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

Brittany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

I’m lucky enough to come from a lineage of badass women. By the time my grandmother was 25, she had a cosmetology license, a farm, and was selling cars. For a woman in the 70s, she was rebellious and defiant and she still is. My mom was the first female franchisee of her restaurant chain. She’s also one of very few to do it without family money, and the only one to work their way up from the literal bottom. Having these women set my example, showed me I could do anything the boys could do and I was motivated even more if someone told me I couldn’t or shouldn’t.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m not one of those people who always knew what they wanted to do. I’m actually a classically trained violinist. In 2011, I found myself on a full ride at an amazing conservatory program…and I was miserable. A year later I decided to enroll in cosmetology school. I had spent the last 11 months watching YouTube, religiously, and falling in love with beauty. By the time I graduated school, I found that my true love was makeup. The hair industry was a lot different than it is now, “specialists” weren’t a thing and I wouldn’t fall back in love with curly hair until later on in my career. My love of makeup sent me to a career in retail (Sephora, MAC, Lacôme,etc) and that was where I really thrived. I loved solving the problems of my clients. Being able to build skincare routines and teach winged liner were some of my favorite work days. I spent most of my time focusing on makeup artistry, but in my last position, I worked with a skin-centric brand and everything changed.
Working with skincare everyday taught me how much true confidence can change a person. I wanted to help in a way that didn’t rely so heavily on sales. So I opened my business. Brittany With The Brushes LLC. Using makeup to keep the bills paid, I built my skincare business and knowledge. I used the pandemic as an intense study time, and paid for every virtual class I could take, while working nights at a grocery store.
When I opened for skincare services I was terrified, but my clients trusted me and we’ve grown so much together. They’ve allowed me the honor of not just taking care of them, but their friends, family and children.
The way I run my business is completely unique. You won’t find many MUA/Curly Cut Specialist/Lash Tech/Facialist combos out there but I pride myself on being a beauty Swiss Army Knife. Having a variety of services keeps me inspired and allows my guests to explore and experiment with someone they trust. We share so much in my solo studio, my guests homes or in the photo studio. I try my best to provide a space for my people to be open and vulnerable, while still being affirmed. One of the things I believe sets me apart from others in the industry is the immense amount of respect I have for what I do. For some, it’s a set of lashes or a facial, but for me it’s the first thing someone sees when they look at you. For others, it’s just a makeup appointment, but I know it can be the confidence boost you need for one of the most important days of your life. I don’t let myself forget that.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When I was in sales I learned the lesson that BS will only get you so far. Early in my career I watched some of my coworkers stretch the true abilities of what a product could do or oversell a client just because they could. I saw them read the benefits in the short term, but I saw what it meant for the long-haul. As they were struggling day by day to make sales, I was building long-term relationships with clients. I didn’t sell my clients a bunch of things they didn’t want, I just solved their problems and got them things that they needed. So when the time came, for a big splurge or a shopping spree, I was always the one that they trusted. I took this philosophy and applied it to my business when I went solo. I am always completely honest with my clients…no matter what. I am honest about my abilities, I am up front about pricing, and I don’t ever put them at risk. It’s because of this, that word of mouth has been my most effective marketing tool. My clients know that if I can do something, I will always do it to the best of my abilities, and if I can’t do some thing, I will refer them to somebody who can. Having their trust is my greatest achievement.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When we were allowed back into the salon’s after the pandemic ban, a lot of us makeup artists were worried about the year to come. With so many gatherings and events being canceled, we knew there would be limited times for which people would want their make up done. Having already invested in a space, and in a lash extension class, I decided I needed to bring something into my business that could sustain me through a slow season. For those that aren’t familiar, lash extensions are a semi-permanent lash additive applied to each individual lash hair. Because of how they are applied, they require maintenance. Similar to the maintenance of a set of acrylic nails, every two weeks you have to get them filled. Leaning into my lash business really saved me. It created a need for my clients to come back and see me every two weeks. And since almost everyone was wearing a mask in public, it was the only beauty maintenance worth investing in since it was all anyone would see.
Since I have started lash extensions, I have built some of the closest client relationships that I have to date. Seeing them every two weeks for the better part of three years has led to a truly astounding connection. Although I won’t always have lash extensions on my menu, I don’t see a time where I won’t still be able to accommodate my lash regulars. I’m not sure if my business would’ve survived 2020 if it wasn’t for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: BrittanyWithTheBrushes.com
• Instagram: @brittanywiththebrushes
• Facebook: Brittany With The Brushes
• TikTok: BrittanyWithTheBrushes

Image Credits
Black Orchid Boudoir 33 West Studios