Solstice by Block Tides — THE JOURNAL

Solstice officially opened its doors in March 2024, 2025 quietly and intentionally. No countdowns. No spectacle. Just a space ready to receive people who wanted to slow down and be cared for properly.

When we started Solstice, the goal was simple — create a studio that feels calm the moment you step inside. Somewhere treatments don’t feel rushed, skin isn’t overworked, and beauty isn’t forced into trends that don’t last. The space was designed with softness in mind. Neutral tones. Clean lines. Nothing overstimulating. Everything chosen to let the body relax before any treatment even begins.

Before Solstice ever welcomed its first client, there was a long stretch of quiet work no one saw. Renovation days that didn’t look pretty yet. Decisions that took longer than expected.Corners repainted. Layouts adjusted. Lights moved. Then moved again.

There was dust before there was calm.

When we were building Solstice, the focus wasn’t speed. It was feel. How the space would sound when it’s quiet. How the lighting would land on skin. How movement would flow from one treatment to the next without friction.

Some days looked like progress.Some days looked like chaos.

The Unseen Choices

Behind the scenes, every detail mattered more than it probably should have.

• Where the treatment bed faces

• How close stations are to each other

• Which materials feel grounding instead of clinical

• What gets hidden so the space feels clean, not cold

  
  

There were moments where the space didn’t look like a studio yet — just a work-in-progress with tools everywhere and decisions half-made. But even then, the intention was already there.

Why We Opened Solstice

Beauty services today move fast.Too fast sometimes. Over-layered routines. Aggressive treatments. Instant results promised with very little regard for long-term skin health. Skin is pushed to comply, not supported to heal. Solstice was created to do the opposite.

We wanted a space where slowing down is part of the treatment. Where skin isn’t overwhelmed, and care isn’t measured by how much can be done in one session. Where consistency matters more than intensity.

At Solstice, treatments are designed to work with the body, not against it. We prioritize skin integrity, nervous system comfort, and results that last beyond a single visit. Because real glow doesn’t come from doing more.

It comes from doing what’s right — repeatedly, patiently, and with respect.

Solstice was created to do the opposite. That’s why Solstice exists.

We wanted a place where:

• Skin is treated with respect

• Nails are done without unnecessary damage

• Lashes and brows enhance, not overpower

• Treatments are chosen thoughtfully, not automatically

  
  

From day one, consultations mattered. Understanding your skin, your lifestyle, and your tolerance always comes before recommending anything.

Our Original Vision

Before Solstice was a physical space, it was an idea shaped by values.

The earliest vision for Solstice was rooted in harmony—between people and nature, tradition and modern care, wellness and responsibility. From the beginning, the intention was never just beauty services, but well-being that respects where it comes from.

Sustainability mattered early on. So did craftsmanship. So did honoring ancestral knowledge without turning it into spectacle.

The original Solstice concept centered on:

• Eco-conscious practices that don’t feel performative

• Artisan-made wellness, not mass-produced solutions

• Care that considers the long term, not just immediate results

• A slower, more respectful relationship with the body and the Earth

  
  

That vision wasn’t about scaling fast. It was about building something that could last.

How the Vision Evolved

As Solstice moved from concept to reality, the vision became more grounded.

What started as a broad wellness philosophy narrowed into something more intimate—how people feel when they walk into a room, lie down for a treatment, or trust someone with their skin.

The principles stayed the same.The expression became clearer.

Instead of trying to do everything, Solstice chose to do fewer things with intention. The focus shifted from global ambition to local care, from ideas on paper to hands-on practice.

The result is what Solstice is today: A studio shaped by restraint. By process. By respect for timing.

The old vision still lives here—just translated into daily rituals, thoughtful services, and a pace that lets people breathe.

Looking Back

Opening Solstice in March 2024 wasn’t about launching perfectly. It was about setting the right foundation. When we first opened, the space was black.Raw. Contained. Introspective.

It was my Nigredo — the necessary beginning. The stage where things are stripped down before they become whole. By December 2025, Solstice evolved again. The space shifted into red — warmer, fuller, alive. Not a rebrand, but a completion.

Same foundation. More clarity.

A studio built on trust. A pace that allows healing. A reminder that glow doesn’t need to be dramatic to be real. This blog will be a space where we share what we learn along the way — about skin, beauty, care, and the quiet routines that make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who walked in during those early days and trusted us from the beginning.