Ashley Snell and Dorka Jones envisioned a makeup bar that offered reliable looks, a place to commune with friends while getting glam and a membership program that rewarded frequent customers. Think Drybar’s business model, but for makeup.
Surprised that nobody had created such a concept sooner, they’re running with it — and planning four additional Musea Makeup Bar express makeup studio locations across the country by the end of 2026.
But first, the pair’s Nashville flagship location. Jones found herself in Music City often as part of her own traveling makeup artistry service, as did Snell, for her work as a model and owner of an exercise clothing brand. To them, Nashville is where the girls are — a place for bachelorette, girls’ trips and wedding parties.
“Before I ever came to Nashville, it was a place where, if I go, I want to go with my girls,” Snell says. “That’s what I knew it as — the place to go for a girls’ trip.”
She adds, “One thing that we love about Nashville is even though it’s a city, it feels like a small town and a big city. … You get to feel like you know the community and you’re in the community.”
At Musea Makeup Bar, guests choose between natural glam, soft glam, bold glam and bridal glam. Natural is very soft and doesn’t use false lashes — perfect for a subtle look and for people who aren’t used to having much makeup on their face. Soft glam is the most popular, often used to prepare for the camera or a special occasion. Bold glam is for guests who love makeup, and for more formal occasions.
“We’ve cultivated these looks that have been around for the last ten years-plus that I’ve been in the industry,” Jones says. “I specifically chose things that never go out of style.”
From city to city, the services will be consistent, and Musea even stores each guest’s perfect foundation shades and preferences. Jones and Snell promise makeup looks that stand up to flash photography and last all night.
“All of our looks are very wearable, and that’s one of the key things about the kind of makeup that we do,” Jones says. “It feels and looks good in person, but it’ll also last really long, and it’ll photograph really beautifully.”
Each guest receives a list of products the artist used, and makeup brushes are available for purchase onsite. The pair plans to further their own makeup brand in the coming year and offer artists to go onsite to weddings and events, too.
Snell says some of her friends with darker complexions will forgo glam altogether for fear that the artist won’t have their shade. Being skin tone inclusive, as well as age-inclusive, was one of the key priorities starting out.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what age you are,” Snell says. “When you walk in, you sit in our chair. We got you.”
Jones adds, “I love telling the girls, the person sitting in your chair is your muse, and they’re the most important person. They’re your focus. People sacrifice so much sometimes to be in the chair, you just don’t know what their day was like …. It’s really important that everyone in our chair feels so special.”
