Behind the Business: Su Chu of Sisterhood 613


Su Chu, owner of Sisterhood 613, poses in her salon with her dog Mickey. Photo by Anthonia Bejide.

Leaving a successful business to start over and pare down might seem like an odd decision, but for master brow and lash artist Su Chu, it made perfect sense.

Su owned and operated Her Beauty & Lash Lounge on Sparks, and in 2018 she decided she wanted to make a change. “The duties and responsibilities were taking away from what I love to do,” she said.

The number of services being offered was expanding, and Su’s role as owner required her to focus more on the business side of the salon, which ate up time she enjoyed spending working directly with clients.

When she left Her Beauty, said Su, she had an “influx” of clients who sought her out organically. In response to client demand, Su decided to open up a pop-up salon in Westboro Village to start providing services, and the project was such a success that she realized she had an opportunity to start fresh in that neighbourhood.

“It was what my clients wanted and needed from me,” she said, adding that the Westboro Village’s walkable nature and access to conveniences like free parking made the area an attractive one.

The pared-down nature of the work with less to manage on the business side provided Su back the time and energy to focus on what she loved most: providing the actual services to clients.

She knew that continuing to provide brow and lash services was important. “I absolutely always wanted to continue doing this kind of work. It’s my passion—I just love it. I love doing lashes, I love aesthetics, and brow tattooing. These are things that really interest me.”

One reason Su said she missed the one-on-one work with clients was the quality time and connection they would share together.

She said that opening Sisterhood 613 in Westboro Village would allow her to combine her love of her craft and the ability to prioritize client relationships.

“It’s a one-on-one studio. You know that when you’re booking you’re getting in with me, and I’m giving you one hundred per cent of my time. That’s why I named it Sisterhood 613. We spend time with each other, we connect, we share stories. And it’s personal.”

That reverence for relationships extends back to Su’s entry into esthetics. She said her mother Amy, who has worked in the beauty industry “forever,” showed Su the ropes.

Su Chu poses with her mother, Amy. Photo courtesy of Su Chu.

Though she was reluctant at first to learn her mother’s craft, Su said eventually she started to help out and realized she loved it.

“We spent a lot of time together,” she said. “I would meet her before the work day, we’d have breakfast together every day. And then we’d do our big long day together, have dinner together, and then I’d go off back home.”

“It was a lot of collaboration and fun times,” said Su. “These are really great memories that I got to share with my mom.”

Su said Sisterhood 613 lets her practice her work her way. “I just love to run it on my own terms, and I know what I’m capable of,” she said. “So I know what I can put out there.”

“I can literally put my name behind all the services that I offer!” she added.

You can find Su Chu and Sisterhood 613 on their website, Facebook and Instagram!


Westboro Village
Business Improvement Area
203-290 Picton Ave
Ottawa Ontario K1Z 8P8

613-729-8145
INFO@WESTBOROVILLAGE.COM