Photo courtesy of The Washington Post article about the robots used in LUUM Studio in Oakland, California.
Lash Extension Robots - Should Lash Artists Be Concerned?
At first sight these robots seemed like a major safety concern. As we (the NALA Board of Advisors) looked further into them however it seems that LUUM may have created a robot that is indeed safe for the client. In fact, just about every concern that was brought up at the most recent NALA Board Meeting regarding the robots was addressed by LUUM within their website, media interviews, TikTok videos and IG reels. In my opinion, this suggests that they are on the pulse and being responsible in their development of these lashing robots. Also, just to clarify, because there are a lot of comments about tweezers in the lash forums - the robot doesn't actually use traditional lashing tweezers. They are feather weight ultra delicate wands which are attached using a magnet. If the client moves (as we know they do - especially the sleeping clients) the wands detach and fall, ensuring no harm to the client.
Soooo . . . with safety concerns out of the way . . . let's talk about how these robots are going to steal our jobs!
The lash industry forums and Facebook groups have been abuzz with concern over lash robots possibly taking jobs away from lash artists. While I appreciate where these concerns are coming from, I hope to help put your mind at ease and change your perspective.
I don't believe the robots are threatening anyone's career. The robots are simply 3 new lash artists (Kate, Farrah and Jacklyn) who have recently joined our community. New lash artists join the industry every day. Sometimes those new lash artists may be faster than you, provide cheaper services than you, offer a different client experience than you do. A little competition is no reason to panic. In fact, competition is a good thing because it pushes you to continuously work on your businesses and do better for your clients.
Remember, the key to running a successful lash studio is knowing who your ideal client is and catering specifically to them. I'm confident to say that the robots are unlikely to appeal to YOUR ideal client. These robot ladies have a different target audience in mind.
Who knows, these robots could be a good thing for the overall industry by attracting a whole new clientele into the world of lash extensions!
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes and is not intended to replace formal business advice, financial advice, government regulations, or any other form of legal advice.