A Tribute to Sydell Harris

There are many ways to inspire industry-changing transformation. For Sydell Harris, she did so by leading with love. The founder of Spa Sydell, one of Atlanta’s first aesthetic med spas, Harris was more than a pioneer in the aesthetics industry—she was a beacon of self-care and forward-thinking. She introduced holistic wellness to beauty long before it became a buzzword, leaving an indelible mark on the Atlanta community and the world.

Harris’ journey into the beauty and wellness industry began with a passion for hair, nails, facials and other aesthetic services. After moving to Atlanta in the mid-1970s, Harris, alongside her husband Arthur, daughter Karen and son Richard started her first spa with just two employees in a tiny real estate office. “She was a powerhouse,” her daughter Karen Harris recalls. “None of the negatives mattered to her. My mother was an optimist.”

Despite the modest start, her vision was clear: to convince hard-working women to put themselves on their to-do list. In an era when people were still tanning with oil and smoking cigarettes, her holistic approach set her apart. “She was a huge proponent of self-care. She would look at your skin and say, ‘We need to talk about your water intake, exercise and vitamins.’ It was before anybody was doing that,” Karen reminisces.

Harris practiced the self-care she preached, and those who followed her example saw real results. The small, first-generation family business quickly grew into the renowned Spa Sydell empire with eight locations and 550 employees at its peak. “She lived it. She represented it. She looked the part. She walked the walk. She talked the talk, and therefore, there was nothing to be questioned,” adds Sherri Adair, founder of Best Self Atlanta. “It was authenticity from the core.”

Sydell’s impact wasn’t limited to her business. She was deeply committed to giving back to the community. Even once Spa Sydell had grown significantly, Harris remained personally involved in providing facials and skincare to patients and families in need at nonprofits like the Shepherd Spinal Center, Camp Sunshine and The William Breman Jewish Home. Her heart and passion for others never wavered. “It’s called love,” Karen said, explaining her mother’s unique approach to service. “If you’re really truly loving somebody, you have their best interest.” This approach was evident in the way she trained her staff and interacted with her clients. “Never do a service that isn’t exactly what’s needed,” Harris would say. 

Even as she aged, Harris continued to embody the principles she preached. She retired at 80 but remained active and engaged in her community. “In her nineties, she was out on her balcony doing stretches. She learned Tai Chi for balance,” Karen shares. Her dedication to health and wellness allowed her to live independently until her passing, a testament to the efficacy of her lifelong practices.