Hidden Gems: Meet Leeya Alvandi of MéLa & Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeya Alvandi.

Hi Leeya , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been doing hair for 22 years. I actually started when I was 14, apprenticing and learning hands-on long before I ever went to cosmetology school. But at one point, I thought I’d take a different path. I studied sociology and originally wanted to become a therapist—I’ve always been drawn to helping people heal, listen, and feel seen. In many ways, I still became one. I just do it through hair, through ritual, and through products that support the nervous system and skin. I call it Hairapy for a reason.

MéLa & Co wasn’t born as a brand—it was born out of personal crisis. During the pandemic, after giving birth to my second daughter, I went through a very dark time. Postpartum depression hit hard, along with hair loss, hormonal shifts, and emotional trauma. I created what I needed—safe, healing formulas—and slowly turned them into something I could share.

The name MéLa is inspired by her, the daughter I was healing for. I added the “E” to honor my older daughter, Emma. Later I realized the M-E also stood for the Me Time protocol I created—a six-product ritual to bring people back to themselves, slowly and intentionally.

My mom is a hairdresser too, so the salon has always felt like a second home. During lockdown, I started drawing from everything I had—my background in biology from cosmetology, aromatherapy training, a few online herbology classes, and just real lived experience. I formulated by hand, tested, and learned what worked. Now I make everything in my apothecary lab, using small-batch herbal infusions, many grown by my farmer using biodynamic methods and even duck manure.

MéLa & Co isn’t just a product line—it’s a full self-care space. I offer red light therapy, non-toxic color, scalp healing, and holistic support for issues like eczema, psoriasis, and hormonal skin imbalance. My approach blends molecular-level science with Ayurvedic wisdom, and everything I do is backed by intention.

Some of my formulas are exclusive to the apothecary. Others—like the Me Time protocol—will be available online soon. And if someone wants a specialty blend, they can always reach out or stop by the space. This is community-driven, not mass-produced.

I used to make videos and branding for other people. Now I get to do it for my own company, featuring my father’s artwork across my packaging and labels. This work is deeply personal. It’s my healing, my family, and my calling. MéLa & Co is where hair care, self-care, and purpose meet.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close. This journey has been anything but smooth—but it’s also been incredibly meaningful.

There were moments I didn’t think I’d make it through. The postpartum depression after my second daughter was one of the darkest times of my life. I was exhausted, anxious, losing my hair, and feeling completely disconnected from myself. At the same time, we were in the middle of a global pandemic, and everything felt uncertain.

Building this business wasn’t some carefully planned venture—it was born out of desperation, healing, and love. I didn’t have outside funding, a lab, or a team of chemists. I had a tiny space, a deep understanding of hair and skin from 22 years in the industry, and a fierce desire to find natural solutions that actually worked. I spent long nights researching herbs, formulating by hand, and testing everything on myself first.

There were also challenges as a mother, trying to balance building something with raising two daughters and being present for them. Some people didn’t take me seriously at first—because I wasn’t a “formally trained chemist” or because I was doing things differently, more intuitively. But I trusted my background, my results, and the feedback from my clients.

And there was the emotional side too—starting something so personal meant facing a lot of old pain. This isn’t just a business for me. It’s my therapy. It’s my artistry. It’s how I’ve transmuted grief into purpose.

Today, I still make everything in small batches. I still work one-on-one with my clients. I still source herbs from my farmer and formulate in my apothecary lab. It’s not easy—but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The road has been messy, raw, and real—but it’s also been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about MéLa & Co. ?
MéLÁ & Co. is a holistic space where healing meets beauty. We offer personalized haircuts, expert non-toxic color, styling, and transformative face and scalp treatments that support your skin and hair health from the roots to the surface.

Our apothecary and in-house lab create small-batch, herbal-infused, hormone-supportive products designed for real-life challenges like postpartum shifts, stress, and sensitive skin. These handmade products use potent botanicals combined with modern actives to ensure safety, durability, and performance.

Services go beyond the chair—think red light therapy, Ayurveda-inspired rituals, regenerative scalp care, and customized protocols that treat hair loss, scalp inflammation, and more.

Every element is intentional, from my dad’s beautiful pen-and-ink art to the fresh herbs grown by our local farmer. When you visit MéLÁ & Co., you’re getting more than a haircut or product—you’re stepping into a space crafted for healing and real care.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is from when we lived in Greece for a few years. I remember spending time at the beach with my dad—the feeling of the warm sun, the sound of the waves, and the endless ocean. I’ve always loved the ocean, and those moments made a lasting impression on me.

Another special memory is being at my mom’s salon. I loved watching how she cared for her clients, not just with beauty, but with kindness and healing. Being around her taught me a lot about empathy and connection.

The moral of my story is that no matter where life takes you, family is your anchor. Those moments with my parents showed me what it means to love, care, and be present—lessons I carry with me every day and bring into my work.

Pricing:

• Signature Scalp Facial (75 min): $150 Deep cleansing, exfoliation, oxygen infusion, and red light therapy with a customized handmade potion.
• Signature Haircut Session with Blow Dry (90 min): $185 Herbal-infused haircut with full cleanse, condition, blow dry, hot tool styling, and botanical finishing balms.
• Nourishing Scalp & Strand Treatment (45 min): $85 Slow-infused herbal oils and butters focused on hydration, barrier repair, and scalp healing.
• Non-Toxic Color Session starting at $250 Ammonia-free, barrier-supportive color services paired with a restorative scalp or strand treatment for healthier results.
• Non-Toxic Color Session starting at $250 Ammonia-free, barrier-supportive color services paired with a restorative scalp or strand treatment for healthier results.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Melaco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeyastudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeyaStudio
• Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/melaco.lux
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leeyastudio
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leeya-alvandi

Image Credits
Shot by Flora
@shotbyflora