Sharon Rynard originally trained as a nurse. However, her true passion was creating art. So, she developed a career as a professional gallery painter and sculptor alongside her work as a nurse.
The multi-talented Rynard also has a good nose for business. In 2009, she tested her business acumen and honored her artistic side by opening Studio B Gallery and Gifts in Fayetteville. The gallery showcases local art, wine and cheeses and is still flourishing.
Rynard, who goes by “Nurse Sharon,” combined her talents again when she delved into the world of aesthetic medicine.
“When I worked as a nurse in the emergency room, I got very good with a needle,” said Nurse Sharon. “The needle became my new paintbrush when I got into aesthetics.”
Aesthetic medicine consists of an expanding catalog of non- to minimally invasive medical procedures that aim to change the patient’s physical appearance. Rynard, who is certified through the American Association of Aesthetic Medicine, specializes in natural-looking injections of Botox and fillers. Her skills can help clients combat signs of aging like thinning lips and age spots. But she has also assisted clients in returning to symmetry after a stroke or cancer removal, acne scar removal, and Botox injections to reduce migraines and TMJ pain.
In the age of video conferences and social media, cosmetic procedures are in high demand. An increasing number of providers offer injections and other cosmetic procedures, some without the requisite medical background or artistic touch. Nurse Sharon urges caution.
“There are a lot of cowboys out there,” she said. When picking a provider, consider their credentials and always get a consultation first. “If they get too pushy,” she advised, “walk out.”
Rynard opened Inner Radiance Medical Aesthetics on Coombs Farm Drive in Morgantown in 2015 and split her time between her new business and Studio B in Fayetteville, 150 miles away. Eventually, she wanted to spend the majority of her time in the southern part of the state and moved Inner Radiance into the same building as her gallery.
However, she was driven to continue to serve her clients in the Morgantown region. She landed upon a solution: to enter into a partnership with a Morgantown-area salon and offer her services there every few months.
“I searched Morgantown for a team that I thought were experts in their field and also considered aesthetics an art form,” Rynard said.
The Royal Treatment Spa & Salon, a beauty salon at 1163 Green Bag Road in Morgantown, was already a product of collaboration between talented, driven women. Owner Kathy Marrara, a licensed aesthetician, made the business a family affair. Her three daughters are co-owners, each with a niche in the beauty industry. McKinsey is a hairstylist, Lexsey is a skincare aesthetician and Sidney (a registered nurse) provides microblading — a semi-permanent tattooing technique used to shape and fill in eyebrows that are naturally sparse or thinning due to aging or cancer treatment.
“We’re always collaborating,” said Sidney of her family. “We’re thinking of new marketing strategies together. We build off each other’s individual brands and the brand we’ve created as sisters and just meshing our clientele together.”
The Royal Treatment has enjoyed brisk business.
“The exposure of the services we offer has allowed people to understand their options,” Sidney said. She added that once clients are aware of the advances in aesthetic medicine and take advantage of them, they often describe the results as life-changing.
Rynard said she knew she wanted The Royal Treatment to be her home in Morgantown.
“It’s a phenomenal collaboration of people that I feel are at the top of their field,” she said, noting the collaboration has been going beautifully for over five years. “Working with them has been just amazing.”
The aestheticians involved often share clients. The popularity of lip filler injections has risen sharply in the U.S. over the last two decades — Rynard said it is currently the most requested service she offers. While many clients find the results satisfying, the procedure can have some drawbacks.
“Once the lip is stretched due to fillers, it can start to look pale or translucent,” said Sidney Marrara. “I offer lip blushing, which is a tattooing of the lip.” This coloration can last up to several years.
The Royal Treatment teams with Rynard to host its “Anti-Aging Parties” about every eight weeks. During the events, Nurse Sharon offers services like fillers, Botox and liquid nose jobs.
The next Anti-Aging Party is set for Aug. 18-19, with appointments available starting at 11 a.m. both days. Appointments are required. Clients can book services by sending a direct message on The Royal Treatment’s Facebook page (facebook.com/theroyaltreatmentwv/) or by calling 304-241-1592
During the party weekends Tara Jackson, a nurse practitioner who also participates, offers ultrasound sculpting.
“She uses an ultrasound to inject under the skin, then the client regrows their own collagen,” Rynard explained. “It is the most natural looking, beautiful age reversal.”
Local writer Eva Mays reported and wrote this story for The Dominion Post. Email newsroom@dominionpost.com
