We recently connected with Catherine Ta and have shared our conversation below.

Catherine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Let me start off by saying, I am so appreciative and grateful of all my clients.

I say that because in April/May of 2020 that’s when Covid-19 was dominating the world. Our government had just announced that we were in a pandemic. States were on lock down and everyone was advised to stay home.

My only living grandma had unfortunately got sick with covid and was at home with hospice care. I decided that because I am not an essential worker – I closed my books and helped take care of my grandma before she passed. I didn’t want my parents, uncle or anyone else to potentially get sick from Covid.

After my grandma passed I decided to completely stop taking clients for a few months. As soon as my clients found out that I was closing for a little they were so supportive and majority of them purchased packages!

At my studio, I offer packages that include a full set and refills, or just refills. They wanted to still continue to support me during the time I was mourning my grandma but also because we were closed because of the pandemic.

I think that has to be one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. I will forever be grateful for them.

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

Thank you for having me! My name is Catherine, and I am the proud owner and lash artist behind my business, which I started at the beginning of 2016. Interestingly, my journey into this industry began unexpectedly while I was pursuing a nursing degree in school. At that time, becoming a business owner or a lash artist was far from my mind. However, as someone who had been getting eyelash extensions since 2013, I experienced a negative situation that sparked my curiosity and desire to make a difference.

I went to a lash artist whom I initially thought did a great job, but soon realized I was losing lashes within just a couple of days, which was highly abnormal. Determined to find a solution, I sought out am lovely lady named Melanie , who removed the poorly applied extensions and advised me on using a lash serum to promote regrowth. She explained that the previous artist had been gluing pre-made fans in large chunks and using excessive adhesive, resulting in the pulling out of my natural lashes and weakening them.

Motivated to ensure that others don’t face similar issues, I took it upon myself to enroll in an eyelash extension course to become a certified lash artist. Initially, my goal was to equip myself with the knowledge to ask the right questions and find fantastic lash artists for my own needs. However, as I delved into the course, I discovered a passion for the artistry and the joy it brings to clients.
Now, as a certified lash artist, I provide top-quality eyelash extension services. I take pride in crafting beautiful, natural-looking lash enhancements that not only enhance one’s beauty but also maintain the health and strength of the natural lashes. I specialize in individual lash extensions and prioritize precision and meticulousness in every application.

What sets me apart from others in this field is my dedication to client satisfaction and lash health. I prioritize the long-term well-being of my clients’ natural lashes by employing industry best practices, using high-quality products, and tailoring each application to suit their unique needs. I believe in open communication with my clients, educating them about proper aftercare and lash maintenance to ensure their extensions last and remain in optimal condition.

One of my proudest achievements is opening my first studio at Sola Salon in Rockville within just 6-8 months of starting my journey. This growth is a testament to the trust and satisfaction of my clients. Presently, my appointment book is booked solid for the next three weeks, which is incredibly fulfilling.

I want potential clients and followers to know that my brand is built on integrity, passion, and a genuine commitment to delivering exceptional results. I understand the importance of feeling confident and beautiful, and I strive to create a comfortable and relaxing environment where clients can truly unwind while their lash dreams come to life.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story, and I look forward to serving and connecting with more clients who appreciate the artistry and care that goes into every lash extension I create.

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

Building a social media audience for my business was crucial for showcasing my work, attracting clients, and establishing my brand. To do this effectively, I focused on creating high-quality content that highlights my lash extensions and the transformative effects. Consistency is key, so developing a content calendar to plan and schedule posts in advance are important.

My advice for future business owners would include:

Engaging with the your community is essential. Follow and interact with artists, clients, and beauty influencers to gain visibility and foster relationships. Utilize relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience beyond your followers, and research popular ones in the lash and beauty industry.

Collaborating with professionals in the beauty industry can expand your reach. Partner with makeup artists, hairstylists, and photographers for collaborative shoots or shout-outs, exposing your work to their followers.

Make sure to prioritize engagement with your audience by promptly responding to comments and messages, building a sense of community and trust. Encourage clients to share their experiences by tagging you and using a branded hashtag, generating user-generated content that provides social proof. Your future clients want to know who you are, show them who they are meeting.

Make it exciting by hosting giveaways and contests to boost engagement, participation, and reach. Leverage social media advertising to target a specific demographic interested in beauty and lashes. This will allow future clients to tag other future clients.

Finally, be authentic, provide value to your audience, and remain patient and consistent in your efforts. By adapting these strategies to your brand and target audience, you can gradually build a strong social media presence and attract potential clients to your eyelash extension business.

I hope this helps future business owners!

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

Establishing a strong reputation within any industry can be challenging, but I believe there are key factors that have contributed to building my reputation in the eyelash extension market. Firstly, my dedication to prioritizing the natural lash health of every client has played a significant role. I make it a point to educate each client about the importance of maintaining lash health and emphasize that I meticulously tailor lash mapping to suit their unique eye shape and natural lashes.

Secondly, word of mouth has been instrumental in boosting my reputation. Many of my clients have come through referrals from previous clients who have experienced my services or become regular clients themselves. It brings me great joy when my clients showcase my work by posting it on social media and tagging me, or when they recommend my website or Instagram page to others. This kind of organic promotion speaks volumes about the quality of my work and generates trust in my abilities.

The combination of providing personalized, lash-health-focused services and receiving positive testimonials and recommendations from satisfied clients has significantly contributed to building my reputation in the market. I believe that when people express their excitement and admiration for my work, it creates a strong impression and instills confidence in potential clients seeking exceptional eyelash extension services.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.senlashes.com
• Instagram: @ SENLASHES
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenLashes
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sen-lash-studio-rockville

Image Credits
Image Credits: @byseneca @tmfaces.studio @senlashes