The Nest
From hair stylists to estheticians and client relationship experts, the Aviary Beauty + Wellness family works in harmony to enhance the experiences of our customers.
We love it when new customers walk in as visitors and walk out as friends. Our success rests on our connection with you and we look forward to fostering these relationships with undivided attention and care.
Our Values
Aviary Beauty + Wellness was founded on the belief that beauty is not, in fact, skin deep. The way we look and feel is deeply and directly influenced by the lives we lead. Our mission is to practice kindness, positivity and inclusivity to each other and ourselves, while providing high-quality services that lift our clients up in their daily lives. Whether it’s a Biologique Recherche facial, an eyebrow wax or hair color and cut, our flock of Atlanta beauty and wellness professionals strives to create a peaceful environment where carefully curated products are used in highly customizable treatments.
About Aviary Beauty + Wellness
Feel yourself take a deep breath and shed the stresses of the day as you walk into Aviary, a tranquil oasis in the heart of a big, bustling city. Our boutique beauty and wellness studios with locations in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward and Summerhill neighborhoods are revered for their friendly personnel, top talent and thoughtful interior designs with an evident attention to detail. Our retail spaces feature only trusted brands, such as Marie Veronique, Biologique Recherche, Lord Jones, Vintner’s Daughter and R+Co. Whether you’re here to get your hair colored and styled, for the Best Facial in Atlanta or a lash lift and tint, our dedicated team will always take time to answer your questions, discuss home skin or hair care and properly sanitize rooms and stations. No matter what your week presents, it’s all about you at Aviary.
Inclusivity
Aviary Beauty + Wellness is committed to diversity and equality. We aim to foster an intentional climate of inclusion of all people. We value the diversity of racial and cultural identity and background, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity (and its expression), age, class, mental and physical health, ability, and educational status.
featured in
Several National and Local media outlets have given Aviary Beauty + Wellness fierce accolades.
“Amy Leavell Bransford is one of the city’s beauty pioneers. She founded eco-friendly Aviary in O4W long before green beauty - or the neighborhood - were constant conversation topics.”
Best Facial, Best Cult Facial + Best Esthetician,
— Atlanta Magazine
“…Aviary Beauty + Wellness stays on the cutting edge for clients seeking next-level facials..”
— The Atlantan
flock — (fläk), n., intransitive verb
1. a group of animals (such as birds) assembled or herded together 2. a group under the guidance of a leader 3. to gather or move in a flock
Facials + Waxing
Amy Leavell Bransford
Founder + Owner, Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Call it intuitive or just plain lucky, Amy Leavell Bransford seems to always have her finger on the pulse of what’s about to pop. Following a gut feeling, in 2009, she launched Aviary’s first location in Historic Old Fourth Ward, bringing a beauty and wellness studio with sustainable practices to the area five years before any development began on the uber-popular BeltLine, at Krog Street Market and throughout what’s become one of Atlanta’s top destinations for dining and retail. In 2017, she expanded with another studio within Studioplex Lofts called SparrowHawk, offering a new take on traditional and cosmetic tattooing. A few years later, having a strong feeling about the Summerhill neighborhood, just south of Downtown Atlanta, Amy opened Aviary’s second location in July 2021. Amy credits her mother, Rose Lane Leavell, with unintentionally teaching her the ins and outs of operating a small business during her childhood. The owner of a women’s fashion boutique for 25 years in Macon, Georgia, her mom not only instilled an appreciation for style and stylish spaces but also for more intimate settings that speak to their surrounding locales. Amy's father is keyboardist Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers Band) and she is a former publicist for bands, such as Cake, 311 and Widespread Panic so it’s only fitting that Amy likens her role at Aviary to that of a band leader. She enjoys shaping Aviary’s creative team and harmonizing their talents with clients’ needs, as well as selecting unique beauty brands with quality ethos for the studios’ retail spaces. Big on giving back to the community, Amy is actively involved as a fundraiser, chairperson and volunteer for a variety of local organizations. These have included Community Farmers Markets, Westchester Elementary School, Inman Park Festival and Dream Warriors Foundation. She lives in Decatur with her husband Steve, sons Miles and Rocco and dog Penny Lane.
Deb
Old Fourth Ward
A metro Atlanta native, Deb started her career in the communications field before enrolling at the International School of Skin, Nail, and Massage Therapy for her esthetics license. She worked as a makeup artist for five years before discovering her true passion was actually under the makeup and set out to become a skin guru. Having won a battle with cystic acne in her early 20’s, Deb is passionate about making her clients feel beautiful in the skin they were given. Her communication background comes in handy as she is a great listener and loves to connect with clients to address their specific issues and stay committed to their skin goals. When she’s not at Aviary, you can find Deb at her home in Decatur, hanging with her two cats - Kilo and Kona- sewing, making jewelry, taking detox baths, or watching Law & Order. 
Michele
Old Fourth Ward
Michele Lull (Meck) brings nearly a decade of luxury spa experience to the Aviary, having worked in high end destination spas in Key West, Florida before moving to Atlanta to join the team. She obtained her license in esthetics in 2009 and has since spent hundreds of hours studying in advanced education classes to further her knowledge of skin care and speed waxing. Her passion for esthetics is rooted in the spa and wellness industry and nutrition. In her practice, she loves to help her clients obtain and maintain the best possible skin for a healthy glow at any age. When Michele isn’t working toward helping you achieve your skin care goals, she can be found outside, listening to music, cooking and spending time with her daughter Aurora. 
maria
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Maria was born in Rota, Spain but grew up in Atlanta after traveling with family for the first three years of her life. While seeking a degree in journalism, a facial gifted to her changed the direction of Maria’s career forever. In 2009, she enrolled in the Aveda Institute of Atlanta, aiming to learn the tools to deliver the same amazing experience she’d had with her first facial to her future clients. Maria is passionate about caring for skin with kindness and love and has grown to really understand skin care and how it relates to protecting and connecting us with the world. When she’s not dabbling in the latest facial treatment or skincare line, you can find her reading, writing, adding to her collection of vintage clothing, and spending time with her son and loved ones. 
sophie
Summerhill
Atlanta native Sophie Audibert got an introduction to her esthetics career by working alongside Aviary’s estheticians and owner/esthetician Amy Leavell Bransford, tending to the front of house needs of the hair and skin care clients. After graduating from the Atlanta International School (Sophie is French-American), she went on to study art and queer theory at Eugene Lang in NYC before transferring to SCAD to complete a BFA in writing. Her first jobs after college were in hospitality and retail, revealing her love for the social aspect of working with clients everyday, creating relationships, and providing solid service. Sophie explains, “I have been a long-term product collector, self-diagnosing pseudo-scientist, skin care obsessive; qualities I was thrilled to share with the colleagues I met at Aviary while working front desk for two years. The intimate environment and understanding the Aviary blueprint, I realized I could more fully pursue my skincare passion as an aesthetician.” Sophie loves when her clients can appreciate the true beauty of their skin, which is enhanced by her knowledge, intervention and expertise. Outside of work, she can be found eating, drinking, being with friends and family and traveling with her fiance Jonah when he’s on tour. 
Annissa
Summerhill
Annissa Ryals started her journey into esthetics through a love for makeup and her personal constant struggle with eczema. The Decatur, Georgia native chose to pursue the scientific side of skin care because her own flare ups left her with a strong desire to understand the how, why and what was happening to her skin. She enrolled into an esthetics program and quickly learned it was her true calling. On what connected her to Aviary Beauty + Wellness, she says, “I love that Aviary takes a holistic approach to skincare with not only the treatments but also the product selection.” Annissa loves the high touch facials offered by Biologique Recherche because they highlight what she feels brings her closer to her clients - her touch. When asked for hobbies she says, “I’ve been practicing yoga for years and recently I became a yoga instructor. Soon I plan to be a dog mom, I’m just working on a little fear I have of dogs.” 
Mary landers
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Mary Landers Green (Ward) joins the Aviary team in April 2022. The Georgia native grew up in smalltown Sylvester, Georgia before heading to college at the University of Alabama where she received a degree in Public Relations. After a few years working in PR, and feeling unfulfilled in her career path, she would often turn to self care as an outlet, which quickly turned into a passion. She explains, “Sometimes, the decisions that should be the most obvious take some time to come to fruition. In my spare time I would collect skin care products, excessively read labels, research the science of skin and eventually create my own skin care products with my sister.” After moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a new job wound up in a dead end, Mary Landers decided to enroll in the esthetics program at the local Douglas J. Aveda Institute, where a large focus of education is centered around overall well-being and ayurvedic practices. At Aviary, Mary Landers connects with her clients by listening to and understanding their specific expectations and goals. Her adaptability allows her to customize their services, while providing a tranquil and relaxing experience. Away from work you will find Mary Landers enjoying simple and festive pleasures like traveling, yoga in the park, exploring new food spots, experiencing live music and enjoying life with her fiancé, friends and family.
JESS
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Jess Sanders joins the Aviary esthetics family in August of 2023. The Atlanta native received her license in 2018 at Cortiva Institute of Skincare and Massage in St. Petersburg, Florida where she studied paramedical esthetics. Jess was inspired to study esthetics after struggling with hormonal cystic acne as a teenager. She says, “I wanted to learn how to heal my skin and help others as well. I love to be able to help clients feel confident in their skin. We are all beautiful inside and out and deserve to look and feel our best.” What sets Jess apart from our other estheticians is her vast knowledge of many different sides of the industry. Having worked in all types of spa settings from medical spas to local spas to Canyon Ranch in Las Vegas, the largest spa in North America, she’s studied many different techniques, product lines and knows what people desire when it comes to physical touch and skin. When Jess isn’t at work you will find her spending time with friends, going to concerts and being outdoors. When asked to add something personal, Jess states “Don’t be fooled by my dry sense of humor. I am very outgoing and a social butterfly. I love to make friends so if you see me out, don’t be shy and say hello!”Hair Cut + Color
Ash
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Ash Wylie has eight years of experience working in Atlanta’s premier salons before becoming an independent stylist and joining Aviary Beauty + Wellness in 2020. A native Atlantan, Ash got her cosmetology training at the Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy. After graduating, she went on to assist her first mentor Ben White for several years in a high-volume salon where top notch training was a priority before hitting the floor. Razor cutting is one of Ash’s strengths but she also specializes in effortless cuts and color that will last, grow out and style easily. She’s a master at making bangs work for every face shape, curly hair cutting, and edgy color/cuts. Over her years developing relationships with clients, Ash has a passion for getting to know them, often connecting over life experiences and shared ideals. For Ash, the key to happiness in to be truly present in her relationships. Outside of work, you’ll find her somewhere outside biking or hanging in the park with friends and family. At Aviary, Ash looks forward to her first experience working in a boutique salon setting where she will be able to bring high fashion back down to earth.
Amanda
Old Fourth Ward
Amanda Leigh Bowen has a decade of experience working at several of Atlanta’s top salons. While in art school, she was introduced to the craft while working with stylists on the set of a shoot, observing how much they were enjoying their creative freedom and self-expression. She enrolled in the cosmetology program at Aveda Institute in 2010 and has developed a passion for giving her clients a lived in look that is easy to recreate at home. Amanda’s approach to cuts and color is to keep the integrity of clients’ hair and lifestyle in mind. She takes a holistic approach, encouraging slower, small changes than a radical makeover if it’s what is best for the hair. One of her favorite parts of the job is meeting new people and getting to know her clients’ needs. If they like to talk, Amanda loves to listen. If they need peace and quiet, then she is great at providing that too. Outside of work, Amanda is extremely close with her family, especially the women, and speaks with her mom and grandmother every day. A resident of East Point, GA you’ll often find Amanda hanging out on her front porch watching her son play, enjoying a favorite nature or crime documentary, or escaping to the mountains with her husband and a bottle of local wine.
kelsey
Old Fourth Ward
Kelsey Mewborn is passionate about creating beautiful hair. Each color and style is highly personalized and created specifically for each client and their lifestyle. She has a holistic approach to her work and recognizes that the same color technique is not ideal for every client. You can see from her portfolio that her colors are unique, stunning and multi-dimensional. As a stylist who lives with alopecia, Kelsey also has a deep understanding and desire for finding natural color for wigs, using the balayage technique to make them look modern, trendy and realistic. It was a passion for editorial and runway makeup that led her to cosmetology school over 12 years ago but once there she developed an obsession with hair. She worked as a freelance makeup artist for Christian Dior while training in the French hair painting style (Balayage) at one of Atlanta’s top salons, where she also became a color educator. Today Kelsey is sought after for her fully customized 1-on-1 classes for stylists seeking hands-on training in an intimate setting. When she isn’t behind the chair, you can find Kelsey with her flock of dogs and cats (5 total) and enjoying time with her newlywed wife Katie.
rachel
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Atlanta native Rachel Carver knew she wanted to specialize in cut and color from a young age. As a young girl she began experimenting with hair and makeup on her friends and enrolled in Keune Academy in the early 2000’s, after graduating high school. She landed her dream job at Atlanta salon Melrose & McQueen where she met colorists Abigail Andree and Elise Kelly, both of whom became mentors during her 8 year tenure at the salon. Rachel loves the close bond she develops with clients, whom she also considers to be friends. Rachel says her specialties are balayage highlights, bleach and tones, and sun kissed blondes, though a scroll through her Instagram and you will also see plenty of fun fashion color and modern haircuts on her loyal and diverse clientele. Outside of work (and a pandemic) you will find Rachel spending time with her family and 7 year old son, August, working on photo shoots, traveling and looking for new experiences. Rachel joined the Aviary Beauty + Wellness family in 2021.
ashley
Summerhill
Stylist Ashley Gwaltney joins the team at Aviary Summerhill by way of Los Angeles. The Cumming, GA native found her first inspo as the younger sister of a hairstylist, alway curious about the product smells, inner workings of a salon and transformations big or small. Itching to get out of the big city to a bigger city, Ashley moved to Los Angeles right out after high school, seeking a beach vibe and major hustle. There she enrolled in a cosmetology program, eventually landing a job alongside mentor Priscilla Valles (extensions Queen to the A List) while working with her in a private studio and inside the homes of Priscilla’s clients. What led Ashley back to Atlanta was a pandemic realization that she wants to be close to her family while keeping that “city girl” vibe alive. At Aviary Summerhill, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge for coloring, cutting, blonding and hair extensions experience. When we asked what drew her to Aviary, Ashley explains,”A. Where do I want to live? and B. Where do I want to work? The 2 places you spend most of your time have to be sanctuaries! I needed the right ambiance and Aviary was the only place that caught my eye. I love the attention to detail! Everyone is so sweet and chill and made this a pretty easy decision.” Ashley splits time in Atlanta and afar, she can be found working with Priscilla when she is in Los Angeles or on call in other locations. Away from work Ashley loves to hang out with friends and family and see live music. Her pre-Covid concerts were either Gary Numan or Bauhaus. Or both. But equally amazing experiences! 
Jannicke
Old Fourth Ward + Summerhill
Jannicke Escoto (her name rhymes with Hanukkah and the J is pronounced like a Y) joins the Aviary Beauty + Wellness team in July 2023. The Hollywood, Florida native has always loved beauty and fashion. Inspired at a young age by her aunt, an esthetician, and her grandma who would bring her around a Cuban salon, a young Jannicke would ask the stylists to “make her look pretty.” Outside of the salon, you will find Jannicke caring for her cat, Mina, and plant babies. She also loves being active outdoors or at the gym, and is passionate about bringing people together by sharing a home cooked meal. In the salon, Jannicke’s specialties are shags, pixies, color blocking and color corrections. A stylist of eight years, Jannicke also admits to an obsession with effortless, low maintenance looks. As for her personal approach to doing hair, Jannicke’s goal is to ensure that her clients feel they are in a space that is safe and are comfortable with open communication and are made to feel that they may be vulnerable and heard. She explains, “By the end of the service, I want every new client to feel as though they have made a friend.” Fun fact: Jannicke is a Libra and making playlists is her love language!
Tvon
Summerhill
Tvon Fineman knew she wanted to do hair since she was a precocious 7 year old, advising her mom that she was no longer allowed to style her daughter’s hair. She counts her mother’s hairstylist, Tony Powell, as her first mentor in the industry. Tvon accompanied her mom to the salon every week, and eventually Tony offered Tvon a job shadowing him and shampooing the salon’s clients. The Detroit, Michigan native went to college in Massachusetts and spent a few years teaching high school Spanish before enrolling at a cosmetology program in Cape Cod. She met her husband Paulsy in Massachusetts and they moved to Atlanta in 2016. At the salon, Tvon brings an incredible attention to detail and a laid back demeanor, the perfect combo for her lived in hair color and textured looks. Tvon finds most of her daily inspiration in nature, church or synagogue - all places she goes to recharge and reset. Away from work she loves to dance Kizomba, hang out with friends, family, Paulsy and their cat Skyy and dog Ray. As a client in Tvon’s chair, you’ll find that she isn’t much for ‘small talk’ and instead leans into what she refers to as “Big Talk.” Big Talk questions can be silly, deep, juicy, serious, fun or random. A favorite conversation topic - The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. 
ALANA
Summerhill
Alana Ashley is a curly cut and color expert originally from Miami, Florida. Her super powers include teaching clients low maintenance, self-loved hair and coaching them on how to embrace natural textures and low maintenance lived-in hair color and styles. Alana loves the collaborative creativity she develops with clients and the shared trust it takes to create magic. As a queer artist she loves to create and hold space for all people whether that be in supporting them through gender affirming transformations, vulnerability, love and acceptance, or just being her authentic self, sharing space for them to do the same. Any client in her chair will cherish the act of being in a safe space, especially those who may not have felt heard and seen on their hair journeys. True to her Cuban and Italian heritage Alana has a lot of experience with thick, coarse latinx hair as well as integrity conscious color services aka “color con cariño.” Prepare for added time to your services for a fully customized experience and detail oriented consultations. In her personal life, Alana spends time with her partner in life, Wilma, their two cats and tons of plant babies. She is an advocate for food security in feed deserts and spends free time volunteering for nonprofits, hiking and cooking. Preliminary consultations are encouraged but not required, book online or contact directly @witchesbrew_hair.
Izzy crain
Summerhill
Izzy Crain joins the Aviary Old 4th Ward team in February 2022. Born in Asheville, North Carolina Izzy moved to Atlanta when her parents had job opportunities here in the early 2000s. Educated at Paul Mitchell Esani, Izzy assisted top Atlanta stylists before earning a spot on the floor at locally owned Melrose & McQueen. Her favorite things to do in the salon are major transformations and lived-in blondes. Izzy’s super power is educating her clients on how to achieve their healthiest hair. What connects her to her clients is authenticity and creating a space for her clients to feel accepted, seen and heard. Style icon? Rihanna. Izzy says, “I love the fact that she dresses for herself and always does the unexpected”. Away from work you’ll find Izzy catching up on self care, making time for friends and family and being creative. Izzy’s motto when it comes to living: “I think it’s so important to invest in and have a good relationship with yourself.”Client Relations
jenny
Old Fourth Ward
Born in Iowa, raised in Missouri and a resident of Georgia since her mid teens, Jenny Anderson Andrews made her way to Jacksonville, Florida for college before returning to Atlanta to become a founding member of Whole World Theater, one of Atlanta’s first and greatest improv comedy companies. At Aviary, Jenny has been charming the pants off of staff and customers since February 2020, when she had the great fortune of taking a job a few weeks before we shut down for a global pandemic. But the Aviary team that managed a pandemic comeback proves to be the most cohesive team ever ,and Jenny returned home in Summer 2020 as our favorite “Matron D.” Jenny doesn’t just make us laugh and place inventory orders, she is also a very talented abstract expressionist painter. She says, “For me, painting is a language and exchange between colors. Each color suggests the next and so on, until something (hopefully) intriguing happens.” Jenny’s work has been featured in several publications including House Beautiful, Domino Magazine, Lonny, Four and many more. She lives and works in College Park, Georgia with her 16 year old daughter Fiona and is a lover of cats and Tik Tok.
callan
Summerhill
Brooke Dupree aka Callan is a familiar face in Atlanta’s salon industry. Born in South Georgia, Callan did a stint in Texas where she completed her training in cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School. Soon after graduating, an unexpected reconnection with an old flame landed her permanently back in Atlanta where she began working alongside some of the city’s most talented stylists. After a few years working as an assistant, Callan realized her true calling is in salon management and hospitality where she is able to serve as a backbone of the creative team, offering solutions and encouragement while still connecting to the salon’s customers. Callan joins the Aviary Summerhill staff as a front of house manager in June 2021 where she is excited to learn more about our holistic approach to results driven skin care in addition to the salon’s top notch hair services. Outside of the salon Callan studies Journalism and Public Relations at Georgia State University. In her free time she loves reading books on personal development, watching YouTube, eating vegan food, being a plant mom, thrifting, painting, traveling and spending time with her partner Leigh Anna.
Ash maRIE
Old Fourth Ward
Bio coming soon