Milk & Honey: The World Needs More Color
Milk & Honey: The Beauty Bar
Erica Angelle Mays, who goes by her middle name Angelle, opened Milk & Honey: The Beauty Bar in 2021. She decided to create her own brick-and-mortar space because she felt there wasn’t another business out there for her. And if there was no place for her, she knew that meant there were other women like her who also didn’t have a space to belong. She recognizes that many young women enter the workforce after beauty school only to struggle to find a job, and she wanted Milk & Honey to be a place where they could either rest their wings or grow their roots.
As an esthetician carving out her own path, Angelle designed her business with an earth-based, neutral aesthetic that welcomes people of all genders, races, and backgrounds. She describes Milk & Honey as a reflection of the Earth itself—a home for everyone.
Currently, Angelle is in the midst of a renovation, but that’s not the only change on the horizon. She is also launching another business, The Unveiled Bride, a bridal hair and makeup service dedicated to helping brides feel authentically beautiful on their wedding day. She is tired of the industry standard that encourages brides to wear a mask—an image that doesn’t truly reflect who they are. She believes that no one should look in the mirror at the end of their special day and feel like they were two different people. Alongside this venture, she hopes to create an accompanying magazine that explores fabrics, color theory, and undertones, further helping women understand how to enhance their natural beauty.
Her renovation process has been deeply personal, bringing her closer to her business and values. She describes it as a way to refill her cup, with much of the work being done by her own hands, sometimes with the help of her husband. She finds joy in seeing her clients appreciate the new elements she adds each time they visit. Built entirely from her own wallet, without bank loans, Milk & Honey doesn’t feel like just her business—it belongs to her, her workers, and the clients who walk through its doors. She encourages her employees to take their clients with them if they one day choose to leave, ensuring they step out into the world prepared and empowered.
Angelle is also passionate about color theory, believing the world needs more vibrancy. She wants to move away from the monotony of beige and embrace shades of pink, cream, red, gold, and green. She believes that understanding the hues that bring out your essence can transform confidence and self-expression. Her shop is a testament to this belief, filled with color and life, encouraging people to feel more and express themselves freely.
A self-reliant young woman, Angelle has created a space where femininity is honored, yet men are equally welcome to come, be pampered, and still leave feeling masculine. At the heart of everything, she simply wants people to feel like the best version of themselves.
