Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Anderson.
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Emily Anderson, I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I am 31 years old. I have been living in the Dallas area since 2017. I have always had a passion for the beauty industry since I was a child. Makeup, hair, nails, lash extensions you name it, I knew about it. It wasn’t until 3 years ago I really decided to take a dive into the beauty industry and begin my career as a Lash Artist. I attended and graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a minor in Psychology with the hopes that I could find my passion and financial stability. While attending college I worked in the service industry. Hooters, fine dining restaurants, nightclubs, you name it I have worked it. Although I really enjoyed the freedom and money that came with serving, it wasn’t igniting my fire or providing true financial stability. I was making more money serving and never really moved forward with my original plan to find a 9-5 job in criminology. I always knew I wanted to leave New Mexico for a bigger metropolitan area. In March of 2017, I moved to the Dallas area. I still had no idea what I wanted to do as far as a career, but I definitely knew I wanted to work for myself. I was amazed at the number of individuals killing it in the beauty industry here. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue my career in the beauty industry. I explored a couple of different options, including makeup artistry and aesthetics. Ultimately, my love and passion for lash extensions lead me to become a lash artist. I have worn lash extensions for the past 5 years and watched the industry expand. I am a strong believer that lash extensions can be a game-changer in a woman’s life. I finally took the first step and enrolled in Dallas Lash Academy in January 2020 to pursue my lash license. It wasn’t long after I enrolled that the pandemic hit. Luckily, I was able to continue my education virtually and get the hours needed to complete my license requirements. As you can imagine it was difficult to start a new career path in a pandemic, especially something so hands-on. I really had to push myself. I completed the program and passed my state exam in August of 2020. The remainder of 2020 I practiced lashes on whoever I could get my hands on. In January 2021 I officially opened Lash Throne and began taking clients. Lash Throne just celebrated its 1-year anniversary and has brought a new meaning to my life. I am able to connect with women from all ages and backgrounds and give them the confidence every woman deserves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but being an entrepreneur it’s never a smooth road. The pandemic presented unique and difficult challenges. Once I made the decision to pursue lashing and start my training the pandemic hit. Being on lockdown for several months was the main challenge. One of the most efficient ways you can improve your work as a Lash Artist is practicing on live models. The pandemic shut that all the way down for a period of time. It would have been pretty easy to become discouraged and quit but I persevered and was determined to find ways to practice. It was during that time I really had to look within and practice every single way possible without a live model.
The second challenge was financial. I have a wonderful fiancé and 2 beautiful stepchildren. It was definitely a challenge to build my business and continue to take care of our family’s needs during the pandemic. I knew if I just kept at it, I would ultimately achieve my goal and build my business.
The third challenge was time management. It is a daily challenge to juggle my business needs with my family’s needs as well as my needs. Structuring my business in a way that allows me to balance other areas of my life is essential to my overall success and satisfaction.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I provide luxury lash extensions for women of all ages. Lashing is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ sort of service. I specialize in creating lash sets that complement my client’s natural beauty and lifestyle. Currently, I specialize in classic, hybrid, and volume lash sets, while at the same time developing my skill and knowledge in mega volume sets. I hope I’m known for my integrity and professionalism as a businesswoman as well as my commitment to providing every client with a look they love. I am known for my clean work and the fact that I won’t jeopardize the health of your natural lashes.
I’m proud of the fact that I’ve overcome some pretty significant challenges in my life and in starting my business. In 2006 I lost my dad to Kidney cancer. We were very close and it was the hardest thing I have ever experienced. After the loss of my farther, I experienced some of the hardest times of my life. These times taught me that I can overcome anything. I am proud I have never given up in life even though there were times I could have. I am proud of myself for never giving up in my lash journey even if I couldn’t see the end result. I’m proud of the fact that my business has steadily grown each month over the past year. I’m proud and grateful for all the new and loyal clients. I’m also proud of the personal growth that has come along with this whole process. There are a lot of skilled lash artists out there and I love seeing the work they do. Clearly, to be successful you have to provide excellent service and artistry. That’s what I strive for with each and every set I create. I am known for my determination. I will keep practicing and learning until I get it right. With practice comes mastery, confidence, and success. I learned this at a young age from being a competitive gymnast.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I believe that in order to be successful you have to take risks and step out of your comfort zone. It was a risk to move to another state. It was a risk to go in a whole other career direction than what I originally planned. It was a risk to start a hands-on business during a global pandemic. Real growth comes from risk-taking.
I knew with my level of determination I could achieve the level of success that I always dreamt of. All of these risks took me out of my comfort zone. It was extremely uncomfortable but I knew that meant I was on the right track towards building my career and business.
Pricing:
- Classic Full Set $135/ 2hr Fill $70/ 2.5hr $80
- Hybrid Full Set $180/ 2hr Fill $80/ 2.5hr $90
- Volume Full Set $180/ 2hr Fill $80/ 2.5hr $90
- Mega Volume Full set $200 / 2hr Fill $100/ 2.5hr $115
- Lash Aftercare Kits: $20/ Lash Cleanser $15
Contact Info:
- Email: curlyembeauty@gmail.com
- Website: https://lashthrone1.as.me
- Instagram: @lashthrone_by_curlyem
