We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alicia Ricks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alicia below.

Alicia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea to get into the lash industry started in 2017, when lash extensions actually wasn’t as popular as it is today, I never even heard or seen lash extensions until I started seeing adds and videos pop up on Instagram during this time! The videos and pictures of women being transformed with JUST lashes really intrigued me. Yes I’ve seen what strip lashes or clusters can do to a girl’s appearance but lash extensions is a different effect.

I went to youtube university and watched lots of tutorials on the process. No I didn’t learn lashes from there fully, but I did get some what of an understanding of how lash extensions work. At the time though I was a college freshman working at Dave and Busters but I found myself researching a lot about lash extensions everyday basically. I even reached out to some local Atlanta lash trainers to get info on classes as well.

Fast forward I had to quit my job…the environment was just not for me. I applied to so many jobs and wasn’t having much luck. A friend suggested I do hair because I knew how to do my own . I was not a braider nor trying to be one but I needed money and it worked out! I still would look up and inquire about about lash classes and finally found someone to train me and she was running a training special. The discounted class was only for a limited time and I ended up not having enough money for the class when it was time. After communicating with her she decided to give me some extended time to come up with the money.

I don’t like asking anyone for anything not even family but I ended up asking my late brother to help me pay for the class and he paid the WHOLE balance. I didn’t know if I wanted this to be a full on business yet or just a side hustle but I knew it was for me to at least try when the financial obstacle worked itself out and how much I had researched and enjoyed knowing that I could enhance someone’s beauty without surgery!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Alicia Ricks most of my clients and friends know me as Leecy and I’m a lash artist and owner of Ravishing Galore based out of North Atlanta (Sandy Springs, Ga). I have been in the lash industry since 2017. I specialize in classic, hybrid, volume, and mega lash extensions.

I’m naturally a person that loves making others feel great but since becoming a lash artist the excitement I get from women feeling and looking like their best selves after a lash appointment makes me 10x even more happier. I’m not only enhancing beauty externally but also internally. Although I didn’t finish college to become a psychologist I feel like I still get to be like a therapist when my clients come in for a lash service because they also get to vent, laugh even cry if needed( before the service starts of course because we don’t want the tears to mess up the curing of the lashes) My lash space is judge free and what’s said in the lash room stays in the lash room.

I want potential clients to know that Ravishing Galore is a brand that takes pride in customer care, being professional, and makes sure that every person receives a top tier experience.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

This is actually a great question! I’ve had many moments of resilience but one of my MOST impactful journeys of resilience started in 2020. April of 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic I got into a really bad car accident where I ended up with broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and bleeding on my brain (grateful to not look like what I been through). I was so depressed and miserable the beginning of my healing journey and really wanted to give up on everything.

I had to do a lot of praying to help me get out of the mental state I was in, and thankfully the moments I couldn’t find the words to say my mom prayed with me. I ended up going to therapy and realized everything I just went through was actually a blessing in disguise. There was a bigger lesson out of my accident and it wasn’t meant for me to give up on myself nor my dreams/goals.

I wrote down a new plan for myself, talked to God about it and 9 months later after building up enough mental and physical strength I moved back to Atlanta. I’ve now been back here for a year and a half focusing on my business. I have my moments where I feel like I could be doing more but I’m learning to give myself more grace because I really have come so far and have persevered through a very traumatic situation and I’m proud of myself for that.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Being personable and having true customer care has actually been the most effective when growing my clientele. Showing how I care about my clients and being relatable and trustworthy has resulted in me getting more referrals and showing reviews has also made clients from social media want to book a lash appointment with me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Ravishing Galore
• Other: Booking Site: ravishingalore.as.me