DTPHX Spotlight: How Hettie Rich is Moving the Needle in Downtown Phoenix

Taking care of your skin is like investing in a lifelong glow-up. Hettie Rich of Lighten Up Laser is dedicated to making the Downtown Phoenix community shine by providing impactful experiences through laser and skin care services. 

Hettie shares her passion for the world of self-care through personalized sessions that give her clients the resources necessary to feel confident in their own skin. Opening Lighten Up Laser has provided an opportunity to create a safe space that allows everybody and every body to benefit from all things skin care, including services like laser tattoo removal, microneedling, Botox, and more, in a comfortable and welcoming environment. 

Hettie’s regard for the beauty industry extends beyond these four walls through her nonprofit, Rewritten Life, a program whose mission is to help rewrite the life stories of previously incarcerated people by offering tattoo removal services.  

Hettie Rich, Owner of Lighten Up Laser and nonprofit Rewritten Life. (Photo: Haley Hoekstra)

What inspired you to open Lighten Up Laser, and how does this translate to your nonprofit, Rewritten Life? 

I am familiar with much of the tattoo community and wanted to be a resource for them. When I first had the idea to open a laser business, it was going to be focused on tattoo removal. Our goal here is to provide our clients with services that help them evolve into whatever they’re trying to be. That was how I got into attending school for laser, and later explored the idea of opening my own [shop].   

As soon as I knew I was going to do tattoo removal, I knew that I wanted to extend this service beyond profit. I wanted to be able to give something back to the community and offer that service to people who have what we call “job stopper tattoos,” referring to those located on the face or other areas that may compromise future career opportunities. Prior to opening Lighten Up Laser, I reached out to the gang task force and probation officers in Phoenix to put feelers out there. From there, it took off immediately, especially within the probation system.   

Hettie Rich (left) providing laser tattoo removal services for a client. Before and after images (right) of a client who received services through Hettie’s nonprofit Rewritten Life. (Photos: @goth.gloss)

What influenced you to open your business in Downtown Phoenix? 

I’ve watched the Downtown Phoenix area evolve over the last ten years, and it’s been amazing to see. It feels like Phoenix has finally become a “grown-up” city, and I want to be a part of the growth. Our values and beliefs align with the area, confirming that it’s a perfect fit for us.  

We are excited to be forming more relationships within the Downtown community. It is important for us, especially with gender-affirming services becoming more common, to serve as a place where people can feel comfortable getting those services without being judged or ostracized. My team has created valuable connections and relationships within the Downtown community and has let people know that we are a very safe place.  

How do your views on the beauty industry manifest in the atmosphere of your salon? 

I believe that skin care is not a vanity thing; it’s a self-care thing. Our job is not to tear people down but to have them walk in and feel good from start to finish. It’s not just about how they look when they leave; it’s how they feel about themselves. There are no standards for beauty here. We aim to help people attain whatever their individual goals are.  

I am so dedicated to creating a comfortable atmosphere. I don’t ever want our clients to feel intimidated, which is huge for all of us. We are here to care for people, and that goes beyond skin care. We want to take care of each person and make them feel comfortable, welcome and happy.  

Technicians at Lighten Up Laser providing skin care services to clients. (Photos: @goth.gloss)

How does your team uphold Lighten Up Laser’s mission and values? 

Within our program, the people I work with are the best part of the job. The treatments we perform require dedication from start to finish. All my employees have goals that match what we believe in. We form such close bonds with our clients, so we get to see them through many different changes in their lives and hear their stories. There’s a lot of empathy involved in this industry that is larger than typical beauty standards. 

One of my technicians specializes in our gender-affirming services, and she works very closely with neurodivergent people, so she makes sure that her treatments are crafted specifically for that person and what they need. She makes it a point to ask what she can do to make them more comfortable during their treatments.  

What is something you want Downtowners to know about your business? 

Our doors are always open to anyone and everyone, and we encourage people to stop by and ask us questions anytime. We’re happy to be here for the community in any way we can. Even if people don’t utilize our services, we’re always happy to have them walk in and just talk to us. 

What are your aspirations for Lighten Up Laser and Rewritten Life? 

We’ve been down here for just a little over a year and are still trying to figure out how to let the community know we’re here, and what we stand for, which is more than a typical med spa. I have been getting excited about spreading the word and telling our story, and I realize there’s a lot of value in letting people know that there is something different about us. My goal for Rewritten Life is to have a machine in one of the prisons, so I can do tattoo removal within the prison system. That way, they can get a head start before they get out. Hearing stories about how our clients are trying to improve their lives for their children and families is probably the most inspirational thing and keeps me going.