We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alysa Rodriguez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alysa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

What I love about the beauty industry is how much support, love and creativity goes into our businesses! As lash artists our job is to make people feel even more beautiful than they already are! I feel as though many of us take our work extremely seriously for the passion of what we love doing! Me especially!

However, to those who are not as passionate or do it for the money, they do not elevate the same experience to their clientele, which sucks! I have seen so many horror stories of unprofessional lash artists and not delivering what they promised! I, as a lash artist worked so hard to make sure my work is perfect, everyone leaves happy and in love with their self as well as their lashes!

At first it was hard work, but lashing almost came easy to me, like it was meant for me. The thing that differentiates me from other lash artists is my ability to connect with my clients and know exactly what they are looking for! I follow by what I call the “3 P’s”: I am passionate, professional and personable!

My love for lashes is so big I am always asking for models to do lashes for free to better my craft and simply because I love them! The passion is what seriously drives me even when it gets hard, another reason I separate myself from the lash artists who give up on their business or after they make mistakes!

Alysa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those that do not know me, just know one day you will! I first got into lashes back in 2020, during COVID, I was trying to sell lash strips and searched for vendors and was making different brand names. Honestly it was a nightmare, now that I go back on it because I wasn’t sure what I really wanted.

All I knew is that I loved the beauty industry and I wanted to be my own boss. Once I moved out I started researching different areas of business and one day I saw my friend with lashes (shoutout to her!) but they weren’t the ones you glue on. I was mesmerized! I didn’t know there were business women starting their own lash businesses!

After witnessing this, I tried lash extensions for myself, to better understand the process and I fell in love! From then, it took off and I saved money to learn and take courses, I watched non stop youtube videos, read up on lashing techniques. Once I took my course, it was the best experience and I felt like I found my purpose that day. I lashed so easily, like I did it before. Of course, it was hard and I was way slower at first but I was happy to be doing it correct and loving it! I stuck with it since then. I even took a second course to better my skills and learn from others.

As a full time, working college student, and business owner it definitely was hard to balance a job, school and a business. I had to discipline myself and make time for my appointments. I would stay up late nights to work on clients and do homework. Of course it’s not easy in the beginning and sometimes balancing now as I am still in school it gets hard, but I go back to why I started and I fall in love every time I get a new client. By practicing and taking new courses I am now able to create beautiful lashes!

Services I offer and specialize in are: Classic, Hybrid, Volume and Mega Volume lashes. I have 2 Certifications in lashing and a certification in Volume/Mega Volume Lashes. I am also certified in bottom lashes and love decorating with color and glitter!
Decorating lashes are my favorite, especially for big events like weddings, birthdays, parties, etc.

The problem in this industry is a lot of lash artists do not know their worth or price way above/below their skillset. So to correct this problem I make all my Classic Hybrid and Volume lashes the same set price, affordable but I also very much know my worth. Add ons are different prices but still priced well. With this I consistently throw deals and discounts monthly and/or weekly even because I love my clients! Honestly, throwing deals does not lose me money because I know my worth and what I am offering. It is not always about the money, as long as I hit profit goals and don’t lose anything. All business owners know loyal clients are the best clients to have!

Another addition that separates me from others is I am a travel technician! I love traveling to new places and lashing new clients, it expands my brand and my mind by meeting new places and people! It’s always an adventure with travel lashing and I know I will grow even more with this additional offer some lash technicians do not have. I lash in the comfort of others homes, for those clients who do not necessarily have the time to go to a salon or see me, or don’t feel comfortable with traveling.

The thing I am most proud of is staying consistent and knowing where I want to be. I also see and believe in my vision! I do things in favor of my clients because they mean the most to me. Trusting me and continuing to see me is what makes me happy along with my work, I love being bragged about and I just want them to know I have so much more in store for them as well as major plans for the future!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Let’s start with this. Nothing is free and everything you want, you have to work hard for, especially in business. I started lashing by working waitress jobs and having two jobs to pick up the slack to pay school and bills. It was never easy!

I definitely had moments where I wanted to give up and wanted to stop, but I am SO glad I didn’t! I stacked so much money and invested it right back into myself and my lashing business. I had to get serious about what I really wanted. I didn’t have help when starting this business, and I am proud to say I did it all on my own and I put the work in. It shows me I can do anything I want in this life.

After earning and saving money I finally had enough to cover a deposit for my first lash course and the course itself.
Need be, it was the best feeling ever. After seeing this and what it could do for me I continued to invest in myself. By taking more courses, purchasing new materials to make my clients happier. It was all worth it!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I honestly had no idea what I was doing when I first started with social media or how big my presence impacted others and my business. People loved seeing me! They loved seeing what I was doing and where I was going. I started out as an influencer and I still continue this journey! Being an influencer on Tiktok and Instagram helped my business majorly! I also was a business woman on campus, in between classes I would introduce myself to others, handed out business cards, candy and even discounts! I dressed the part, executed and put myself out there!

Growing my social media came easy to me because I was consistent and was being myself. Showing my face online helped me become more personable with my followers and clients. I was so scared and shy to put myself out there but once I slowly saw myself and my followers rising, it was a surreal experience! Now I continue to stay consistent, work with brands and further promote my own brand.

My advice to those who want to build a major social media presence is: Never stop being yourself and promoting what you believe in! Even if you don’t have the large audience, know you WILL get there by seeing it through and believing what you have. Work, practice and put content out there people will engage in and love to see!

However, NEVER stop promoting yourself and/or your business, because only then have you failed, by not telling people about your craft or by being yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aluxur.square.site/?fbclid=PAAaY-DaVKck-4bfj6uUiW-MJkXkTVRZNvgnpwlNUBCiCjleqDrw9E_N6K6as
• Instagram: @shordielys / @aluxur.co
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rodaly

Image Credits
Alysa Rodriguez