The NALA Industry Awards have been so enthusiastically received by the lash community. We are thrilled and excited to be able to provide these awards every year as a way of celebrating the great leaders, mentors, and game-changers in the lash world. 

NALA must constantly review and update our recommended standards and terms of membership in order to keep up with the ever-changing industry.

One of our top subjects this year has been the use of pre-made fans.

NALA currently holds the position that using pre-made volume fans on clients is not acceptable practice. NALA Members are bound to NALA standards and therefore are not permitted to use them. There are a few reasons for this:

1. There are a multitude of different kinds available with too many unanswered questions and variables to be explored.
2. Pre-made fans are being purchased and used by lash artists who are NOT volume trained. The concern is, these artists may not have the comprehensive understanding of safe fan applications. Artists applying volume fans need to understand how different weights and fan widths will affect the natural lash. Proper selection, creation and placement of fans is vital for protecting the integrity of the...

In business, you can charge whatever you want. You can even be the MOST expensive lash artist in your community and be wildly successful. In fact, the higher-priced studios are typically busier than the bargain-priced ones. The key is to offer more value than you charge. So, if you want to charge top dollar you can! Just make sure you justify your prices with results, atmosphere, an excellent customer experience, product consistency, and as many perks and benefits as you can squeeze into a lash appointment. 

Begin preparing for the increase a few months before you plan to implement it.

Here is a simple bullet point list of the basic process for raising prices:

• Ask clients for testimonials and publish them so you have social proof of the value you offer and the results you provide.
• Will your price increase be substantial enough to affect your client list? Will you lose some people? If so, update your marketing strategy to attract a new, more ideal client.
• Do the math and make...

Optimizing your Lash Business is beneficial for a many reasons:

1. You will enjoy your work more if everything is running smoothly.
2. You will feel like such a badass boss when you complete all of these steps!!
3. Because you will have systems in place hiring and training staff will be SO much easier and more effective.
4. You will be able to grow your business with much less trouble. Imagine growing a business small business into a large business without working out all the kinks first.
5. You will free up valuable time.
6. You will earn more money by increasing revenue AND improving your profit margins.
7. You will create something that is sellable or duplicatable. SO if you ever need to sell or if you want to open more locations, you’re ACTUALLY in a position to consider these options.

 BUT . . . . before you can do anything to optimize your business the first thing you need to do is make sure that you know your numbers.

If I were to ask you what is your cost per client would...

As Lash Artists, we strive to make everyone happy!! It's just who we are.

Professionals in a client based career tend to be people-pleasers. This makes it especially hard when someone gives us negative feedback or writes a bad review. It's like a punch in the gut.

Why is she so mean??

What is her problem??

The truth is, it's not personal. And it's impossible to please ALL of the people ALL of the time!

When you get that kick in the stomach it is important to react professionally, not emotionally. Well obviously you will have some level of emotional reaction - what I mean is - don't do anything until you've PROCESSED THE EMOTIONS and can respond professionally.

The thing about negatives reviews is that they can actually be A GOOD THING! Yes, you heard me (or read me) right!

Every review you receive online is an opportunity for you to market yourself and your business, whether they are good reviews or good not-so-good reviews. Even the nastiest comments can...

I get asked quite often about the difference between getting certified and becoming accredited. It can also be a bit confusing trying to understand the difference between the NALA Educator’s Certification Course and The NALA Seal of Accreditation. I hope this blog will clear things up a little. It may also just raise more questions, which is totally fine! Simply ask your questions in the comments below and I will be happy to answer them! The information varies slightly for artists and educators so I categorized my explanations accordingly.

LASH ARTISTS

 What is a certificate?

A certificate is evidence that you completed your training. Certification courses aren't typically governed by the federal, state or provincial school boards and they aren't usually valid for educational credits or student loans, although some regions do recognize lash extension training as formal education, it is not typical in most of the world. A...

The Royal Canadian Lash Championships, recently held in Vancouver, British Columbia, was a wonderful contribution to the Canadian Lash Industry. I had the honour of judging for the RCLC and it was an amazing experience. I was blown-away by the professionalism of the organizers and integrity of the panel. This debut event opened with the first live Canadian competition for Lash Lift and Tint. They also had Classic Lash category, Salon Style 3-4D Volume category and the Competition Style 6-10D Volume category.

I was impressed that competitors were EDUCATED about the difference between “Salon Style 3-4D Volume” and “Competition Style 6-10D Volume”. The organizers made sure everyone involved understood that 6-10D Volume should not be filled. It is for show only and should never be offered to clients as a fillable service. What impressed me even MORE was the way the RCLC put extra emphasis on the health and safety aspect of lashing. To call yourself “The...

Your education is the first big decision of your career. A good education is not cheap. You want to be sure you are investing your money wisely and that your course will properly prepare you for a career as a lash or brow technician.

Here are some things for you to consider before investing in training:

Compare schools. 

A training manual can vary from 25 pages to 150 pages. Ask detailed questions about the material provided and be sure you have chosen the most comprehensive option. There is so much that needs to be learned. Far more than just the basic technique.

Don’t let location be your deciding factors.

Sometimes it is worth it to travel for your course. If the best option is a plane ride away - make sure your passport is up to date! Why settle for a subpar program? Choosing which program to invest in, is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

(The other most important decision will be which product line to use).

 What Support Is Available?

How...

It is fun to decorate your workspace. Clients appreciate an inviting and pretty studio. Decorative items are a great way to show your personality and create a unique ambiance in your space.

However, when it comes to your treatment area, hygiene needs to be your number one priority. This is NOT the area to decorate with fibrous, porous elements that can harbour airborne pathogens. The treatment area needs to be clinically clean at all times!

The client treatment area must be clear of anything fluffy, furry, soft and velvety. Save these types of props for your reception/waiting area. 

Here is the list of requirements for your workspace to be up to industry standards and to ensure you will pass a health inspection:

1. The personal services area must be separated from any pets and from any area used for sleeping, dining, food storage/preparation, bathing and washroom purposes.

2. A sink that is not accessible by clients and not in a washroom or kitchen that is dedicated for the...