Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Larra Utley . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Larra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
3 years ago when I first started my business the name was LashedOutbyLarra. After 3 months into lashing, I realized I wanted to provide more services than just lashes to the community and people around the world, I wanted to build a brand and a team. So after that I sat down with a group of my friends, and had a “meeting of the minds”, and a few mimosas. I started this business servicing clients from home so after a few hours of brain storming we came up with the name House of beauty Austin. To us this name reflected that this was a place where everyone could come in an unwind and feel welcomed and beautiful by the end of their visit.
Larra, 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?
Hi, everyone! I am Larra! Owner and founder of House of Beauty Austin. Voted Best Lash Tech in Austin 2021 and now this year we hold the title for Austin’s Best Salon! Over the moon excited for all of our accolades. I envisioned something like this when I started but could have never imagined I would be here in 2022 holding the title for best Salon in Austin. Start from the beginning, I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I remember at an early age having a lack of confidence in myself. I was not allowed to pamper myself or just take time for my general appearance. I felt like a plain jane and would admire those who were capable of putting that little extra in to boost their appearance. Over the years, I tried my hand in all sorts of occupations. I was a paralegal, a massage therapist, even an international realtor! I was prospering, seeing the world and doing very well for myself and my family, but something in me kept saying this isn’t my passion. Back track to my ugly duckling days so to speak. I would always tell my friends and family that I wanted to go to beauty school so that I could learn the fundamentals when it came to making myself look pretty and this was usually met with laughter followed by them saying, “How can you do someone else’s hair and you don’t even know how to do your own?” At the time this really discouraged me from pursuing my dreams of being a cosmetologist. So if someone would have told me 20 years ago I would be featured in not one but two magazines, Winner of Best Lash Tech in Austin, voted Best Salon in Austin and writing about my career journey, I would have thought they had lost their mind.
Feels like I climbed the highest mountains to finally follow my adolescent dreams but I will give you the short version. In 2019 I took a lash course for $200, and ended up bawling my eyes out feeling that it was a complete waste of my time and money. The Real estate company I was affiliated with had taken a turn for the worse, and at that point I had to decide which path was going to lead me towards my purpose. With the unsteady market and the uncertainty of my future in real estate, I used my down time to learn lash techniques through YouTube, Facebook groups, my fellow peeps and by practicing on a mannequin anytime possible. Late at night, for weeks my husband would even fall victim to my newfound obsession with getting it right in time to meet my deadline to start taking on clients. God bless his big ol’ heart.
Lash certificate in hand, I opened up a lash salon in my home that same year. Some months I’d have 3 clients, and others I’d have 30, but what I realized was that I absolutely loved being a lash artist, and had discovered my passion. Now I needed to get my license and become official. December 2019 I began esthetician school at Aveda Institute. Three days a week, nearly 12 hours each day. Then I would rush home and lash two clients. On my off time from school I would work on up to seven clients a day. Forward to 6 months later and I was the first in my class to finish my hours and graduate and the second to pass my tests on the first try!
The pandemic was not going to stop me! It slowed down the process but in August I became licensed. Then the hunt began for my future salon in January and I was fortunate enough to find the perfect location by February. My team and I or I should say, my wonderful husband, my two very handsome boys, and a few of my close clients sprung into action and renovated the suite all in time for the grand opening on April 10th.
Now this salon not only provides services for making women and men feel and look their best but also serves now as a training facility and mentorship for men and women who want to learn to lash and/or other techniques offered at House of Beauty Austin. I am very proud to have created a safe space for other women, a place where they can feel comfortable and leave feeling content, and that every client that walks out our door looks and feels amazing. We love what we do, it is our passion! At House of Beauty Austin we offer Lash Extensions, Facials, Body Sculpting, Teeth Whitening, Tooth Gems, and Yoni Steaming.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’m grateful for the bumps along the way. I had officially completed one appointment after receiving my license before everything converted to online. The pandemic hit, creating a major obstacle for my start up. I had to quickly restrategize my business plan, and again ended up practicing on my husband and kids. Fortunately I was able to find useful online classes from my peers and close friends in the industry. I left a six figure job to do lashes, and that weighed heavy on me when things didn’t progress as quickly as I thought they would. I set my expectations for myself very high and had to make adjustments and venture out into areas that far surpassed just simply being an esthetician. Through the many obstacles presented on this journey before it even began, my dedication, my want to provide excellent service, perseverance and overall tenacious spirit lead me to my purpose.
I love what I do, and it shows and I’ve developed a team with the same love, and dedication for our clients that made House of Beauty Austin what it is today. I am so lucky to have found a career that I love so much. “House of Beauty Austin” is exuding positive change into the world—one face at a time.
Aside from our wonderful and loyal clients we are extremely thrilled to offer hands on training to the next generation of lash technicians! We Empower our students to prosper in a flexible field and we offer new lash tech classes every month. There is no need to Google “lash classes near me!” You have found the experts at House of Beauty Austin.
Being an esthetician isn’t only about giving lashes and facial treatments and selling skin care products, it’s about helping create change from the outside, in.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others? I love what I do, and it shows. At House of Beauty Austin we offer Lash Extension, Facials, Body Sculpting, Teeth Whitening, Tooth Gems, and Yoni Steaming. We are known for our diverse menu.
We’re thrilled to train the next generation of lash technicians through hands-on training and lash classes near you! We Empower our students to become their own boss in a flexible field with lash tech classes that are available every month. No need to Google “lash classes near me!” You’ve already found the experts at House of Beauty Austin.
I am so lucky that I have found a career that I love so much. I really am doing my part to create positive change in the world—one face at a time. I love to share my knowledge and help others. Being an esthetician isn’t only about giving lashes and facial treatments and selling skin care products, it’s about helping create change and therefore lives.
With all of the reasons to love this profession, it’s no wonder I did a Google search one day on jobs and ‘esthetician’ came up as having one of the highest job satisfaction rates!
I have truly enjoyed every minute of my career as an esthetician, and I feel like I’m just getting warmed up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofbeautyaustin.com
- Instagram: Houseofbeautyaustin
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/lashoutbylarra/
- Yelp: House Of Beauty Austin
Image Credits
team photo with staff Ig: dpixphotos