 2023 at 11:49 AM.