Beauty and Bentley

I've mentioned before on this blog that I also work as a lash artist and I've been wanting to create some content around this for a while so I thought I'd start with the basics and give you some pros and cons for anyone who's considering training to become a lash artist.

Let's get the bad stuff out the way with first!

Cons

You can work from home - This is going in the pros and cons list, the reason it can be seen as a con is that you are inviting strangers into your home which can be quite intimidating it also means your house needs to be clean and tidy all the time or at least any time you have clients and you'll also need a dedicated space to work from.

It can be difficult to have a good work/life balance - If you work for yourself and especially from your own home it can be difficult to switch off from work mode and actually take a time out. You'll find you never want to turn away potential clients and because you can set your own hours you can end up working into the night with almost no breaks.

No set wage - This is a big one, when working for yourself as a lash artist you'll have no way of guaranteeing your wage each month, you will have quiet periods when you aren't making as much money, especially when you're first starting out so it's important to have some savings aside for a rainy day.

You'll need to deal with difficult clients - When you work for yourself you're the one that will need to deal with complaints, people showing up late or not at all and occasionally people that are just plain rude. This can be difficult and sometime it will knock your confidence but it's all part of being a business owner and there are policies you can put in place to minimise any issues.

Takes a toll on the body - You'll find yourself getting a sore back, neck and hands if you don't take care of your body, I recommend taking up some kind of yoga or stretching to prevent injuries as lashing can be physically exhausting which many people probably wouldn't think of.

Now let's get positive!

Pros

Be your own boss - Most of us have worked for someone awful in our lifetime and dreamed of being our own boss well becoming a lash artist can give you that freedom you always dreamed of. You are the boss and you can take your business in whatever direction you choose, maybe you're content being self-employed and working or alone or maybe you want to own several salons and have a team of lash artists working under you, the possibilities are endless.

Make your own hours - As the boss, you can decide when you want to work and how often, I mentioned in the cons that it can be difficult to have a good work/life balance so you need to be disciplined, when it's your day off don't back down and book in that one girl looking for a last-minute appointment. In the beginning, it's a little different as you want to get as many clients through your door as possible but as you grow you need to set boundaries and have a set working schedule.

Set your own prices - Yes you won't have a set income but you can set your own prices and make as much money as you like, it's all about how much you value yourself and how much work you put in to build your business.

Can work from home - As I've already mentioned this made it into both the pros and cons list, the benefits are you'll have no travelling and no rent to pay (other than the rent/mortgage you already pay), it can be very expensive to rent space in a salon so working from home can be a great option it really just depends on your lifestyle and if you are renting your home you'll need to make sure you get permission from your landlord to run a business from the property.

Startup costs are low - In terms of starting your own business becoming a lash artist is fairly inexpensive, after your training the essentials that you need to pick up like a massage table can be pretty cheap depending on where you buy from and as the business grows you can upgrade everything.

My final pro is that you get to be creative and make people feel good about themselves, it's amazing being able to give someone that extra bit of confidence and see them walk out of your doors that little bit happier!

I've created an ebook all about how to become a successful lash artist, it's got advice on how to get clients, social media and some practical advice on mapping, eye styling and layering, click here if you want to check it out or get some more information! Note: this ebook does not teach you how to apply eyelash extensions, it's aimed at new lash artists looking to learn more!