F o u n d e r   &   O w n e r 

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A certified expert in Microblading, Brow Lamination, Henna Brow Tinting and Threading and with over 20 years in the Beauty Industry, Wiggy (Also known as Ao) Pineda prides herself on having created her original threading technique within the industry and pioneering the way to bring threading to Maine over a decade ago. Her technique, developed once she excelled in traditional threading, reflects her belief that Beauty Services and the Client Care Experience should intertwine rather than exist as one or the other. Ao's passion for customer care and gift for the art of the eyebrow shines through with each Microblading client, an innovative service added to Ao Luxe in 2018 along with Henna Brow Tinting in 2020 and Brow Lamination in 2021.

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While an expert in her field, Ao stresses the importance of continued education and that there is always something new to learn within and outside of your industry which she celebrates with studies in Forensic Science and Education.

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Ao's education and experience extend to make up artistry and dance, as seen in her very own theatrical belly dance company which showcases her background in Middle Eastern and Fusion Belly Dance.

 

Embracing her artistic nature as a New Orleans native and deep connection to her Honduran heritage at an early age, Ao says "I love adornment. I love the way it makes the body look and change. Be it dance, make up or simply...eyebrows."

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Opening the doors to her first eyebrow studio in 2012, Ao introduced Threading to Bangor, Maine and changed the brow game for the city and surrounding areas. Threading was a hit with local and out-of-town clients and continues to be a success at Ao Luxe! Ao Luxe's time as a Bangor Mall store attraction created incredible growth, many thanks to our regular and new clients and the kind mall management who believed in Ao Luxe and showed support for women-owned, small businesses. In 2016, Ao officially opened her brand new downtown Bangor location Ao Luxe, the modern eyebrow studio, and in 2018 added Microblading to her extensive repertoire followed by Henna Brow Tinting in 2020 and Brow Lamination in 2021.

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In addition to her success and inspired by conversations with clients, Ao started the Ao Luxe blog in hopes to create an informative space not only for clients but for anyone in search of genuine, honest recommendations and most of all, to share in the journey we are all in - a journey to love ourselves and others completely.

 

Another journey Ao recognizes and embraces whole-heartedly is the one clients from all over travel just to have their eyebrows shaped and revived by her. Ao Luxe is one of the few certified threading locations north of Boston and is blown away by the adventure it has been and still is to serve so many clients living in/traveling from:

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Maine: Augusta, Bangor, Bar Harbor, Belfast, Blue Hill, Boothbay, Bradford, Brunswick, Cambridge, Camden, Caribou, Charleston, Damariscotta, Deer Isle, Dover-Foxcroft, Eastport, Eddington, Ellsworth, Howland, Machias, Mount Desert, Orono, Orrington, Pembroke, Portland, Presque Isle, Rockland, Rockport, Saco, Southwest Harbor, Swans Island, Waldoboro, Waterville, Winterport

 

Alaska: Anchorage, Kodiak

Connecticut: Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury 

Massachusetts: Boston, Worcester, Salem, Springfield 

New Hampshire: Concord, Lebanon, Manchester, Portsmouth 

Nevada: Las Vegas

New York: New York City

Texas: Fort Worth, Houston

Vermont: Burlington, Greensboro, Montpelier

Washington: Seattle

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Canada: Amherst, Nova Scotia; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; New Brunswick

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We look forward to the list continuing to grow as Ao Luxe grows! Thank you for making that possible by being part of the Ao Luxe family.

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​"I long for people to feel as passionately as I do about themselves and the space around them. 

Life is precious, beautiful, joyful and tragic. 

Experience it. Embrace it. "

-Wiggy (Ao)

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