“Work + Dedication = Perfection”
People always say that life is a series of challenges. Just like in the lash industry, you need to challenge yourself to max out your lash business.
In Episode 2 of The Lash Podcast, hosted by our CEO Sam Clancy, lash artist, Fiona McNeil, joins us to talk about her lash journey through the years and how she rose among the challenges of lash competitions.
Fiona started as a mentor in a tutorial page on Facebook, then was suddenly asked to judge a lash competition without any experience of actually doing competitions—none, at all! She judged the competition and then decided to started pushing herself outside of her comfort zone and actually competing in them!
Lashing is all about artistry. It requires a lot of practice and dedication to be a good lash artist. You need to push yourself to your limits. It is not always stars and rainbows. You always have to be more and to do more.
In the lash industry, competitions—especially online competitions, are great opportunities to progress yourself as an artist. It will help you improve and step up your lash game. According to Fiona, it is important to know the rules during competitions. One missing link could result in points lost and losing out on a competition!
It is also important to pick the right model. No, not just the pretty looks, babe! Ideally, you should choose someone you can trust and that will help you during the competition. Throughout the day, you might get out of the zone, but your model will help you to get back in.
Invigorate how you feel about your career. It is hard to be good at doing something you do not like. It is important to know that this is what your heart truly wants and then concentrate and be the best at what you are doing. Surround yourself with positive affirmations. You are an artist, babe. Just be confident and do your best.
To lash everything up, lash competitions are a journey. It is about being among the best of the best. You need to focus and to get in the zone. Always remember, if your symmetry and your fanning is not going right, just let go. Take a break. Take a breath. Look around. And get back in! 😉
]]>“Be coachable.”
Every single day is another chance to learn. Infection control expert, Emily Lee, joined us on The Lash Podcast (www.instagram.com/thelashpodcast) to tell us about different practices in the lash industry and how these affect the artist and the client’s health and safety.
Just like other aestheticians, Emily did not know any better back in the day. She admits that she was not the perfect lash artist. And even the protocols that were taught to her years ago were quite unsophisticated compared to now. But her focus shifted in just a single blow—when a situation arose where a client had chlamydia in her eye after a lash treatment😬
It was the turning point of Emily’s career. Since then, she “accidentally”—as she describes her journey—became part of the health and safety sector of the lash industry. She realized that as a lash artist, it is important to think about what she was doing and question what she was taught.
The lash industry has changed so much. There are a lot of practices that have dramatically changed as our industry has grown. As time went by, Emily observed that everybody she meets want to do better. People do want to know the right protocols. People want to be safe. But there are a few important things to note. During training, according to Emily, it is important to be coachable. A student must always be willing to learn. How are we even supposed to grow if we are not allowing ourselves to be watered with proper knowledge?
Emily also tackled the importance of having quality service. Always remember this lovelies: Higher prices does not always mean lower profit. Yes, you got it right! It does not matter if you rate your services high. As long as you are at a higher standard than what you are expected to be, then you are good to go! Also, it is important to not aim for quick-money services! Tools, disinfectants and other lash supplies to do a good job and keep you and your clients safe are pricey, so price your services accordingly!
It all comes back to awareness. Be patient with the process of learning. Remember that when you know better, you do better. It will not always be a smooth ride, but the work and attention to infection control will make everything worth it in the end. Do not be afraid to learn something new, get the hang of it, and then ask yourself, “how can I do this better?”
To find Emily, go to http://www.instagram.com/beautypromedia
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