As a beauty professional what are you supposed to do with this time? Rather than get depressed or sit at home catching up on that ever-building Netflix queue, we feel that there are several ways that you can be smart and use this downtime to further your career and set yourself up for success when this craziness finally ends.  With the right focus, you can actually emerge from this time ready to grow your business aggressively. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to spend your time while your salon is closed.

Educate Yourself

The beauty industry we have chosen to work in is a craft and an art. The tools we use are only secondary to the techniques and skills we develop as artists. This time is perfect for you to not only brush up on your skills but to learn new ones. What better way to utilize this time than to expand your menu of services?

Constantly expanding upon your service offerings is a surefire way to open yourself up to a larger market. But more than just expanding your clientele or adding on yet another service to your menu, as you increase your knowledge and craft you can continue to raise your prices. The more areas of expertise you have under your belt, the more valuable you are as a beauty consultant for your clients.

At LashDip, we take education very seriously. We are constantly educating ourselves not only on techniques but on different chemical and manufacturing advances that might improve our products for LashDip artists. In an effort to help propel your career during this downtime we’ve actually put together a “Get Started” package. Our training and key tools and supplies have never been more affordable and if you have been on the fence about learning how to do custom lashing, now is your chance to get started and you can’t use the “I don’t have time” excuse anymore!

If you’re interested in learning more about our new “Get Started Package”, click here to watch sample video clips and see about what’s included.

Step Up Your Social Media Game

We get it, it’s hard to consistently post on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok, and whatever other new platform emerges. We know that you understand posting and being an active voice on all the online communities is integral to your business thriving but it’s just too much. Between taking care of your clients, keeping your schedule organized and having some semblance of a life who has time to update social channels?

But now, when salons are closed and your phone isn’t ringing with people scheduling and rescheduling their appointments you finally have time to get on top of your social media game.

Not only can you post regularly with your newfound free time, but you can also schedule the next 12 months of posts so that you are ahead of the curve for when things get back to normal. There are tons of tools online to help you schedule your posts effectively. Facebook creator studio has the ability to schedule posts on both Facebook and Instagram but you can also look at other services like Hootsuite which offers some more advance scheduling and organization tools for your feeds.

If you can spend just a couple hours a day scheduling fifty posts where one was dropped per day you could have nearly an entire calendar year scheduled in just a week. Using this method you’ll always have at least one post going on every single day of the year and you would be more active than 99.9% of beauty professionals in your area.

If you need help figuring out exactly what to post, just do a quick google search for “social media content calendar” and you’ll find tons of social media blogs that have prompts and holiday calendars that will make it super easy to get your calendar in order.

Don’t forget, while people aren’t going out during this crazy time we’re living through, they still want to look their best. If you are feeling up to it, now is the perfect time to make videos on how people can do their own hair, make-up, lashes at home. Giving people good advice will establish you as an authority figure in their minds and if you make the video fun and entertaining it’s sure to spread amongst friends and introduce you to potential new clients.

Build Your Online Network

One thing that people don’t tend to do enough of is outreach. When it comes to marketing on a shoe-string budget, nothing can be more powerful than having connections to social media influencers who have their own following. If you don’t have a dozen social media influencers you have a real connection with then it’s time to stretch out those networking muscles and start building those connections.

There is no shortage of influencers out there today. Everyone is trying to become an influencer so they can cash in on those lucrative endorsement deals. As a result, there are a ton of micro-influencers who might have a following of 10,000-30,000 followers who aren’t quite at the level where they’re being courted by big brands but still have an engaged and active audience.

These people are perfect for beauty artists trying to build their network. The way to reach out to them is to give them something first. So if you’re great at writing, offer to write them a blog for their followers, if you’re close enough to them to offer a free beauty service give that a try, if they’re big fans of brownies and you make a mean batch – try sending them a pan with a fun message written in icing on top. Keep in mind that they have what you want so you have to provide some kind of value to them to get their attention, but once you do you can build a relationship with them just like you would with any other friend.

When trying to build relationships from scratch it’s good to keep organized. We recommend keeping a google spreadsheet open with 20-30 influencers you are trying to get in touch with and keeping tabs on when you tried to contact them so that you don’t let any outreach efforts slip through the cracks.

Conclusion

Just because you don’t have a salon at your disposal doesn’t mean that your business has to stop. Using this downtime wisely can be like a forced boot camp for marketing your business. With a little focus, some smart planning, and some elbow grease you can come out of this time ready for your business to thrive in ways that would never be possible without having all this extra time on your hands.

To prevent this from happening, you should give your lashes the extra TLC that they need. As you care for your extensions, you should pay attention to the factors that cause the adhesive on custom lashes to weaken. The main factors that cause weakening of your lash extension adhesive are high temperature and humidity.

What should you know about humidity and its effect on lash extensions? Basically, you only need to know about the effects humidity has when it’s both too low and too high.

1. Humidity too low

When the humidity is too low, the curing speed of the adhesive slows, resulting in:

• Adjacent lashes sticking to one another
• An increase in adverse reactions
• Leaning or slipping of lashes
• Blooming

2. Humidity too high

When humidity is too high, on the other hand, the curing of the adhesive speeds up, resulting in:

• “Curing” of the adhesive beads, producing a clumpy or rough look
• Poor attachment of the lash extensions
• Blooming

What can you do to combat extreme humidity conditions when using lash adhesive?

You should use a lashes application environment system while working in a well-ventilated room. Be sure to work at a humidity range of 45 – 60 %. You can always use a humidifier or de-humidifier to add or reduce humidity as required.

Here are some extra tips to keep the adhesive of your lash extensions in an optimal condition.

1. Store the adhesive in an appropriate place

The lash extension adhesive should be kept in a cool, dark place. In addition to that, you should use the adhesive in a stable environment. Temperature fluctuations, high temperature, or high humidity can affect the adhesion and viscosity of the adhesive.  The optimal humidity for lash extension adhesive is between 45% – 60%. The ideal temperature is between 64-77 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’ll order the adhesive online, you can leave a note for the delivery person to place the package under a shade. That way, you won’t use an adhesive that won’t hold the extensions in place for as long as needed.

2. Moisturize your lashes

Obviously you can’t control the weather, but you can try to reduce the effect of adverse weather on your lashes. One of the best countermeasures you can take is to moisturize your lashes to prevent them from becoming brittle. You, however, should avoid using moisturizers that contain glycerin, oil, or wax. Such moisturizers are known to loosen the bonds, causing the lash extensions to fall off. You should, instead, get special serums made for lashes with extensions.

3. Rinse lashes after swimming

Saltwater and chlorine can reduce the lifespan of your lash extensions. For this reason, you should rinse your lashes with fresh water after a swim in the ocean or pool. You should pat the lashes dry, rather than rub them. You can then use a mascara wand to brush through the lashes.

4. Maintain regular fills

You should not wait until you start losing your lash extensions prematurely. In that light, you should make the effort to visit your salon for fills as regularly as possible. This will go a long way towards ensuring that your lash extensions remain in supreme condition for an extended period.  Such experts will not only refill the extension but also check the health of your natural lashes to ensure that there is no problem.

5. Eat healthily

Having a healthy body is one of the best ways to ensure that your hair, skin, and eyelashes are also healthy. You should, therefore, resolve to take enough vitamins and minerals, either as supplements or through your food.  One of the main minerals that promote nail and hair growth is silicon. You should also include vitamins A, B, C, and E in your diet, for stronger and healthier lashes. It’s highly advisable that you consult a doctor or nutritionist to get advice about how you should include the minerals and vitamins in your diet, as well as the right dosages.

In Summary

Even though humidity can cause adverse effects on the health and strength of your lash extension adhesive, you are not helpless. As you know by now, there is a lot you can do to ensure that the adhesive remains in place. So long as you pay enough attention to your lash extension adhesive, it should keep your inserts or extensions looking good for as long as intended.

In fact, research shows that eyelash extensions are among the most popular pre-wedding beauty treatments. Although life without eyelash extensions is still good, life with them is great.
Here’s a punch list of good advice on how to get the best eyelash look for your big day.

1. Conduct Thorough Research

Researching everything you want to do is always a good idea. Whether you are planning to buy products, or hire eyelash extension services, doing your research correctly to find out what you really want is essential as it saves you time and money.

Appropriate application of bridal eyelash extensions is crucial. An improper application may negatively affect your natural lashes, and cause them to weaken and break. Therefore, you need to ensure everything is done right and for that to happen, research is adamant to helping you achieve that goal.

Don’t just research the products, also research the person who will be applying the lashes for you. Read up on the reviews they have online, look at their social channels, and really dig into their work history to see if they are a good fit for you.

2. Have Options

Having options is also very important. For instance, cluster lashes that are applied in groups of three can last for two weeks, and applying them is very quick. Applying cluster lashes is actually faster compared to applying other lash extensions. Therefore, that is something you definitely need to consider to ensure that you do the right thing at the right time. Since getting lash extensions before the wedding day is abrupt, you should consider applying lashes that are fast and easy to put up and long-lasting.

3. Avoid Oil-Based Products

When it comes to applying eyelash extensions, you need to ensure that you completely avoid using oil-based products. Facial cleansers, oils, and makeup removers should be kept away from your lash extensions. The reason being, that oil-based products can cause damage to the lash glue and also cause the extensions to fall out prematurely. Make sure you consult with your lash artist to see what products will and won’t play nicely with your lashes.

Not all eyelash extensions are created equal. LashDip, for example, is known as being one of the lowest maintenance extensions out there. Once they’ve been applied by a professional it’s as easy as swiping moisture off the lashes with a supplied fan brush and you’re good to go – but if you decide to go in another direction, make sure to consult with your artist on what kind of maintenance your lashes require because some are quite extensive.

4. Understand the different types of lashes

There are three versions of lash extensions, namely:

1. Synthetic lashes
2. Silk lashes
3. Mink lashes

The three versions of lashes above all vary in price and quality. Synthetic lash extensions are suitable for people with healthy, thick and natural lashes. Silk and Mink lash extensions are ideal for people with thin and delicate natural lashes – or people who simply want the best, softest lashes available that feel like your natural lashes.

5. Customize

Bridal eyelash extensions can also be customized. You can customize the length and fullness according to your preferences. However, since a lot of extensions come in different lengths as well as fullness, you have the option of choosing whether you want the long and sparse ones or extensions that are full of volume and short. It all depends on what you believe would look good on you.

The lash professional handling them for you will be able to tell you how long your natural lashes will be able to handle the extensions. Look for a professional who has before and after photos of the lashes that they apply to clients. That will give you an idea of how you’ll look once you get the lash extensions.

6. Careful how you sleep

Once you get the lash extensions, don’t sleep on the front side before the wedding day since that can damage the lashes. The lash application process with LashDip is a bit more resilient to this so it might not be as big of an issue with LashDip but it’s still a good idea to take extra precautions if it’s your wedding day.

However, in case you forget and find yourself having slept on the front, you can run a clean mascara brush gently on top of the lash extensions with some brands or with LashDip, just using that supplied fan brush that your artists gives you should be enough to get the trick done.

Conclusion

Bridal eyelash extensions are lots of fun since they are one of the best ways to help you glow and bring out beauty on your wedding day. Of course, keep in mind that your wedding photos are forever so if you decide to go something that is on trend this year but might fade out realize those pictures might also feel dated down the line. You can definitely have a timeless, beautiful look with lash inserts or extensions and when it comes to your wedding day that is usually the best approach.

1. Don’t compromise on your professionalism

Your clients are walking billboard advertisements for your service. When you have a client you’ve done work on that looks incredible she is your best source for generating new business. She’ll have a glow about her, confidence and, of course, her lashes will look amazing. Of course, if she wants something that isn’t quite right for her face that will end up being a poor reflection of you as a lash artist and won’t exactly drum up the business you’re looking for in the long run. It’s important to try to convince your client to pick an eyelash style that’s right for her. It can sometimes be helpful to keep photos of poor eyelash choices to show them to your clients and why they do and don’t work on certain people’s faces.

2. Lay the facts down on the table

Take a few minutes with your client and explain to her what the best eyelashes are for her and which ones are not in a friendly manner. Let her understand why you are dismissing her choice and picking a different eyelash. Talk about the shape of her face, her general appearance as a person and educate her a little on how to choose the right style. In addition to photos and magazine cut outs, you can also use a computer or Smartphone to show her other examples. If you’re tech-savvy you might even be able to prepare some sample lashes and digitally try them on with something like photoshop – much like plastic surgeons do for their clients.

3. Refer her to another professional lash artist

Getting a second opinion from another professional lash artist may soften her stand. Some of your clients will come convinced that a particular eyelash will make her look as beautiful as it does on someone else. What some don’t understand is that everyone has a style that works for them and they’re taking into account their style in relation to the lashes they want. If another lash artist lets your client understand she is picking the wrong choice for her eyes, she might realize she is wrong and change her eyelash selection. It’s a bit of peer pressure, but in the end, it’s really for her own good as sometimes people need a little adjustment in the taste department.

4. Avoid the need to be right

Being a professional lash artist who knows which eyelash will fit best for particular eyes and which one will not, you might be tempted to prove to your client that you know what you are doing. If you find that your client will not take anything but the eyelash she has chosen, to avoid creating an unnecessary argument, it’s best to just give in to what she wants. Maybe after a few days, she will come back for a replacement or apologize for not listening to your advice. However, engaging in an argument might hurt your client, and she might not come back for the service. This should be the last option when you are certain that there will be no other way to handle your client…and arguing and getting defensive with a client should NEVER be an option of course. The quickest way to drive customers away from you as an artist is to get a reputation as being rude.

Remember, you are the professional, not your client. Part of your work is to advise your clients on which eyelashes are best for them. The important thing is not to give your clients what they want, but what is best for them.

In a survey conducted by CoverGirl, it revealed that 50% of women prefer mascara if they could only use one makeup product. However, having eyelash extensions can virtually eliminate the need for mascara altogether. Here is what to expect from a lash extension application.

1. You Will Have to Keep Your Eyes Closed for an Extended Amount of Time

Getting an eyelash extension is a great thing. However, you have to be prepared to keep your eyes closed for an extended period of time. Some eyelash extension services take several hours but at LashDip our extensions or inserts usually take less than an hour which make it a much more tolerable process. The great thing about keeping your eyes closed for extended periods of time though is that you’re used to it – after all you go to sleep every night. In fact, during LashDip services it’s not uncommon that our clients fall asleep on the table and magically wake up with jaw-dropping lashes.

2. There are Different Designs

You should note that eyelash extension designs are different. There are plenty of options to choose from, and lashes come in various lengths, curls, and thickness. The best thing to do is let the expert handling the lash extensions to study your lashes well and help them decide the design that will be suitable for you. A considerable advantage of the lash extension application is that there are plenty of colors to choose from, and this provides you with the option of selecting your favorite color if you’re in the mood for something fun and different.

3. Know The Maintenance Regimen

LashDip lashes are quite low maintenance. Often times a quick swipe with the orange mini fan brush that the LashDip artists supply to their clients is all that’s needed – but that’s not true for all eyelash extensions. In fact, there are many different products on the market that require some serious maintenance. Some products even come with a list of rules of what you can and can’t do and products you can and can’t use in conjunction with your lash extensions.

Whatever lash extensions you decide to get, be sure to thoroughly go over what the maintenance regimen is with your artist before leaving the service so you are adequately prepared. Also, it’s important to note that as your natural lashes grow in, your eyelash extensions will fall out. Extensions are designed this way intentionally so that your natural lashes are not damaged. You should never rip or tear your extensions out yourself, just let them grow out naturally.

4. Lash Extensions Can Be Addictive

Once you begin the lash extension application journey, you are bound to get addicted. In fact, you will regret why it took you so long to give lash inserts a shot. Especially if you use a system with low maintenance like LashDip, you’ll come to recognize your face with longer lashes and that will become part of your identity. Lash extensions typically last for about two to four weeks. After the two to four week period and you see the lash inserts have wholly fallen off, you can get them filled in again. Alternatively you can make more frequent appointments to do touch ups and fill-ins.

Bonus Tips

• Here are some great bonus tips to help you when you get a lash extension application.
• You can easily customize lash extensions to look real.
• The good thing about lash inserts is that there is no evidence shows that they can affect the length of your natural lashes.
• The longer it takes for you to fill them again, the more lashes you will need to replace them.
• A good lash expert should be able to take the shape of your face, the bone structure, and natural lashes into consideration to make sure everything is done correctly.

Conclusion

Lash inserts are a great option to consider if you are looking for a glamorous look. However, just like everything else, you always have to make sure they are done right.

Create a Business Plan

To ensure any business you do is successful, you need to have a clear goal in mind. That is what your business aims to achieve. Your business plan should detail your pricing strategy. Do not let the price be too low or too high. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when starting out in lashing is undercharging. Custom lashing is a premium service and lowering your price not only cheapens your own talents but throws off people’s perception of the skill level and devalues the marketplace.

Also, you only have so many hours in a day so the easiest way to make more money in a service business is to ensure that you are getting paid what you feel you are worth. Of course, you can start a bit lower to build your portfolio but know that your clients will resist heavy price jumps so be sure to tell your clients that you are offering a new promotional rate for your opening, otherwise they will always expect to pay the lower rate.

While the overhead costs of opening a lash business can be pretty low, there might be a need for you to get a loan or investors involved. This holds especially true if you plan to rent retail space to run your business. In this case, your business plan will definitely need to be in writing so you can present it to financial institutions or potential investors.

Choosing your location

Before you begin searching for the right location to set up your lash business, you ought to have a clear picture of the current and future state of your business. Although this process may be tedious and time-consuming, you ought to give it the attention it requires. You should note that most business mistakes may be corrected at a later stage, but a bad location may be impossible to repair. These are some of the factors to consider when choosing a suitable location for your lash business.

Style of Operation

Do you want your lash business to be elegant and formal or more casual? Remember that your location must be consistent with your image or style. Certain areas like Beverly Hills will cost more to rent but also command a higher price point because of the clientele and impression customers have of the area.

Demographics

In this case, you have to think about your customers and their proximity to the chosen location. Also, you should consider the local community and whether it matches your ideal customer profile.

Foot Traffic

For a traditional store that sells lashing service, foot traffic is quite important. You do not want to get tucked in a corner where your potential customers will not see your storefront. Start by monitoring foot traffic outside a given location at various times. In so doing, you will determine whether your traffic suits your needs.

Accessibility and Parking

There is a need to take into account the accessibility of your business location. If you set up your business on a busy street, is it easy for the cars to access the shop? Other things like restroom availability or disability accommodations might factor into your choices.

Getting The Best Training

Business training offers an opportunity to expand your knowledge. Before you launch your lash business, you should undertake appropriate training. Obviously there are a lot of systems out there for custom lashing but we are quite partial to the LashDip culture. Our philosophy is that nothing beats quality. LashDip is the legacy brand that started the custom lash industry and has years of experience and knowledge on how to perform the best lashing service in the world. When you give your customers the best it is hard for them to accept anything less and repeat business becomes more predictable.

Marketing

Marketing is quite important for your lash business. That is because it allows you to maintain long-lasting relationships with your potential customers. It is not something done once; rather, it is a strategy that is ongoing and can help your business to flourish. Your marketing strategy should be engaging and reflect the brand you have established for yourself in the marketplace. If you’re a fun, energetic stylist your branding should look and feel fun and energetic. If, on the other hand, your style is more high fashion and exclusive your branding should reflect that tone.

Use Social Media

Nearly every person is using social media. You can use different social media platforms to get your brand out. The truth is that social media can be a useful tool in attracting potential customers to your business. Use before-and-after pictures as they offer the best look at your products and allow others to know what to expect. Also, you can post live videos to create excitement and entice viewers to seek your services and products.

Google My Business

First, you should note that listing your local business in Google My Business is free. Most people searching for eyelashes online have local intent. That means they are interested in getting products in their vicinity. All lash artists depend on the local consumer traffic and for people who are searching on Google, the first place almost all of them look is to the local profiles for local lash artists. Google My Business displays important information about your business that includes your hours, photos, directions, reviews and descriptions of your services.

Allow Customer Reviews

You can tell your customers to post reviews and their experiences after using your eyelash extensions. The good thing about reviews is that they can increase sales when used correctly. That is because they offer people a reason to try your services and products. Moreover, they build trust between your business and its customers. In addition to Google reviews you could encourage your customers to leave reviews on Yelp and Facebook. While there are a ton of review platforms online we’ve found that Google is probably most important for local businesses followed by Yelp and then Facebook – everything else is somewhat irrelevant at the time of this writing.

The good news is, thanks to the internet, today, you shouldn’t need to struggle so hard to find new clients. Social media has become the most popular platform in the world. You can use social media as a tool to reach out to many people with as little as a single post. If you are active on any social media platform, chances are you have come across businesses marketing their products and services there.

You, too, can do the same for your lash business. Today we’re going to be giving you 5 helpful tips on how to promote your lash work on social media.

Why Social Media?

Before we get to the specifics, you are probably wondering why social media and not other platforms. Well, there are several answers to this question. One thing you need to know is that social media has tons of potential new customers! Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have millions of users and many of them are highly interested in beauty products and services.
This huge database, if targeted correctly, can reach many potential viewers and convert them into loyal customers. All you have to do is showcase your work and advertise. Another reason why you should choose social media to promote your lash work is that it is affordable.

Advertising on TV, Radio, and print is expensive. With social media, you don’t even need to spend a single dollar if you’re smart about how to connect with your audience. You can open an account for your lash business, get followers, and start promoting your lash work. Even if you do decide to spend a little money on your social media efforts, it is far cheaper than traditional advertising or even things like Google Pay-Per-Click.

Now that you fully understand why social media is an excellent place for you to promote your business, let’s get to the tips you can use to ensure you are successful.

1. Post Before and After Photos

We all know that getting lashes makes us look gorgeous and adorable. But, online, the proof is in the photo! When it comes to marketing, you need to arouse desire from your audience. And this is where before and after lash photos come in.

Before and after photos allows you to create a spark amongst potential clients. They put themselves in the shoes of the person in the picture and imagine how great they would look after getting a new set of lashes.

To do this, you will need to work with your current clients. Before you fix lashes on them, ask to take a photo before the process and then take another picture after. Post it on your social media accounts and you should start to see some reactions come in from your group.

Another pro tip – ask if you can tag your client in the photo. What this does is tap into their friend circle. Suddenly, your beautiful work is now being exposed to their entire social circle without any of them ever having to like your post. You’re essentially getting exposure to their entire social circle for free.

2. Post Live Videos of You Offering The Service

When promoting your lash business on social media, the content you post matters a lot. For instance, when you share live videos of you offering these services, it creates excitement amongst viewers. At the same time, viewers get to understand the process of having lashes and learn a new thing or two. At the end of the video, you can always put a call to action, asking viewers to make an appointment.

Of course, not everyone is going to be open to having their service posted live on Facebook so make sure to find the right client with an open mind. If you’re having a hard time finding someone, remember that you can always offer a discount or even a free service in exchange for the marketing. If you do offer the service for free we recommend that you pick someone with a large social media following or social circle so that at the very least you’re getting more exposure than someone who isn’t active online.

3. Spice Up Your Content

As you brace yourself to start promoting your lash work online, you need to be prepared for competition. It is for this particular reason that you need to be keen on your content. It needs to be spiced up so that it draws the attention of viewers. You can achieve this by using high-quality graphics and good lighting.
You might be tempted to use a lot of filters, but we strongly advise against this. The online world is quite ‘woke’, and they can easily spot an exaggerated filter from a mile away. Stick to taking shots of lashes from different angles and asking your model to pose accordingly.

If you’re going to be taking photos on a regular basis, which we highly recommend, you should consider investing in a simple lighting kit that would work with your phone or camera. Ring lights and softboxes are both great tools for beauty shots and can be found for a modest investment on amazon, ebay, and other places online.

The other benefit of having these lights on hand is that you can take beauty shots of your customers that they will love to share since they’ll look a lot more professional.

4. Interact

Unlike other marketing tools, social media is quite interactive. You can use this to your advantage and build better relationships with your clients. You can do this by creating personalized messages and responding positively to your client’s feedback.

Don’t just resort to posting photos of your work constantly, ask your audience a question. Consider posting photos of lash services gone wrong by amateurs or funny photos related to beauty.

Anything to stir up a conversation. The second someone comments on a post or photo they become infinitely more engaged. Try to inspire dialogue.

5. Use Hashtags and Influencers If Possible

Through hashtags, clients can easily find your business and know the services you offer. For instance, under your posts, you can use your location hashtag as well as that of the type of lashes available. Don’t forget to make your lash social media page public so that everyone can view your brand.

If hashtags don’t bring in the desired number of clients, influencers can help make you more popular. The downside is that you will have to pay them for their services. If your budget allows it, influencers can really get your business out there.

One way to try to make sure that using influencers is a win-win is to try to negotiate what’s called a cost-per-action or a CPA instead of a flat-rate fee. The way this works is that instead of paying the influencer a flat fee to post something about your service, you would pay them per reservation or call to your business. In order to set this up appropriately, you’ll probably have to use a digital service that can track these numbers but if the influencer has a large local following this could net them more revenue for their efforts and ensure that you never pay them without results

The Bottom Line

Social media is the cheapest, quickest, and easiest marketing tool that you can use to promote your lash work. Setting up a profile for your business only takes a few minutes. Although it may take some time to establish dominance and command a huge following, at the end of the day, you will attract more clients to your business and having an active social media following can be your number one source of new business.

Here are some of the main tips on how to grow your lash business:

1. Partner with Related Businesses

If you are looking to grow your business while helping others at the same time, then partner with related businesses like photographers and wedding planners. Most brides are always looking for the perfect eyelashes for their big day. They would trust you more when recommend by their wedding planner. Photographers, on the other hand, are always looking for models to build their portfolio. The great thing about partnering with photographers is that they often want dramatic looks that work great for promoting your services across social channels.
These professionals will showcase your work to several people. All you have to do is deliver on what you promise to ensure repeat clients.

2. Teach your Clients about eyelashes

Clients are an essential factor in business growth. If you are looking to grow your lash business, you have to create a reliable client retention strategy. Customer retention ensures business success by saving on the cost of acquiring new ones and increasing profits. According to Forbes, the cost of acquiring a new client is five times costlier than retaining existing ones.
One of the best ways to ensure client retention is by teaching them about eyelashes. Let them know the different types of eyelashes and which ones suit them best. Also, teach your clients how to care for their lashes properly. The more the eyelashes stay in top condition, the better the clients appreciate your work and will be willing to come back repeatedly.

3. Offer Several Payment Options

One of the ways to improve customer experience in your lash business is by offering several payment options. While some lash artists and other beauty professionals still take cash only, being able to pay by credit card is becoming more and more of a necessity. You might also consider having subscription options where clients pay a discounted rate monthly to get their lashes done regularly.

Whatever payment processor you decide to use it should be reliable, and affordable. There are some credit card companies that charge a ridiculous amount of money just for the privilege to use their services. We recommend going with a processor that has a flat rate (usually somewhere around 3%) otherwise you’ll end up with a mountain of statements where each card has a different rate and you’ll never really know what they’re charging you.

4. Get Social

Social media is a powerful platform for promoting your business and getting new clients. Use the tool to follow up on clients and provide them tips on keeping their lashes. Following up on the clients lets them know that you care about them and is another way to ensure repeat business.
Create a social media strategy to promote your lash business to help you gain new clients. Some of the ways to promote your business in social media include; creating exclusive promotions for social media, sharing useful lash tips, and encouraging your clients to share their pictures of their lashes.

5. Multiple Marketing & Publicity Endeavors

Lash business is highly competitive. You need a good marketing strategy these days to edge out your competition. When still in the infancy stage, consider providing some free sessions or subsidized charges for new clients. While it might seem expensive, you are more likely to gain repeat clients when the first session goes well and costs them nothing or a discounted rate. Also, discounted and free sessions are ones where clients are more than happy to help you advertise so take advantage of their social circle by asking them to post and tag your place and leave you a 5 star review on Google and/or Yelp.

You might also consider encouraging more client referrals by creating a special discount for those who bring others to your salon.
Another idea would be to consider sponsoring a college event or a charity drive as a way of reaching out to potential clients. This is less costly compared to mainstream advertising.

6. Offer Superior Services

No matter how much you apply these tips, it is of no use if you offer low-quality eyelashes services. Everything about your services should be top-notch. Start by setting up an excellent environment within your space. The place should be clean, quiet, and peaceful for the best experience during the session. Also, employ highly qualified and competent staff if you plan on having other team members.

Of course, it goes without saying but if you’re not already part of the LashDip culture we invite you to explore our products and system. We are the legacy brand in custom lashing that started it all and stand by the quality of our products. Our system is preferred by celebrity stylists all over the world.

Conclusion

Lash business is a highly competitive market. It would be best if you had the best marketing, social media, and service delivery strategies to grow. Implementing these tips will help you gain and retain clients as you create lasting relationships.

Lash extensions are among the most controversial aspects of beauty that have long stirred hot conversations within the beauty sector for years now. Today we’re going over the top 5 myths about lash extensions and debunking some false ideas you might have in your head about the process.
Before we start it’s important to specify exactly what lash extensions are in case you are not familiar with the process. Unlike gluing a strip of lashes on your lash line, lash extensions is the process of hand-inserting the lashes one by one into the lash line. The lashes can be made to look natural or super glam, all depending on the type of extensions you select.

1. Eyelash Extension Ruin Your Natural Lashes

This is actually the number one myth surrounding lash extension. It’s believed that lash extension makes your natural eyelashes fall out on their own and which is ultimately false. Usually, eyelashes are just like any other body hair, and for that, they naturally shed within a given cycle. Your lashes are bound to shed regularly to create room for new ones whether you apply lash extensions or not. The truth is that lash extensions are perfectly safe for your natural lashes as they actually complement your natural lashes.

Through the use of premium products as well-trained lash technicians lash extensions should never interfere with your natural lashes. Professional lash technicians, like LashDip artists, understand the nature of the lash line and use quality products and expert techniques to make sure that the extensions never interfere with a client’s natural lash growth.

2. Lash Extensions Hurt and are Uncomfortable

Secondly, it’s believed that lash extensions hurt and are uncomfortable. The truth is that the process of applying lash extension doesn’t hurt at all when done by a professional. Every LashDip artists who’s been performing services for some time can attest that they’ve had at least a few clients fall asleep during the service. Actually, the whole process of applying lash extension is very relaxing, and you can even enjoy a ‘lash nap.’ Again, blinking while you have your lash extensions on doesn’t cause any form of discomfort.
There might be some cheaper products out there made from hard materials, but if you’re using a quality, silk-like lash product like LashDip, then the extensions shouldn’t even be felt after they are applied.

3. Lash Extensions Make Your Lashes Shorter and Weaker

Again, this is just a myth. The truth is that, while applying for your lash extensions, your natural eyelashes have the chance to shed as well grow given the fact that they are separated from the lash extensions during the application process. Once you remove your lash extensions, its normal to feel like your natural lashes have grown shorter as well stumpy, but in reality they are not shorter, you’ve just grown accustomed to seeing your beautiful extensions over time.

If you have your lash extensions for a longer time, then this is bound to happen, but you need not to worry since your eyelashes are perfectly healthy and retain their original length after shedding the extensions. Importantly, while LashDip lashes can shed naturally, some people opt to have the lashes removed. If you do have the lashes removed we recommend doing it with a professional as pulling out your own extensions might result in you inadvertently pulling out your own natural eyelashes if you are not careful.

4. You Can’t Wash Your Lash Extensions

This is also another common misconception about lash extensions that you shouldn’t wet your eyelashes since water damages them and makes them weak. This is actually not true. While we can’t speak for every lash extension product on the market, LashDip lashes are impervious to water and you can shower, swim and do everything with your lashes on that you would normally do. In fact, washing your face as well eyes is quite crucial as it helps get rid of any dirt, sebum as well makeup which could easily cause some form of infections. Again, washing your lash extensions will only make your lashes much healthier as well clean.

5. Lash Extensions Last A While

This is actually false. Truly, there is no standardized set of rules regarding how long lash extensions are supposed to last; nonetheless, high-quality eyelashes are meant to last for about 2-3 weeks. Just like natural lashes, lash extensions shed one-by-one within a span of 2-3 weeks, and for that, they will require a retouch to make them acquire their fullness thickness as well glam.
Would it be possible to make lash extensions last longer? Not really. Making lash extensions last longer than just a few weeks would require preventing natural lash growth with dangerous materials and that would be detrimental to the client’s natural lashes. Much like hair extensions, lashes have to be allowed to shed as natural growth comes in.

Wrapping it all up

Lash extensions don’t have to be a controversial part of beauty anymore. They are painless, harmless, and increase the overall appearance of a face quite a bit. In addition to being a fun, an easy service, custom lashes have little to no maintenance when done by a qualified LashDip artist and can really improve self-confidence in clients.