Get to know B&G Refinery

I first met Eric Williams, owner of B&G Refinery, at the local top salon chain he used to work at downtown. I had been going to the same esthetician for several years and when she moved away, I was nervous to work with someone new. But Eric put me at ease immediately with his extensive knowledge and calm confidence. I loved getting a chance to learn more about his business and starting his own product line.

A glamorous start

After going to a drag show for the first time at 18, Eric tried it for himself. “I fell in love with the makeup and glamour!” explains Eric. This quickly developed into an interest in becoming a professional makeup artist.

Once he completed a training program, he was hired at a local salon and had the opportunity to work with clients for both makeup and esthetics. “I discovered my skill set and interests included more than just makeup, I fell in love with skin and body care, too,” explains Eric.

He went on to work at a top salon chain for over 10 years, deciding right before the pandemic to strike out on his own and open B&G Refinery.

“I think creative types naturally want to explore and discover new things,” explains Eric. “I was able to grow in so many ways while working for that local chain, but creativity and the ability to grow as an artist or individual can easily become stifled when your focus is on fitting into a mold of what someone else’s goals look like.”

Beauty and grooming

“So many people ask, ‘What does B&G mean?’” explains Eric. “I just wanted a name that fully encompasses what’s being offered: beauty and grooming. No story, no cute taglines, just results.”

B&G Refinery’s first location was in a room inside Indie West. While it was a great place to launch his new business, it was cramped quarters for some of the services offered such as air brush spray tanning. When the opportunity came for him to grow into a new location with more square footage, he set up shop in the Gaslight Village in Kettering.

You feel a little lift just arriving at B&G. There’s ivy climbing the walls and so many flowers growing all around. Once inside, the mood is calmer and more serene with fireplace features, comfy couches, and relaxing, dimmed lighting.

“The vibe inside a salon or spa should make you want to show up early and stay a little late,” explains Eric. “A lot of attention to detail has been given to creating a relaxing atmosphere inside our shop, and we get compliments on it often!”

Looking for haircare? B&G has you covered with Aubra Frederick, who works her magic on hair and creates custom permanent jewelry for clients.

Services & Products

B&G Refinery offers a full menu of beauty and esthetics services including, but not limited to, facials, lash extensions, airbrush spray tanning, waxing, and makeup application. “I’m a sucker for instant gratification, so I really love those instant transformation services like lash extensions and lifts, brow laminations, and microblading,” explains Eric.

One of my favorite things about B&G is that I can take some of the spa experience home with me, including Eric’s line of vegan, natural face and body products as well as candles in signature aromas. The hyaluronic acid serum is probably my all time favorite.

“I was the kid who was always mixing things,” explains Eric. “I remember going into my mom’s bathroom while she wasn’t home and mixing up her body sprays like I was some mad chemist or professional perfumer, so having my own product line was bound to happen!”

How to follow in Eric’s fabulous footsteps

Eric’s advice for those daring enough to start their own beauty business? “Have a plan, but don’t let not having a plan keep you from moving forward. The one thing I regret about my business is that I didn’t start it sooner. If you wait around for the time to be perfect, it will never happen.”

He adds “When your clients are dedicated to you, your personality, and the results you deliver, that’s your foundation. Keep those relationships solid and they will support your journey. I was so humbled by just how many of my guests followed me to my new business without a second look.”

B&G Refinery

2223 Acorn Dr, Dayton, OH 45419