We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nalina Paschal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nalina , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
OK, to start it all off the month is December the year 2021. I had just given birth to my identical twin girls, and not to mention I am two months postpartum. I just started my new position as Supervisor for front desk staff at an out patient clinic. Life at the time was moving crazy for me but I’m built for this so it was a rollercoaster I was ready for. The job itself put me in leadership position so from that angle I learned so many things that would help me later on down the road. However the Job itself was draining me. I was not kindly welcomed into this new position. I went through so much torment, bulling, harassment, etc that it really started to pull me into a deep depression. I started to see the things I once prayed started to make me so sad. And started to look at my life what was I doing wrong? I felt like I conquered the world when I had my twin girls, they’re happy they’re thriving, I’m at a point now where I finally got a position and I’m making more money than I did in the last nine months, and I’m only two months out from having my children. So I started to ask myself what can I do for me? What will bring me some type of happiness even if it’s a small piece. I’ve always loved anything beauty related. And I felt like me falling into this postpartum depression allowed me to lean on that. I went on Instagram one day and I looked up local lash technicians in my city. I scrolled until I found this one beautiful girl, her work is amazing, and I felt like just looking at her Instagram page you could feel like she really loved her craft. So I booked an appointment almost immediately. And Little did I know that one appointment would change my entire life. The night before my appointment, I said a prayer. I asked God to send me something that would help me distract myself from this postpartum depression, I asked him to send me a village of people that would pull me out out of my mind when I fell too deep in, and lastly, I asked him to lead me on the path that he thinks that I should be on. I made sure to thank him for giving me everything that I had and everything that I’ve ever needed. I went to that appointment and I met my lash tech Faith. It’s almost like we always knew each other. We just instantly connected. We had so many things in common, so many of the same views, being in her shop and in that space just felt so right. I remember her saying to me have you ever thought about doing lashes? I let her know that I’ve always been in the beauty industry. I went to cosmetology school and have always found the art of anything beauty related. But I did not think I could do any lashes. I got my lashes done faithfully for a whole year. And I remember when I got to my one mark I celebrated. It’s so funny to think that I celebrated getting my lashes done for a whole year, but it was more of an accomplishment to stay on track to a goal that I put out for myself. Those appointments did more than just provide me a set of eyelashes. It helped me find my confidence, it put me back around the right minded people that made my heart smile, And it just gave me that girl time that every mom needs. So fast-forward I’m at my second year with Faith. Things are going good. She asked me again. Have you ever thought about doing lashes? But this time I didn’t brush the question off. I entertained it a little more this time around. We talked about the what if’s, she shared so much of her journey with me and everything that she’s been through, and she gave me the opportunity to ask any question that came to mind. So I went home. I sat on it and I thought about it. To be honest, I really sat on it for a few months. By this time, I was at a new job. In my current role at that time I was making very good money, but I still did not feel fulfilled in what I was doing. I remember I reached out to her and I told her I think I’m ready to start this lash journey.
November 2, 2023 I took her Lash course. The course was very in-depth and very thorough. I learned so much and I really wanted to take that opportunity to soak it all in.
I remember leaving her shop and I felt so empowered.
Fast-forward to November 14 . I have an area set up in my living room to lash in, and am now taking my first client. This journey has been a pyramid of highs and lows. Some days I had so much self doubt that I could not see myself pushing forward, and other days I’m so proud of myself that it seeps through my skin. Each month I gave myself new goals to complete. Every goal within the benefit of my new Lash business, but it definitely came from every corner. I made goals to make a logo, build a website, attract new clientele, Even making take home goodie bags for my clients. I managed to keep meeting my goals each month and making myself even more proud. Within 6 to 7 months I was getting uncomfortable in my space. I have a a full family and a full schedule of clients. I found myself growing out of this little living room space. From then I mapped out a plan for me to have a space of my own by the end of the year. I started asking tons of questions and doing a lot of research. I wanted my space to represent me and my brand. Fast forward to October 15,2024 two month before my set goal. I have my very own lash shop and still have my clientele with new clients as well. I am now living my prayers. The hard work I put into this is showing and the best part is I can show my 4 daughters what chasing a dream looks like. This is only the start but I’m always going to hit the ground running for what I want.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Nalina. I am a wife, a mother, and a Lash Artist. I entered the beauty industry at 17 years old when I was accepted into cosmetology school. I really enjoyed cosmetology school because it allowed me to learn all things beauty related. I remember being a little girl playing with Barbie dolls and really just being infatuated with all things beauty. I initially got into the lashes by using it as a way as therapy for myself. At that time I had just had identical twin girls. My pregnancy was very difficult and throughout my pregnancy I was depressed. I knew I had to take charge after bringing my babies into this world to help myself. For two years straight, I went to the same last Tec every two weeks. During these appointments, she provided me so much comfort, so much needed conversation, and overtime I started to realize that these last appointments were more than a service. When the opportunity presented itself for me to take a lash class and learn the art of lash extensions I definitely want to jump on board. I wanted to make other women feel the same way that my Lash artist made me feel. I wanted to provide that same type of comfort. The audience that I wanted to target were women just like me. Mothers, wife’s, business women, etc.
I would say the number one thing I’m most proud of since starting my business would be the fact that I always hear” I needed this appointment so much”. “This appointment was so much more than just getting lashes done”. Hearing those words really makes my heart smile because I remember saying those exact words to my lash tech. One thing I would want any potential or current clients to know about my business is it all started with love, hard work, and dedication. I started at nothing but believing in myself allowed me to grow into everything that I am and everything that I have today. I’m a girls girl. I love to see women thriving, and living in their own truth so if that means I do your lashes and I’m your part-time therapist because you have so much on your mind then that’s exactly the hat I plan on wearing for that day. One woman helped me and it’s only right that I do the same.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building my audience on social media was a challenge, but it wasn’t. I say that only because social media is everywhere in the day and age that we live in right now. You can connect with pretty much every and every business through social media. So immediately I found this as a good way to get my name out. However, when you start off, that’s exactly what you’re doing. Starting off. Things did not blow up for me overnight. To be honest with you I’m still getting followers, I’m still getting attention, and still trying to get my name out there. But when it comes to social media, you have to know how to play the game. There’s tons of people that watch the Internet and you never know who’s watching you. You never know the ideas that you can sit in somebody else’s mind just by doing your own thing. So I use social media to promote myself individually, but also my business and what I’m doing. I didn’t have a lot of clients so I learned how to lash myself. Turning the camera on myself and making myself the Muse, as well as the artist allowed my audience to see what I could do and what the outcome would be like. This work for me because I have the talent to work on myself and now I can show my work work off at any time on myself. The consistency of allowing myself to be a billboard for my brought so many new customers, it also brought in collaborations with other Lash brands. That alone opened up a new door for me. I’m now allowing myself to use other companies supplies, make money, build relationships with other lash artist and other lash companies, and still attract the targeted audience I desire to.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Funny story I met my business partner at a recruiting job that we both had. We instantly connected over a little note that I passed her. From there, we have been inseparable. Some connections are only meant for one lifetime, And I would say this relationship definitely was meant to be in this lifetime for me. While I was working at this job, we were able to build a friendship that grew every day. She was handling more of the social media side of things for the company that we worked at. In her role, she was in charge of the social media platforms, and how the name got out about the Business, She handled the advertisement of things, All in all, just all things social media. I remember I came to her and I told her that I wanted to do lashes. I asked her if she would mind being the live model for my class and of course she said yes. She has been there from day one. We came up with the plan that as long as I keep pushing myself, I keep lashing and I let nothing distract me she would handle my social media pages, All of my advertising, All in all, just be my go to support system and Right hand man with this whole business. She lives three hours away and make sure that she constantly comes back to sit in my chair to get her lashes done. I found more than a cofounder/business partner Within her. I have my best friend and I have my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lashedbynalina.com
- Instagram: LashedByNalina
- Facebook: Lashed By Nalina
