Today we’d like to introduce you to Nhi Kieu.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been a licensed esthetician for almost ten years now, and honestly, the journey has looked nothing like I expected — which I think is the best way it could have gone.
I started building my career in Houston, where I spent the better part of a decade growing a clientele I truly loved. Lash and brow work became my specialty, and over time I developed a real passion for the precision and artistry behind it. But a couple of years ago, life brought me to Dallas — and leaving behind a fully established clientele to start over from scratch in a new city was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done professionally.
What I didn’t anticipate was how much I would fall in love with serving central Dallas. And even more than that — how much Dallas would show up for me. The support I’ve received here genuinely moved me. Clients found me, trusted me, and kept coming back, and I built a steady, loyal clientele far faster than I ever imagined possible when I first arrived not knowing anyone.
Lashes ETC. Beauty Bar is a space where I could bring everything I’d spent a decade perfecting and offer it to the Central Dallas community. I wanted to create something that reflected both the craft and the care I put into every single appointment.
I’m still a little in awe that I get to do this work, in this city, with the clients I have now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road — and I think anyone who’s built something from scratch would say the same.
The expected challenges were all there: building trust with a brand new audience, establishing credibility in a market where no one knew my name yet, and the financial uncertainty that comes with starting over. When you leave behind a full book of clients, you’re essentially rebuilding your entire livelihood from zero, and that pressure is very real.
But one of the more specific challenges I faced was finding the right studio space. I moved through a few different spaces before landing where I am now — and that process taught me a lot. Not every environment reflects the experience you want to create for your clients, and I knew early on that the space itself matters. The atmosphere, the location, the energy of it — all of that is part of the service. So I was intentional about not settling until it felt right for both me and the people sitting in my chair.
Moving to a new city also meant navigating all of that without the built-in network I had in Houston. No word-of-mouth foundation, no familiar faces — just starting from the ground up and hoping the work would speak for itself. Fortunately, it did. But it took patience, consistency, and more than a few uncomfortable moments of uncertainty.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a licensed and certified Master Lash & Brow Designer with over nine years of experience, specializing in Korean lash lifts and customized luxury lash extensions — along with elevated brow services including brow lamination, brow sculpt and tint, and lash and brow botox.
My signature focus is the Korean lash lift — a refined technique that delivers a clean, effortlessly polished look while keeping your natural lashes healthy. It’s become something I’m genuinely known for, and it requires a level of precision that I take a lot of pride in.
What sets me apart is the intentionality behind every appointment. Nothing I do is one-size-fits-all. Every service is mapped to the individual — their features, their lifestyle, their aesthetic. Clients come in and feel the difference: it’s calm, refined, and completely personal. I’m not trying to be the busiest studio in Dallas — I’m focused on being the most intentional one.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The lash and brow industry has evolved so much even in the nine years I’ve been in it, and I think the next decade is going to push even further in the direction of skin health, natural enhancement, and personalization.
Clients are becoming more educated. They’re asking better questions, paying attention to ingredients, and prioritizing the long-term health of their natural lashes and brows over dramatic results. I think that shift is only going to deepen — and honestly, it’s a shift I welcome because it aligns with how I’ve always approached my work.
I also think the era of high-volume, assembly-line beauty services is starting to lose its appeal. People are moving toward experiences that feel intentional and personal, and that’s creating real space for independent specialists who do fewer things but do them exceptionally well.
For me personally, that’s exactly the kind of business I’m building — staying small, staying intentional, and continuing to grow the right clientele here in Dallas. I’m not chasing scale. I’m chasing quality, and I think the industry is slowly catching up to that philosophy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lashesetc.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashesetcetera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lashesetcbeautybar
- Other: https://share.google/rAhYnle6sEIiYTRmP
