Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bryana Taliaferro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bryana, appreciate you joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful to me is to be consistent. Being consistent with something only allows you to get better at it.

I’ve started my business 5 years ago & I swear I’ve only been successful because I haven’t stopped. I haven’t taken a break – I just kept practicing & posting until it became a routine.

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

My name is Bryana Taliaferro & I’m the owner of Be Illuminated. We are currently an eyelash extension brand but we’ll e transitioning into a spa in Summer 2023. I fell in love with the beauty industry through lashing so, I decided to go to esthetician school to further my career & add more services for my clients.

When I first began my journey as an entrepreneur/ lash artist I had no idea what it would be. I just knew I didn’t like my current job & I hated what I was in college for. I needed something different something that I didn’t dread doing everyday. Lashing became therapeutic for me & gave me a way to express myself nonverbally. I believe I’m different from other artists because I look at this as an art. It’s so much more than just applying extensions to a client. You have to know what style will be best for their eye shape, & what curls to mix to give the set texture & fullness.

I’m most proud of the fact that I have a consistent clientele who rides for me. I’ve worked from my parents house, hair salons, shared spaces with other artists, & they still booked me every single month. They showed up, & they didn’t complain. They love my work & our vibe & that alone makes me so happy. Over the years I’ve created a safe space for my clients to be able to be who they are & share what they want. It’s hard being a woman let alone a black woman so, sometimes you just want to feel comfortable enough to be that.

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

I think what helped me build my reputation in the beauty industry is my customer service. I’ve worked in retail for 4 years prior to beginning my business so I have a background in customer service. How you take care of your clients is how they’ll take care of you.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for building clientele is post on your social media daily. Instagram & TikTok are your best friends. You want to post, use hashtags & popular sounds. You also can build clientele by giving your clients a percentage off of services every time someone books & uses their name. This strategy got me so many clients I can’t even make it up.

I started lashing November 19, 2017 by February 2018 I had quit my job & was lashing full time because that’s how many clients I had.

Contact Info:

• Website: beilluminated.as.me
• Instagram: @BeIlluminatedd