Awa's Beauty Bar

Awa's Beauty Bar opened in 2019 as a small, intimate space and describes itself as a self-care studio. Owner Awa Ballo runs it, and the studio says it has served more than 500 women across the DMV area.

The studio is on the 8th floor at 1301 York Rd in Lutherville-Timonium, suite LT43, and is also listed under Towson. It is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00pm to 9:00pm. Appointments for each month are usually released around the 25th of the month before.

Lash work is the core of the menu: classic, hybrid, volume and mega volume lash sets, plus lash fill-ins. A fill-in cannot be done over a full set from another technician, so that situation is booked as a full set with a removal add-on. Switching to a different lash style at a fill-in visit is also booked as a full set. The facial modality is chosen according to each client's skin needs, and a consultation is recommended to plan results.

The studio also runs a three-day hands-on lash course, held four hours a day, usually Friday through Sunday. Days two and three include practice on a live model. The course covers lash theory, placement, application, sanitation, marketing, room setup, client consultations, aftercare and business basics. Students receive a full lash kit and a certificate on completing all three days. There are two certifications: Classic, which covers classic sets only, and Classic & Volume, which covers classic, hybrid, volume and mega volume sets. A lash bed or chair and ring light are not included and can be added for an extra charge.

Booking policies include at least 24 hours' notice for changes, which depend on schedule space, and services are not guaranteed once the 5-minute grace period has passed. Ongoing discounts include a first-visit discount for new clients, referral discounts for clients and the people they refer, and an automatic loyalty discount for clients who have been serviced five or more times.

Services are meant to complement each client's natural features, with skin health, precision and long-term results as priorities. Facial modalities are matched to skin needs, and a consultation is suggested to plan outcomes.

The studio describes its environment as welcoming.