In a small West Hollywood studio, Emmett Preciado finds solace lying on a massage table under the expert care of Leola Davis.
As Davis applies soapy water to the faint red lines along Preciado’s chest, the atmosphere transforms into a healing altar where intimate connections flourish.
Davis, a queer licensed aesthetician, specializes in facial treatments and post-surgery aftercare for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Her hands often serve as the first gentle touch on a client’s chest after surgery, with a goal of fostering love and care in a safe space.
“It’s extremely intimate,” Davis explains, highlighting the trust that is an integral part of her practice.
Comfortably dressed in black sweats and a T-shirt, Davis embodies a casual professionalism that allows her to navigate her workspace easily.
Her baseball cap in trans pride colors makes a bold statement as it reads, “Protect trans kids.”
Davis, 40, describes herself as a late bloomer in the skincare industry, having transitioned from a bookseller role in Seattle to a sought-after aesthetician in Los Angeles.
Her journey began in 2019 when a facial treatment fundamentally changed her perspective on beauty and skincare.
Realizing that many in her community—including queer individuals, trans folks, and people of color—had never experienced facials, Davis was motivated to pursue aesthetician school in December 2019.
She founded Pansy Esthetics in 2021, with a focus on making her services accessible to those often left out of mainstream beauty conversations.
“This industry is geared so much towards white, cis, thin women,” she points out, marking a significant gap in representation.
Through her education, Davis concentrated on acne treatment knowledge, which she soon discovered could also benefit clients healing from gender-affirming surgeries, such as facial feminization and chest masculinization.
Her dedication led her to utilize specialized products created by Danné Montague-King, a cosmetic chemist whose line addresses hyperpigmentation—an issue many transgender individuals face post-surgery.
Despite her advances, Davis encountered difficulties in finding instructional resources for treating clients who had undergone gender-affirming surgery, particularly for those with darker skin tones.
She notes, “You can’t use certain types of lasers on darker skin,” emphasizing the necessity for ongoing education within the aesthetic community.
As her business blossomed, she established a clientele of about 20 individuals per week, each session often lasting two hours.
Davis also saw the need for education and began offering courses to fellow aestheticians on how to properly treat transgender clients, filling a critical void in the industry.
One of her regular clients, Preciado, is a model and actor known for roles in shows like “Good Trouble.”
He seeks out Davis’ expertise to fade the pigmentation from his decade-old top surgery scars and to address keloids from a skin graft taken during his phalloplasty in 2019.
Preciado shares his positive experiences with innovative treatments from Davis, noting that the results have been remarkable.
“The DMK alkaline washes have been so effective,” he remarks, expressing appreciation for the care he receives in a safe and affirming environment.
“I want to feel safe going into a men’s locker room or bathroom shirtless,” he emphasizes, considering the cultural climate surrounding transgender visibility and rights today.
Davis reflects on the significance of her role amid rising anti-trans legislation and public sentiment, recognizing a greater purpose in her work.
Working at Salon Republic, a space filled with pride flags and other queer businesses, has created a supportive environment for her and her clients.
Preciado feels comfortable and relaxed while receiving treatment, appreciating the lack of judgment often found in more conventional, high-end skincare destinations.
“I love being able to come into this place and just feel like I am taken care of,” he says, noting the sense of safety he finds at Pansy Esthetics.
While Davis acknowledges the economic barriers her services can present—each session typically costs $300—she makes an effort to accommodate as many clients as possible.
She customizes treatment plans for individuals, offers payment plans, and occasionally engages in trades for services, such as accepting homemade meals from a client in exchange for treatments.
Davis recounts a time when she faced financial struggles after a knee surgery, revealing how the community rallied around her through a GoFundMe, allowing her to raise $10,000 in just a week.
With aspirations to expand her business, she envisions a med spa specifically for queer and trans people, where comprehensive care will be readily available.
In this ideal space, she imagines trans women receiving electrolysis and trans men finding services tailored to their unique experiences.
“It’s important that they don’t have to worry about being treated poorly,” Davis emphasizes, underscoring her mission for inclusivity.
The relationships fostered in her studio lend depth to her work, allowing her to not only assist in healing others but also address deeper aspects of her own identity.
“I’m helping to heal people’s scars but I’m also healing a deep part of myself,” Davis states, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the trust she builds with her clients.
Through shared secrets and stories of resilience, Davis finds meaning in her role as an aesthetician, affirming the human connections that make her work invaluable.
“I feel deep gratitude that I’m a part of people’s journeys,” she reflects.
Davis recognizes the stigmas surrounding trans bodies and infuses tenderness into her practice, offering a nurturing touch that counters the negativity often attached to those narratives.
“To have someone who is touching you and loving you and caring for you as you are is really important,” she concludes, reinforced in her belief that her work is fundamentally about community, support, and healing.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2025-06-05/la-leola-davis-pansy-esthetics-aesthetician-lgbtq-gender-affirming-scar-care-west-hollywood
