Located at 300 E Dimond Blvd #3 in Anchorage, The Art Lounge AK offers hands-on crafts in a warm, living-room–style space. Reviews praise knowledgeable instructors and relaxing, welcoming classes, including felted jellyfish lantern workshops led by Darcel. Some feedback notes a disappointing henna/Jagua experience and service concerns. Overall, the venue is described as beautiful, inviting, and community-focused.
While the aesthetic of this establishment is undeniably beautiful and intentionally crafted, my recent interaction has led to profound disappointment. I invested $60 in a henna application for my birthday, which, unfortunately, resulted in a barely discernible design on my medium-deep complexion due to the use of brown henna. My initial attempt to convey this issue to the owner was met with a strikingly unhelpful and dismissive response: "I think the jagua would be a good choice next time, sorry it's not showing up darker for you." This level of disregard for a paying customer's dissatisfaction, especially considering the cost, was deeply upsetting.
Subsequently, when I sought to book another appointment for a jagua application—a type of henna I've consistently had success with in the past—I encountered evasive scheduling tactics. The ultimate response, "I'm worried the henna won't show up strong enough to show well for you," was not only baffling but frankly insulting as a person with a darker skin tone. This statement carries the implication that my skin tone is inherently problematic for the service, which is simply untrue given my prior experiences with jagua. It is critical to note that henna, and specifically jagua, has been used to adorn and enhance darker skin tones for centuries across various cultures around the world. The effectiveness of jagua on melanated skin is not a new discovery; it is a well-established fact rooted in historical practice.
Moreover, coming from a non-dark-skinned individual (West African with strong ties to henna), this response is particularly problematic. It demonstrates a profound lack of understanding and empathy regarding the nuances of darker skin tones and the services that can be effectively applied to them. Such assumptions perpetuate a harmful narrative within the beauty industry that often marginalizes and misunderstands the needs of clients with melanated skin. It leads to a feeling of being unseen and underserved, and the implication that my skin is somehow "difficult" or "unsuitable" for a common beauty service is both demeaning and contributes to broader issues of colorism and exclusion. A business unwilling to accommodate or reassure customers with darker skin tones should clearly state that limitation rather than offering disingenuous excuses that reinforce harmful stereotypes and disregard centuries of cultural practice.
I cannot in good faith recommend this business or it's services to anyone I know- white, black, or anything in between. Do better and seek to truly decolonize your space and your services.
I have photos of prior work with jagua, our text exchange and you can see the original work she did for me using the brown henna, which shows a suitable skintone for black henna (jagua).
UPDATE: The business owner has since refused to issue a refund unless I, and now other members of the community, remove our honest reviews. This demand to suppress legitimate consumer feedback, including that of supporting community members, is highly unethical and demonstrates a profound lack of accountability. This experience, from the service itself to the owner's attempts to silence criticism, has been deeply disappointing and manipulative.
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Kari S.
via Google
· 1 year ago
Took a class from Landly Alaska at the Art Lounge. Relaxing event.
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Emily
via Google
· 1 year ago
Wonderful space and very knowledgeable instructors. A true crafting space that feels like a cozy living room. I did the felted jellyfish lantern workshop, fantastic time!
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Elizabeth Buckel
via Google
· 2 years ago
Darcel is an amazing teacher. So many things to learn and do in an inviting location with like-minded people. Definitely go!
