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

Hi Madeline, thanks for joining us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I was starting over in the beauty industry, my first step would have been not to listen to anyone that says, “You cannot make money in the beauty industry.” When I was in high school, around junior-senior year you had to come up with your entire future and what we planned on making our career. I was so interested in hair, make-up, skincare, etc. But, not one person I knew was going to cosmetology school or esthetician school, so I just assumed it wouldn’t be beneficial to me and I wouldn’t go far. So, if starting over meant I would do what I love a few years faster, and not base my choices on everyone else’s, then I would 100% start over today. The beauty industry has evolved so much and there is so many different things you can do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My full name is Madeline, but I like to go by Maddie! I live with my boyfriend and my dog named Mally, in our first home! My favorite color and business color is pink! My hobbies include weightlifting and lashing. Lashing may be my job but I truly enjoy every aspect of it!

About 6 years ago, I went to my best friends lash appointment and was telling her lash artist that I was super interested in learning and wanted to know all the ins and outs. I only asked a few questions so, of course I had to go home and do some more research. After learning more about lashing, I searched lash extensions training near me and found a few programs that were in my price range and the rest was history! Now I’ve been lashing for about 5 years!
I’m actually certified in a few services but I only provide a few for my clients. I offer all three lash sets, classic, hybrid, and volume. I’m also certified in microblading, henna brows and just recently started spray tanning, but haven’t included these in my services yet!
Providing these services to clients allow me to help them feel their best self day in and day out. I think what sets me apart from others is I genuinely want you to enjoy everything about each service I do. I’m confident in my work as a lash artist, but I always make sure to ask my clients if it’s exactly what they want! The lash industry is very saturated and they are inventing anything and everything to make lashes better and better every day. I always try to provide my clients with the latest techniques and systems to make their lashes even better than before!

I am most proud of the past 2 years I have had within my lashing career. Change is very difficult for me and I was definitely scared to make lashing my full time career. I was working two different jobs and lashing on the side and finally decided to take the leap and work for myself! I left 2 part time jobs, picked up all my lash stuff and went to a completely new salon with a completely new atmosphere. For someone that may not be a lot, but for me it was one of the biggest steps I’ve made my whole life! Within this year I have set multiple goals for myself and my business, and even though it’s a lot of work, I’m proud of everything I have accomplished.

Most of my clients have been with me for over two years and they have become more than just clients. I enjoy talking to all of my clients and learning new things about them each and every appointment. Some may even say your lash artist can also be your lash therapist. I strive to have each and every person who walks into my lash room to have the best experience and to always feel comfortable!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When I first started working, I was only working part time while I was in school full time. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to achieve while in school, but I just thought it was what I needed to do to be successful. When I started becoming interested in lashes, I eventually left school since I knew this was what I wanted to start. At first I only lashed family and friends because I became discouraged and thought there was no way I was going to achieve my goal. After so many sets when I started to feel more confident, I started asking friends and family for small amounts of money for my services. Of course everyone was so supportive and believed in me more than I could imagine. I practiced and practiced and about a year in I decided to take my first job offer at my first salon! I learned so much from other co-workers and thought this was going to be the start of something great! Unfortunately, a few months in to my new job is when the pandemic happened, so my lashing was put to a halt. After the pandemic, I received another job offer at a salon that moved me even farther into my career. I started to learn other services, and slowly realized that lashing was truly the only thing I was interested in.
My next step was to find a place or salon that allowed me to do lashes and only lashes. A year after being at my second salon, I reached my final destination. I am now in a salon suite and I’m surrounded by the best most uplifting people I know. Even though I had a few set backs in my lash career, I truly would never give up to be where I am today.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lesson I had to unlearn and even at a young age, is that you can’t always be perfect. My mom always tells me, even to this day you can only do your best. Starting this career has made me a perfectionist in every way. I always want my clients to be totally honest with me and their services.
I need to understand that not everyone is going to love the way I do lashes and not everyone is going to love me as a person. The clients I do have not only love the way I do their lashes but they also enjoy my company as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vagaro.com/lashmebymk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashmebymk?igshid=Ism%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: www.lifewithmk.com