For this month’s First Friday Interview, we had a strong vision. We wanted to celebrate an African American women-owned small business in honor of Black History Month. Ideally, it would be a business focusing on self-love, as a nod to Valentine’s Day. Luckily for us, it wasn’t difficult to find Contour Body Studio.* Owners Morria Winn and Steph Barnes are revolutionizing the beauty and wellness game in Philadelphia with the newest destination for non-surgical procedures.
Morria and Steph began their business with home visits in December 2017. Shortly thereafter, they’ve found a permanent home for Contour Body Studio in a chic, light-filled space at Jasper Studios in Kensington. Learn more about this dynamic duo and how they’re empowering self-love for women in Philadelphia and beyond.
Philly PR Girl (PPRG): Tell us the story behind creating Contour Body Studio. How did you and Steph meet and at what point did you decide to start a business together?
Contour Body Studio (CBS): We’ve been friends for 20 years after meeting in church one day. Our business idea originated after [Morria] found a non-invasive body contouring spa on Instagram, based out of Atlanta. Amazed at the results, [she] wanted to get the service done. After searching for this type of spa in Philadelphia, there were no results.
That’s when a light bulb went off. Since both of us have an entrepreneurial spirit, we decided to add this business venture to our already established long-term friendship. Steph didn’t believe that this type of practice was real and laughed at first. The more research we put in, the more she became a believer. We took a class to become certified, and as they say, the rest is history!
PPRG: What can guests expect when walking into the studio?
CBS: From the moment guests are welcomed into our studio to the time they walk out, they can expect to feel better both physically and mentally. From our friendly staff to the posh decor, we aim to create an entire experience alongside the variety of services. Whether you’re visiting to contour your body or get a relaxing facial, our goal is to have our guests feeling renewed and anticipating the next visit.
PPRG: As guests can experience a full-day spa experience at your studio, what are some of the most popular services?
CBS: Our popular services are Contour Lipo for fat reduction. Our specialists use a combination of fat-breaking deep tissue massage techniques mixed with wood therapy. Another popular service is our non-invasive Brazilian butt lift. Vacuum therapy technology is used to add volume and lift your glutes. Honestly, you can go from pancake to Kim K. in as short as five hour-long treatments!
PPRG: BTW, your Instagram before-and-afters look very impressive! Let’s discuss what type of results can clients expect after experiencing your body sculpting services. How often should clients use your services to see these types of results?
CBS: Guests lose between a half-inch to four inches immediately after we’re done one sculpting treatment. Your body still flushes out broken down fat cells for three days post-treatment, so you’ll continue shedding inches during that time. Most of our clients come at least once a week for a 6-8 week treatment plan, depending on how much weight they want to lose. While we help our clients lose fat at a faster pace than dieting and exercising alone, this service is not magic. We recommend clients maintain the weight loss by eating healthy and exercising—similar to surgical weight loss procedures. If the client reverts to old habits of eating poorly and not exercising, they’re often likely to gain the weight back.
PPRG: Wow, these services are so intriguing! Can you also share what exactly a vaginal steam is and the benefits of it?
CBS: Vaginal steaming, also known as a V-Steam, is an ancient Korean treatment. We also call them He-Steams for men’s services. It provides a steam facial for your genitals to release toxins. The process includes sitting on a cushioned seat atop of a warm pot-infused with herbs. We provide our custom designed steaming gowns that are made for comfortably draping over you during the steam. Then, you just relax and allow the herbs to work their magic. For women, we have several different herb blends that aid in cleansing, tightening, shrinking hemorrhoids and fibroids, increasing sexual desire, regulating menstrual flow, decreasing menstrual cramping, and increasing fertility.
PPRG: These sound so fun for the perfect to-do for a ladies’ night! What other services do you offer?
CBS: Yes, they are great for groups up to four! We offer wine glasses to personalize and bedazzle in our steam room, so we encourage people to BYOB to add to the experience. Here, we also offer facials, full-body waxing, spray tans, therapeutic and deep tissue massages, infrared sauna wraps, luxury lash extension, and teeth whitening. Contour Body Studio is truly a complete day spa experience — for both women and men!
PPRG: Are there any health risks associated with your services?
CBS: There are absolutely no health risks associated with any of our services! That’s why we love non-invasive treatments. There are no risks involved since we aren’t cutting you or injecting anything into you. Our contouring is a 100% safe way to lose fat.
PPRG: As entrepreneurs, what advice do you have for other small businesses owners?
CBS: Never give up. There’s a lot of hard work and sacrifice that goes on behind the scenes — not only to start a business but to keep a business thriving. It’s not always pretty, but no matter what, keep pushing towards your goals. Also, never stop being a student; it’s extremely important to continue perfecting your craft.
PPRG: What does 2019 hold for Contour Body Studio? Is there any exciting news we can anticipate?
CBS: Yes, stay tuned! We have many announcements coming in 2019… including a new second location!
PPRG: When you’re not in the studio, where are your favorite go-to Philadelphia spots?
CBS: We love trying new restaurants and recently discovered King & Queens African Restaurant in Upper Darby, PA. We were both afraid to try African food. Then, after we did, we’ve become hooked!
To learn more about Contour Body Studio and schedule an appointment, visit their website. Stay up-to-date with exciting announcements by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
* Contour Body Studio is a client of Philly PR Girl.
