We recently connected with Victoria Strogoteanu and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria , thanks for joining us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I was a stay-at-home mom with two little boys and decided it’s time for me to change something. I had no idea where to start and what I would want to do. A friend suggested I should try doing lash extensions. This job was supposed to offer me the ability to work on my own schedule while taking care of my children, work in a safe and welcoming environment, make enough money for a comfortable living, and help me find another purpose other than motherhood.

The journey of learning was intense, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want to quit at times. It required a pair of steady hands and great tweezers, the vision of an eagle, lots of patience, time, and effort—and that was just to start. I was worried about all the things in the world: that the clients wouldn’t choose me, that I was taking too long or not enough, that I would never be a good lash artist, or that there was no point in continuing because the good lash artists were probably born while holding the tweezers already.

I’m happy to say that those things weren’t true, and one by one, I was able to overcome those fears. Today, years later, I can say that the goals were 100% achieved, and although it wasn’t easy, it was indeed the best decision I could make.

Victoria , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a licensed esthetician, and I work at Lova Lash Bar in Destin. Although an esthetician can provide a variety of services, I chose to focus on lashes and brows. I believe, and I know from experience, that by getting their lashes and brows done, women can feel so much more confident, beautiful, and empowered.

We all know that time is crucial in our busy world, and both of these services are focused on helping clients save as much of it as possible. Lash extensions help women save a lot of time in the morning, as many of my clients opt for very light makeup after trying extensions. It also gives women a feeling of always being ready for anything the day brings. There is no more struggle with smudgy and clumpy mascara, which is especially important considering the humidity and heat in the area where we live.

The technique and products I use provide great retention that lasts for weeks and a flawless look. It also allows me to offer the exact style, length, and fullness my clients want and need. Speaking of brows, I can’t stress enough how important they are for our face, or else all the brow makeup would just disappear from the shelves. I do brow shaping, tinting, and microblading. Regardless of the service, my goal is always to improve a woman’s face and her features. It’s a special feeling to wake up in the morning and know that even if you only brush your teeth and hair, you are still ready to rock the day.

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

From my experience, the most effective strategy is word of mouth. Of course, it works both ways, so if you want to benefit from it, as an artist, you need to always focus on a few very important things:

1. Understand what your client wants and needs.
2. Ensure the quality of the service you provide and the products you work with.
3. Continuously learn new things since the industry never stops changing.

It takes time to build a clientele, but I truly believe that as long as the artist cares about their clients (and that is not always just about lashes and brows), there is no way to fail.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

It is so important to learn and know what you are doing, to understand the process, and to keep exploring the field you are working in. But that is not enough to be successful in the beauty industry or any industry, I believe. People come to people. And although we choose to delegate many processes in our daily lives, we still want to be cared for. Understanding your clients’ needs when they come to see you and doing your best at all times to help fulfill them is a must. Providing extra care so that they feel seen and important. Working on your communication skills. Making them feel comfortable and welcome in your salon. And last but not least, taking care of your own well-being so that you can fully show up for the people who choose you out of all the other people with the same job description as yours.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Victoria_lash_bar
• Other: @LovaLashBar That is the Instagram of the salon I work at.