Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Tribble
Hi Kari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Since childhood, I have been passionate about self-expression through beauty rituals. To me, beauty is more than just appearance—it’s a form of self-care and a way to honor our creativity. As creative beings, we express ourselves in countless ways, and beauty has always been my chosen medium.
I became a licensed esthetician in 2005, graduating with honors from the Aveda Institute. However, at the time, finding consistent work in the field was challenging, so I transitioned to administrative roles, where I gained invaluable experience in building and growing businesses.
Years later, after becoming a mother and surviving cancer, I felt a deep need to reconnect with myself and honor my body for everything it had survived through. I turned to my indigenous cultural teachings and beauty practices I learned on YouTube to express gratitude and creativity. This act of adorning myself became a way to celebrate my resilience and give thanks to my body for keeping me alive.
This journey inspired me to share my passion for beauty with others. I became a beauty influencer, reinstated my esthetician license, and eventually founded Avari Beauty in 2016 as an Indigenous-owned business. Initially, I focused on eyelash extension services, which offered the flexibility I needed as a single parent managing my health and raising my son.
Since then, Avari Beauty has grown tremendously. I’ve advanced my license to become an advanced practice esthetician and body art technician, expanded our services, and built a team of talented employees. We’ve also launched our own product line, including sustainable eyelash extensions, reflecting our commitment to eco-conscious practices and keeping my Indigenous values at the core of everything we do. We have just been approved to become a franchise and are looking to expand into retailing with our new certifications and networks.
Avari Beauty is more than a salon and brand; it’s a platform to make a difference. We strive to support Indigenous causes, environmental initiatives, and animal welfare, staying true to our values and our mission to uplift others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I didn’t come from privilege—I was born and raised on the reservation of my tribe in Northern Wisconsin. For me, success is deeply tied to building generational wealth and healing generational trauma. Without doing the work to heal, it’s impossible to break free from cycles that hold us back. This is something many Indigenous communities face, especially with limited access to education and opportunities on reservations. Thankfully, progress is being made in many places, but it’s a long journey.
When I was younger, I couldn’t afford to go to college, so I sought out free online resources, local community-led nonprofit programs, and services like free tax filing. I had to be resourceful and creative, learning everything I could about business, financials, and even manufacturing through self-teaching, classes, and asking for help. Every stage of growth required reinvesting back into the business and making careful decisions about finances and direction. It’s been a slow process, but I never gave up, even when faced with obstacles.
One of my biggest struggles was simply not knowing what to do in certain areas of business. For example, understanding financial management or navigating manufacturing was completely new to me. I overcame this by taking classes and asking questions whenever I could. I don’t pay myself extravagant amounts—instead, I focus on reinvesting in the business, living within my means, and working toward long-term sustainability.
For me, the priority is to build a strong foundation for my business, ensure my employees earn a decent living, and provide customers with the best possible experiences. Growth often requires taking risky, scary leaps of faith, but I’ve learned to embrace those challenges. No matter how hard it gets, I’ve committed to never giving up on this vision.
We’ve been impressed with Avari Beauty, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Avari Beauty is an Indigenous-owned salon and beauty brand specializing in a wide range of esthetic services, including sustainable eyelash extensions, microblading, brow lamination, lash lifts, brow waxing and shaping, tinting, hydrafacials, sculpting facials, chemical skin peels, microchanneling/microneedling, and dermaplaning.
We’re proud to be pioneers in the beauty industry as the first to create sustainable eyelash extensions. Our extensions are made from either HDPE (recycled) plastics or biodegradable corn starch, both of which break down much faster than traditional extension materials. These innovations align with our commitment to eco-conscious practices, not only in our product offerings but also in the way we run our salon.
In addition to our services, we’ve developed a product line for both professionals and consumers. For professionals, we offer our sustainable eyelash extensions, lift/lamination solutions, and essential tools. For consumers, our line includes standout products like the Bamboo Charcoal All-in-One Cleanser, Fluffy Brow Gel, Best Brow Day Pencil, Strip Lashes, Lip Gloss, and more.
What truly sets Avari Beauty apart is our dedication to eco-conscious beauty practices and Indigenous representation. We strive to minimize plastic use in our salon and focus on sourcing sustainable supplies whenever possible. Our brand’s morals and values are deeply rooted in Indigenous principles, emphasizing respect for the environment, community, and culture. Through our work, we aim to bring much-needed Indigenous representation to the beauty industry, both in B2B and B2C spaces.
At Avari Beauty, we’re not just about enhancing beauty; we’re about creating a movement. We want to show that beauty can be both innovative and sustainable while celebrating and amplifying Indigenous voices.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of resilience and the art of manifesting through action, prayer, and gratitude. Avari Beauty began as a means of survival—an opportunity to create stability and a good life for my son and me while rediscovering who I am and what I’m capable of.
This journey has taught me that resilience isn’t just about enduring challenges—it’s about finding the strength to keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear. Manifesting dreams requires both faith and consistent action. Prayer and gratitude have been my compass, helping me stay grounded and focused, while action has turned vision into reality.
I’ve found immense joy in inspiring others to embrace their own resilience and discover what they can create for themselves and their families. Through Avari Beauty, I hope to continue showing others that it’s possible to build something meaningful, even when starting from a place of uncertainty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avaribeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avaribeauty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theavaribeauty/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avari-beauty
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AVARIBEAUTY
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@avaribeauty
