New Tarentum business owner Ashly Kish is bringing a mix of boho and beauty to the borough.
Her lash boutique, The Boho Ve’, opened Jan. 31 in the Murphy Building along Corbet Street.
“I like getting pampered, and I think there’s opportunity in a growing field,” said Kish, 36, a graduate of Deer Lakes High School.
“This kind of thing wasn’t big when I was a teen. I want to give everyone a chance to feel special.”
The Boho Ve’ is nestled in a tiny studio on the ground floor of the Murphy Building, a co-working space that features photographers, crafters and other local entrepreneurs.
In addition to lashes, Kish offers waxing; lash lifts and tints; brow lamination; and dermaplaning, a skin treatment that employs a special blade to remove dead skin.
Her cozy space, decorated with Mandala tapestries and bronze elephant statues, speaks to Kish’s mellow vibe.
“I want everyone to feel welcome,” she said. “I want this to be a place where people feel comfortable.
“I still can’t believe it’s mine.”
Following high school, the Tarentum resident earned a liberal arts degree from the Community College of Allegheny County before enrolling in Kaplan Career Institute in Pittsburgh to focus on legal sciences.
“I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t for me,” she said.
Kish spent the next six years tending bar at a well-know local watering hole, The Saxon Inn, in Harrison.
Just before the pandemic struck, She opted for another career change.
She studied at the esthetician program at Kittanning Beauty Academy and hopes to return to learn the art of laser hair removal.
“I’m one of those people who, if I could learn how to fly a plane, I would,” said Kish, who also has earned an ordained minister’s license online.
Murphy Building owner Dave Rankin said Kish is a welcome addition to a mix of tenants that can thrive in small, one-on-one spaces.
“The building’s size makes it possible for small, individual business owners and larger firms and clients to rent just the right amount of space for their particular business,” he said. “I’m very pleased to help fan the flames of Tarentum’s local economy in the central business district.”
Kish didn’t bat an eye before choosing Tarentum for her beauty studio because she saw it as a prime opportunity for growth.
“Tarentum is really building up, and there’s nothing like my shop here,” she said.
The fact that she can walk to work and save money on gas didn’t hurt, Kish laughed.
Prices at her new lash suite range among services and add-ons, but a full classic lash set costs $120 and a volume set costs $160.
She plans to offer monthly specials to draw new clients and a discount punch card for frequent customers.
“I’m not greedy,” she said. “I want to charge what I’m worth, but I don’t want people to go broke.”
Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every other Saturday. The shop is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
