Mobile Salon “2Gether Beauty” Gives You Time to Be Yourself.
Interview with Ara & treatment experience report [Interview Edition]
Ara Hong speaks sincerely about wanting to provide people with “time to return to themselves”
In the quiet residential neighborhoods of Irvine, located in the suburbs of Los Angeles (LA), sits a trailer parked serenely. Step inside, and you’re immediately enveloped by the calming aroma of essential oils. It feels like entering a resort spa. This is the facial treatment-dedicated beauty van of the mobile esthetic salon 2Gether Beauty. Greeting you with a radiant, innocent smile like that of a young girl is Ara Hung, the owner and esthetician.
The U.S. edition of b.glenish! focuses on women who shine in their own unique way, sharing their lifestyle philosophies and beauty secrets through in-depth interviews.
Ara is both the founder and practitioner behind this unique mobile esthetic business based primarily in the Orange County (OC) area. We spoke with her about her original business model, her facial treatments that are known for delivering tangible results, and her personal approach to beauty.
This time, Kaori—an avid b.glen user—had the opportunity to experience Ara’s treatment firsthand. We’ll bring you an exclusive two part feature: Part 1, “The Interview,” and Part 2, “The Treatment Experience.”
“I Want to Offer Women Time to Return to Themselves, Not as A Wife or A Mother.”
When I first saw the trailer, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, it’s so cute!” But stepping inside, I found a surprisingly spacious and calming atmosphere. Could you tell us what led you to choose such a unique salon concept, operating out of a trailer?
Ara:
Many customers are surprised when they step into the salon. They often say the space inside is much more spacious than they imagined and that they’re able to relax and enjoy a truly peaceful time.
I’ve been working as an esthetician for over five years, and the idea of using a trailer as a salon space was inspired by many of the women around me.
I saw how so many of them devote themselves to their careers, hold demanding positions, or constantly juggle responsibilities as wives and mothers, always putting themselves last. Watching them work so hard without rest, I thought, why not bring relaxation to them? Even if they don’t have time to visit a salon, if the trailer shows up right in front of their home, then for even just one hour, they can reconnect with themselves, not as a wife, not as a mother, but simply as who they are.
That’s how this idea was born.
The Comfort of the Salon Stays with You, Even on the Way Home
In front of the trailer. Left: Kaori, a devoted b.glen user; Right: Ara.
The idea of “not having a fixed location” is quite revolutionary in the beauty industry. What kind of clients actually use your services?
Ara:
We serve a wide variety of clients, but the majority are housewives, with most of them in their 40s.
Many begin by receiving treatment right in front of their own home and then go on to book regular appointments. For example, some clients get treatment with friends near sports fields while their husbands or children are at soccer practice. There are even cases where guests at a home party take turns getting treatment.
Since the trailer offers a private, personal space, clients can fully relax. They often tell me how convenient it is to make use of their spare time and how easy and stress-free the experience is.
Getting treatments together with friends as a fun event sounds like such a great time! And it’s such a bonus to receive a facial and go straight home with a bare face. No need to worry about putting makeup on right after. I often feel like applying makeup right after a treatment takes away from the benefits. Not having to think about how to get home after a session is definitely one of the biggest advantages of a mobile salon.
Centering on Facials, Toward a Future of Diverse and Connected Professional Expertise
Toward the realization of a “mobile beauty platform.” Ara’s radiant smile says it all!
Ara:
Being able to receive esthetic treatments easily at a location of your choice is both convenient and enjoyable, not just for the clients, but for us as practitioners as well.
It truly is like “beauty treatments delivered to your door”! Whether it’s a sports field, park, office, or right in front of your home, any place can instantly become a salon. It’s easy to see why there’s so much demand. Are facial treatments the main service you currently offer?
Ara:
Yes, for now, we’re focused mainly on facials, but in the future, I’d like to expand by creating specialized trailers for services like nails, eyelash extensions, and body massages.
Currently, many of our clients are Taiwanese Americans, but we plan to invest more in promotion so that even more people can discover and enjoy our services.
Ultimately, I want to build a “mobile beauty platform” where experienced beauty professionals and practitioners come together. Clients will book through a mobile app and then wait at home for trusted, professional care to arrive. I hope people can enjoy comprehensive beauty treatments from head to toe, with the ease and convenience of something like Amazon.
You’ve already got a clear vision for future expansion. This will also create more opportunities for estheticians, nail artists, and other beauty professionals to offer their services.
Ara:
Exactly! In fact, many of the estheticians working with 2Gether Beauty are mothers. For those who find it difficult to return to a traditional salon after giving birth, the trailer offers a flexible work option. Since there’s no need to worry about securing a physical location like a storefront or home space, they can accept appointments that suit their lifestyle. Providing women with limited time a new and flexible way to work is an important part of our mission too.
What matters most for estheticians at 2Gether Beauty is whether they can genuinely care for their clients. We believe that when aestheticians are happy in their work, it ultimately leads to greater client satisfaction. That’s something we are fully committed to.
All our team members are professional estheticians. During our training, we spend 2 to 4 weeks—depending on skill level—carefully teaching our original massage techniques that only we can offer. This includes the right amount of pressure, hospitality, and even the small gestures when greeting and seeing off clients before and after a session.
What we focus on most is our deep massage techniques, especially those used in facial lifting treatments. While we don’t require every esthetician to follow an identical routine, we do standardize the key pressure points that must be addressed, tailoring the flow based on both the esthetician and the client’s needs.
Personalized Treatments with Visible Results
Only carefully selected products with proven results are used in our treatments
I’d love to experience your deep tissue care massage techniques for myself. Since each client’s skin is different and their needs vary, how do you personalize your treatments?
Ara:
When I meet a client for the first time, I begin with a thorough consultation while assessing their skin condition. I ask in detail about the skincare products they currently use, whether they have any allergies, their diet, and more. Based on that, I perform a skin analysis and customize the serums we use according to their specific concerns, such as dryness, dark spots, wrinkles, or sagging. The treatment plan, including how time is allocated, is also tailored individually. So even if the menu says “Facial Lifting,” the actual session is entirely personalized to suit that particular client’s needs.
So it’s truly a “personalized treatment” tailored to each client’s skin concerns.
Ara:
That’s right. We’re also very particular about the ingredients in the products we use during treatments. Many of our clients have sensitive skin, so safety is our top priority. Of course, it’s equally important that the products deliver visible results. That’s non-negotiable. We never use anything that doesn’t show effectiveness. Every product is carefully selected based on first-hand experience. I personally test everything on my own skin to ensure it truly works before using it in any treatment.
Safety is a given, but it’s the results that truly give a product its value. That philosophy aligns perfectly with what b.glen stands for!
Ara:
From the moment a client books a session with 2Gether Beauty to the care they receive after returning home, our goal is to ensure their complete satisfaction every step of the way.
Whether it’s the ease of booking, the flexibility of our mobile salon coming to the location of their choice, the calming atmosphere that soothes both body and mind, the visible results of our treatments, or the guidance we provide for maintaining those results through at-home care, everything is thoughtfully refined with the client’s happiness in mind. That’s how we’ve grown to where we are today.
For us, there is no greater joy than the moment we truly feel we’ve helped a client. In that sense, we deeply resonate with b.glen’s brand philosophy of “putting the customer first.”
Cleansing Is the Most Important Step in Skincare. The Key Is “Not Overdoing” It.
Ara’s favorites! Clay Wash and QuSome Nano Off Cleansing
It’s wonderful to hear that you resonate with b.glen’s brand concept. Do you have any favorite products from the b.glen lineup?
Ara:
I absolutely love Clay Wash. Cleansing is the “entry point” of skincare, but it’s the most important step. If traces of makeup or excess sebum remain, no matter how effective the active ingredients you apply afterward, they won’t fully penetrate the skin. But that doesn’t mean you should use a cleanser with overly strong cleansing power, either. That can strip away even the good sebum your skin naturally produces, leading to dryness and irritation.
I always advise my clients to choose a well-balanced cleanser, one that doesn’t over-cleanse but still thoroughly removes what needs to be removed. My philosophy on cleansing aligns perfectly with the concept behind Clay Wash. It’s a product that truly embodies my personal skincare values.
Our Most Popular Treatment: Facial Lifting
What is the most popular treatment at 2Gether Beauty?
Ara:
Our most popular treatment is Facial Lifting. It incorporates the “deep care” massage techniques I mentioned earlier. You could think of it as a form of traditional Chinese massage. It uses methods that focus on acupressure points and energy meridians to release tension in the facial muscles and improve lymphatic flow. This helps reduce puffiness and refine the facial contours. Not only around the mouth, but the eye area also lifts, making the eyes appear larger.
Of course, the treatment is relaxing, but our goal isn’t just to make it feel good. We aim for results you can see. By the time you return home, you should feel like your face has genuinely changed. The lifting treatment also includes work on the scalp, neck, and shoulders, which enhances the overall effect.
We’ll begin the session shortly, so be sure to take note of the changes before and after the treatment!
Well then, let’s begin with Facial Lifting, your most popular treatment. As Kaori, a devoted b.glen user, experiences it firsthand, we’d love to hear all about the treatment itself, as well as your personal secrets to beauty, Ara.
For the full treatment experience and interview, please see the “Treatment” section .