Meet the artists

(She/Ella)

Founder + Stylist + Educator + Intuitive + Artist

Jessie’s IG

Meet Jessie, Benders is her creation so if like Benders, you’ll like her. Personally, she’s witchy and loves having conversations about crystals, spells and her FURmiliars (her kitties). She prefers having authentic experiences with people and doesn’t love social media but does realize it’s relevance in this world. She is an Aquarius and visionary who centers her life around humans and art.

Professionally, she is an accomplished hairstylist who has done everything from teaching (Paul Mitchell and Aveda Institute LA) to salon ownership. These days she feels best sharing her cozy studio with a few of her best friends. Having honed her skills after 20+ years, Jessie has a deep love and understanding for color and curly hair. She likes to build relationships with her guests that feel trusting and safe. She loves foiling, dimensional color and vivids. Jessie is a true artist who uses her love for abstract painting into the salon to create everything rainbow hair to effortlessly blended shades that grow out seamlessly. She prefers edgy styles, natural hair textures, shags, razor cuts, and bobs but she also is super comfortable doing clipper/barber cuts as well. She is truly gifted with it comes to the art of hair.

Drawing from the nurturing wisdom of her grandmother, Jessie beautifully intersects indigenous beliefs and practices into her hair practice and although you may not even notice, you’ll certainly feel lighter when you leave her chair. Jessie warmly welcomes you into her space, where each person's unique essence is honored. And for those who value storytelling, join her video podcast to help spread awareness and representation of the lgbtq+ community.

Services performed:

Coaching, Reiki, Intuitive Classes, Oracle Divination, Haircutting and all Hair Services, Painting groups/classes, Group Meditation, Ecstatic Dance Rituals, Reiki, Akashic Record Readings, Energy Healing for Lovers. Request an appointment below or email me directly.

*NEW CLIENT appointment requests will be denied without a prior screening form and virtual consultation.

(He/They)

Hairstylist/ Artist/ Singer/ Crocheter/ Actor

Rach works out of Benders’ private studio once monthly and at their other salon job full-time. To make an appointment with them, please reach out directly through EMAIL.

After cosmetology school in 2016, Rachel dove into salon work as an assistant. After working in a more conservative area, Rach is ready to work with people they can relate to. They are passionate about haircutting and embrace all textures, from straight to curly. Rachel is a strong braider and styler and slays a blow-dry! They love to learn and collaborate with clients and co-workers and can’t wait to get you in their chair.

On a personal note, Rach uses they/them pronouns. Their non-binary identity is new, and they invite respectful conversation about it, especially if you identify with it. They draw strength from their experience as an adopted, ex-religious person and think sharing is important as healing. Rach is full of laughter and can make light of most situations, so share your cheesy jokes with them! They are deeply empathic and love to see people happy and smile. They believe a good salon experience can treat the deepest blues and hopes to be able to do that for salon guests. Want to start a simpler conversation with Rachel? Try talking to them about their current watchlist or video game favorites. When Rachel is at home, they love cuddling and playing with their fur babies Ellie, Yuki and Kaia Alaskan Klee Kai pups who love singing, smooching, and playing with their human friends. We love Rach and all they Bring to Benders.

Kai (They/She)

Somatic Practitioner + Salon manager (not a stylist)

My name is Kai and I identify as a Queer Bilingual Mexican, a Dreamer, using they/she pronouns. I am a Trauma Informed Reiki and Somatic Practitioner. I was born in Mexico City and in the early 1990s my family immigrated to the United States. We lived in South Los Angeles for over 32 years and I recently moved to Long Beach. I have been an activist since an early age when my parents would take me to local protests and rallies as a child. My love for community engagement and activism led me to work with survivors of domestic violence, unhoused individuals, immigrants, and other underserved communities. Specifically, I am committed to working continuously with monolingual Spanish-speaking persons in various fields including supportive services around immigration, domestic violence, and mental health.

In 2018, I experienced transformative healing through Somatic Experiencing®, a body-oriented therapeutic modality that aims to resolve stress, shock, and trauma symptoms. I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner® in training Advanced Level. Amid the pandemic, I was introduced to Usui Reiki, an energy-healing technique that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety through gentle touch. I am a Usui Reiki Practitioner Level II.

Most recently, I founded Corazón Somatic Care providing Somatic and Reiki services nationwide. I incorporate different elements of Somatic Experiencing® and Usui Reiki in therapeutic work with underserved communities that have historically not had access to these types of care. Due to my own life experiences, I am intimately familiar with the challenges of carrying trauma in the often insular communities.

IG

Social Coordinator I Artist

Cal is the co-founder of Benders Collective and also one of Jessie’s sweethearts. He has always loved learning about people - What inspires them, challenges them, and drives them to connect. With a background in community engagement and innovation education, Cal shines brightest when facilitating workshops, leading teams, and bringing people together based on their unique strengths and needs.

Contact Cal if you're interested in booking a workshop or training on the following topics: LGBTQIA2S+ Competency for caregivers, parents, professionals Trans/GNC competence for medical professionals/future clinicians (medical schools) School-specific training and consultations for professionals (administrators, district officials, social workers).

EMAIL

It was during my travels in Spain, where I first learned and fell in love with the rustic craft of woodcarving. Sitting in the serene Catalan Pyrenees while whittling my first wooden spoon from a fresh cut fallen cherry tree, I noticed how quiet and focused my mind had become. All my senses engaged, the sound of the blade, the scent of timber, and the rough grain softening with each shaving. I say, it was love at first whittle.

It was no wonder that whittling expressed through me the summer of 2015, as woodwork runs in my blood and heritage. Before immigrating from Guatemala, my father was a fine furniture and cabinet maker and my grandfather was a skilled carpenter. I feel honored to carry on the lineage of this craft within my family.

I first experimented making simple utensils with one carving and hook knife. I gifted most of these pieces to friends around the globe I collected along my travels. The response always humbled me, but after much encouragement and support, I ventured into creating commissioned custom designs.

Every piece that I carve is a unique representation of my passion for the craft, the fruit of my imagination and a tangible work of wooden art. No two pieces will ever be identical as I source my materials from various sites and countries- such as mountains, lumber yards and anywhere I hear a chainsaw in the distance.

It is a gratifying journey transforming raw reclaimed lumber; envisioning its new form, and then carving it by hand into a signature piece of wearable art. The reclaimed wood carries forward a legacy of its former life, be it a barn, a door, a window, a chair as well as the tree from which it was first formed. Now become an heirloom piece with a new story to tell.

Lou Sarg Woodwork

Lou Sarg IG

For more than 15 years her expertise has been honed in understanding of how organic ingredients can naturally support body functioning. Years of being involved in formulation & education, armed with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Clinical Psychology and Public Health she has sought to de-mystifies and desecrates the journey to healthy hair and scalp.

Out of her own frustrations, experiencing a devastating hair loss, and being fed up with broken promises of hair care products, Love put years of developed essential oil expertise to use to create her own solutions. Focused on formulating to address her frustrating scalp issues and help strengthen her hair, without a greasy oily mess.

Love & Snow was born to supports unlearning the general myths frustratingly told about hair care. Helping individuals approach hair and scalp goals understanding the fundamentals to help you achieve the shine, strength, growth, and happy scalp you deserve. Desegregating hair care to make real, lasting repair a reality for everyone - no matter hair type or texture. Love & Snow is a line of hair care that uses 100% organic, vegan ingredients that focus on root issues to arrive at solutions that go beyond managing frustration. Supporting scalp re-balancing to calm the itchy, flaky, oily, dry rollercoaster; while fortifying hair to return health, hydration, definition, and shine.

Love and Snow

Love and Snow IG

My name is Andre, I'm a 27 year old nonbinary filipinx dancer and drag artist living in Long Beach. I have been a dancer since high school, and my favorite styles are hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. After graduating CSULB with a degree in Psychology in 2018, I began teaching dance classes for all ages, and later developed a passion for queer burlesque and movement meditations during the Covid lockdown. Growing up in a conservative religious environment, I have struggled with shame around exploring and expressing my sensuality- especially in a trans body. After having top surgery in 2021, I am on a mission to create safe and supportive spaces for other queer and gender expansive people to redefine their relationship to movement and sensuality! Combining play with guided discussions and somatic exercises, I am excited for you to join us as we take up space and heal together.

Andre IG

Aliah Bailey is a California-based social media manager, content creator, and video editor with a passion for all things digital. Graduating from CSU Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Electronic Arts and a minor in photography, Aliah brings a creative edge to her work. Alongside her professional endeavors, Aliah is also the founder of Glimmer & Gleam, a small batch woman-owned/black-owned candle company based in California. Glimmer & Gleam's goal is to create high-quality candles at an affordable price point that promote the importance of relaxation and self-care. Their candles are made with all-natural, vegan, coconut soy wax and are free of any additives and dyes. With a deep understanding of social media and internet culture cultivated over years of online engagement, Aliah has a proven track record of developing and executing successful social media strategies. She thrives on building meaningful connections and fostering community engagement for companies and brands. Dedicated to driving growth and visibility through innovative campaigns and effective storytelling, Aliah is ready to collaborate with you to elevate your brand's digital presence to new heights. Contact her at aliahbailey909@gmail.com to start your journey toward online success.

Website

IG

Resident Licensed Therapist

Sam is the kind of therapist that will lovingly validate your experience AND give you skills to move through the challenges that you’re facing. He sees your strength and knows the self-trust, confidence, and vibrancy on the other side of what you’re going through. Whether your goal is to get to know yourself better, heal your trauma, uncover what’s getting in your own way, or process events that have impacted your relationship with yourself or others - Sam will be in the trenches with you you every step of the way. You are not alone or broken and you deserve to THRIVE.

Sam is a trans-man and is also an LGBT-affirmative therapist. Sam uses his experience with his own gender journey to help individuals make stronger connections to their own sense of gender and sexuality. Sam received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2015. Sam’s primary approaches to therapy include EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and solution-focused therapy. Sam believes that everyone should feel empowered with the conceptual and contextual knowledge to cultivate self-awareness, as well as practical skills that you can use on the daily. In addition to individual therapy, Sam leads groups for LGBTQIA individuals. Sam truly believes that therapy works and that acceptance, peace, and strength are possible, even in the most painful of circumstances.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker #86590es