Greetings!

Nneka Garel-Portes is a native New Yorker, wife, mom of 4, and the owner of Color Lab NYC and SKinfatuated in Manhattan. While completing her masters in business administration, she held the role of Correction Officer for the New York City Department of Correction. In 2013, she went on to study esthetics at Atelier Esthetique School of Aesthetics in Manhattan, followed by formal training in permanent makeup in 2016. With a passion for beauty and making others feel like the very best versions of themselves, Nneka launched her first company, SKinfatuated Mobile Spa in 2015, which then led to her launching her first studio in Manhattan in 2017.

 

After 2 years of working as a “solo-preneur” in Manhattan, she was given the opportunity to purchase a successful Microblading studio in Brooklyn, Brow Zing NYC, which she re-branded to Color Lab NYC, and has since expanded the menu of services to include several forms of paramedical tattooing, brow shaping, and lash services. Her goal is to shift the New York City beauty service paradigm by bringing excellence back to the community by way of beauty services that make clients feel and look like the very best versions of themselves. In 2023, Nneka said farewell to Brooklyn and returned to Manhattan where she now operates a luxury beauty studio on W 37th st in the Garment District.

 

With women of all ages on her mind, Nneka’s goal is to train the next generation of beauty professionals not only with technical skills but with the art of business through Color Lab Academy.

 

Nneka’s passion also includes mentoring teens interested in joining the beauty field.  juniors and seniors from City-AS High School through their internship program throughout the academic school year. The students participated in a non-traditional education setting allowing them to gain experience through internships. Several of the students Nneka mentored have gone on to become estheticians.

​

During the pandemic, Nneka spent her days playing the role of teacher, lunch lady, and author- writing her very first book about titled beauty business ownership. Realizing the shift in our culture is to one of entrepreneurship, her goal was to create a book that outlines the steps necessary to launch and run a successful beauty business with as few hiccups as possible. *see below*

​

In 2021, Nneka had the honor of building Brow Lamination and Lash Lift courses for Beauty Angels Academy International, earning her the title of "Head Master Trainer." 

​

And in 2023, she was a presenter at the 2023 PMUCon Conference in Houston, TX on the topic of Needle Knowledge where she conducted hands-on training for the 100 artists and aspiring artists in the Magnolia Hotel Ballroom.