Are you a beautician or esthetician solo-preneur who specializes in lashes? Alternatively, do you own your own salon and employ other beauticians or estheticians? No matter which one describes you, you’ve probably seen and heard more about lashes and lash extensions lately than ever before.
There’s a good reason for this, as Teen Vogue estimates that lashes and lash extensions are now becoming more popular than mascara.

That’s right – getting your lashes done is now more popular than makeup.

How is this possible?

Well, for one, it makes your clients’ morning routine that much easier.

If you’re a beautician and you haven’t been offering this service yet, here’s a complete guide on eyelash extensions.

In fact, folks have even been inventing some incredibly popular techniques for applying lash extensions at home. With the meteoric rise of popularity in lashes and lash extensions in the beauty industry, it is a great time to cover the basics of why it’s important to get your beautician or esthetician license, as well as the practical real-world steps to getting licensed.

After all, any additional services you can offer that increase your income is generally a good thing (especially if you’re building on this growing trend).
Get that stray eyelash out of your eye and say hello to the Disney Princess look, because we’re about to reveal the complete How and Why of becoming a licensed eyelash technician.

After reading this article, you’ll be able to make your clients’ eyelashes more lush and beautiful, all while building your solo-preneur or small beauty business at the same time!

WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A LICENSED EYELASH TECHNICIAN

First, we’ll dive into why becoming licensed to perform your lash treatments and lash extension services above-board is essential for your success as an independent business owner.

In fact, we’ll review 3 reasons why that is the case:
1. Becoming a professional
2. Avoiding legal action (don’t get sued!)
3. Financial benefits

Let’s take this step by step for becoming a certified technician!

BECOMING A CERTIFIED LASH TECHNICIAN

First off, getting licensed makes your business appear that much more professional and on-point in the long-term.

It’s a way to differentiate yourself in a $1.7B market chock-full of eyelash technicians, estheticians, and beauticians all vying for your client’s attention.

In fact, ABC News characterized it as a ‘booming market’ in their article on the topic, which also features clips from Kim Kardashian’s tutorials that have helped to drive demand.

One way to stand out is to feature your license on your Facebook or Instagram page.

You can literally just snap a picture of yourself holding your license and post it.

You could argue this is essential if you’ll be applying a bonding solution to their eyelids or otherwise servicing them with chemicals and/or sharp objects in the vicinity of their face and eyes. Being a lash stylist does require customers to trust you, so a certification is a great way to alleviate their concerns.

You’ll get more bookings straight from your Instagram (shameless plug: putting your PocketSuite booking button on your Instagram page can help with this as well. Even listing out the specific eyelash treatments available can help get you more leads.

AVOIDING LEGAL ACTION (DON’T GET SUED!)

Here’s a recent question posted on Avvo about whether it’s possible to sue a beautician for being unlicensed when they performed a lash extension service.

If you’re operating unlicensed, you are classified as unregulated by the Board of Cosmetology.

This comes with several problems from a legal standpoint, the biggest of which is that you can actually get sued for misrepresentation of your official business status.

Take it from the experts at Lash Affair:

“Nearly all states require a lash artist to have a cosmetology or esthetician license in order to apply lash extensions. … Otherwise, artists are not able to have a home salon that is unregulated by the board of cosmetology.”

So that’s that. If you’re operating under the table, you’re putting yourself at risk of legal action.

You don’t want a disgruntled client with burned eyelashes or superglue in their eyes to file a suit against you.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

Being your own boss brings a lot of benefits (and who doesn’t like a flexible schedule?). And becoming a licensed eyelash technician comes with actual financial benefits. It might start out as a part-time thing, but as it grows you can turn it into a full-time job.

For example, Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP for short) is the official industry organization that has thousands of licensed members.

Being a part of this organization will allow you to network with others and exchange valuable business tips, go to conferences, get educated on the latest market trends and techniques, and even get referrals from fellow business owners!

In order to join, however, you must be licensed.

Another prominent organization, The National Association of Lash Artists (commonly known as the NALA Global Directory) can help you find an accredited course to help you on your journey to get licensed. More on this in the next section on How to get licensed.

So now that we’ve covered all of the potential benefits of becoming a licensed eyelash professional, let’s continue to the juicy part – How do you actually do it?

HOW TO BECOME A LICENSED EYELASH TECHNICIAN

You don’t need a medical license to become an eyelash technician, but the requirements for becoming licensed vary by state. Here are the 3 steps to take if you want to become a certified lash technician.

1. Check the list of licensing requirements for your state.
Determine the laws of your particular state (assuming you’re within the United States) – do you need to become a licensed esthetician, cosmetologist, medical professional, or barber?

2. Take an accredited course and complete the required hours of training in order to graduate and receive a certificate.
Extensive training courses are required for becoming a certified technician. Depending on the course you choose, it can take up to a couple of months to get certified. In person classes are also the way to go as you’ll get hands-on coaching to learn how to work with lash extensions and new lash products coming out. You can take courses at a local beauty school and some community colleges even offer training courses. And as a bonus, the training courses are where you can learn customer service to deliver an excellent experience to your future customers. Here is a directory of courses to help get you started.

3. Go to your state’s Board of Cosmetology (or Esthetics) and take your licensing exam.
There is also continuing education available as well as advanced courses, specifically for experienced eyelash technicians.
You can choose between Classic Courses, Volume Courses, Combo (Classic + Volume), Lash Lift and/or Lash Tint certification courses as well as Extended Learning courses for experienced Eyelash technicians.
For starters, go with the Classic courses. If you’re more experienced try one of the other ones to expand your knowledge. Once you have your cosmetology license, you can officially begin working as an eyelash technician.

Ultimately, this journey that you’ll be taking to get licensed will result in more money in your pocket, less sweat on your brow, an end to all of the worries about being sued for unlicensed practice and a wealth of connections and partnership opportunities.

Your new life as a licensed eyelash technician awaits. Will you grab it or let it slip away?

MANAGE YOUR BEAUTY BUSINESS WITH POCKETSUITE

Speaking of changing your life, PocketSuite can give your esthetician, beauty, or barber business a whole new look.

Say hello to online booking from your website/Facebook/Instagram, accepting deposits and payments online, scanning credit cards on your phone, scheduling, and a whole lot more. Try the Premium plan and thank me later.

Like this article? You’ll love our guide on how to generate leads for service businesses in 2022, and of course our Frustrations with Square article!

On this episode of Professional-on-the-Go, we talk about the trending lash technician profession. Lash technicians have a specialized job in the beauty industry working on eyelashes.

Why has this profession become so popular? Do you need to be certified for this work? Do lash technicians usually work independently or at a salon? How much can an eyelash tech make a year? We answer these questions, plus we speak with Elizabeth Jennings who is a pioneer in the lashing industry. She owns 4 salons across North and South Carolina, has launched her own lash line, and she is known to many as the Minister of Beauty.

You will learn:

• How Elizabeth got her start as a lash technician
• What lash techs did for work before the industry became hot
• Pros and cons of being an independent lash technician versus being an employee of a salon
• Characteristics of a good lash technician certification/training program
• Advice for independent lash technicians looking to expand their income

As an eyelash technician, you can make good money and even run your own studio. Because lash treatments, especially lash extensions, require special products for maintenance, you can stock and sell these products at your beauty studio to make even more money.

One of the biggest myths in all esthetic services is that eyelash extensions ruin your natural eyelashes. You can reassure clients: extensions when applied correctly by a professional cause no harm.

This can actually be a good selling point for your services because the key phrase is “when applied correctly by a professional.” There is no shortage of do-it-yourself eyelash extension kits on the market. Some of them are just as expensive as paying a lash tech, but don’t come with the expertise a lash tech provides. Ready to make some money by adding another aesthetic beauty treatment to your service menu? Read on.

In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as a lash technician
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment opportunities for lash technicians
• Finding clients
• Plus helpful tips for new lash techs

How much money can you make?

The average annual salary for an eyelash technician in the United States is currently $46,976. That works out to about $23.49 per hour. This doesn’t include the tips you can make, often 15 percent to 20 percent of the service charge. The top 1 percent in the profession are making closer to $84,000 per year, although these individuals have years of experience and typically operate their own studios.

You can check average salaries for your state with EstheticianEdu.org’s searchable web page.

Training and Certification

Most states require a cosmetology, esthetician, or medical license for you to practice as an eyelash technician.

The easiest way to find out what requirements apply to you is to contact your state’s board of cosmetology, or a local eyelash technician training program. The professionals running these programs should know the regulations of the state where you plan to work before enrolling in a certification program. This will help you decide which lash tech training program is right for you.

An alphabetical list of state cosmetology boards and contact information is available here. Contact your local board and find out your state’s requirements for certification and licensing as a lash technician. Then you can choose a program that best fits your needs.

Many programs can be completed in as little as a day to achieve basic certification. Pricing for these courses is all over the place, from $1,000 to under $500.

Some certification programs, like one offered by Lavish Lashes, let you pay in installments.

To help you narrow it down, take a look at programs approved by the National Association of Lash Artists. Certification through an approved NALA program carries more clout in the industry than programs not approved by NALA.

If you also need an esthetician certification to meet state requirements, join the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations (NCEA). This is the premiere organization for certifying professional estheticians in the United States.

The cost of training ranges from $664 if you pay in installments, to as low as $600 for paying upfront. You can complete the training and take your final exam at home with study materials delivered by the NCEA.

What you’ll learn in training as an eyelash technician:

• Application of lash extensions
• Techniques for lash lifting (lifts are like a “perm” for the eyelashes)
• Safety procedures
• How to handle coming in contact with blood

To give you a closer look at what’s involved, this video demonstrates the application of eyelash extensions.

This video illustrates the procedure for performing lash lifts.

Here you can get an up-close look at how eyelash extensions are removed.

Professional Groups to Join

The National Association of Lash Artists is a non-governmental organization that advocates for the industry. Membership cannot be bought simply by paying a fee. There’s an application and review process before they accept new members. If a lash tech doesn’t make it on her first try, NALA offers mentoring until the lash tech meets the association’s standards. Professional guidelines, the group’s code of ethics and decontamination guide are available here for review.

Once you’re in, you’ll be added to the NALA national directory of lash artists, making it easier for clients to find you.

You can also follow the organization on Facebook and Instagram.

Employment

Working for a corporate studio or chain means you’re most likely working for a franchise owner. These individuals pay hefty fees to the franchise for branding and marketing services and support. Because of all the overhead, they usually pay low salaries. If you’re just starting out, this is an option, but realize you’re probably looking at minimum wage plus a commission of 5 percent to 10 percent on anything you sell.

You can make more money as a Form 1099 contractor, meaning you are an independent. You’ll have access to studio space and can usually set your own hours. Much more flexibility with this option, although you’ll be expected to pay a fee to the salon owner for use of the facilities. The fee might be based off a percentage of your income for providing services, so be sure to understand the details before signing any agreement. It’s your responsibility to supply your own equipment, supplies and proof of business insurance. Working as a 1099 contractor can serve as a nice transition on your way to opening your own spa.

Finding Clients

Whether you’re operating as an independent or running your own spa, you need an attractive website. Photos of your work are vital in drawing in new customers (just be sure to get written permission from your existing clients before posting their photos online).

Your website is the place to promote discounts for new customers, maybe even a price break for existing clients who bring new business to your door.

Build your credibility with online reviews. According to a marketing survey, 97 percent of participants reported that they read online reviews about a local business and 90 percent said their decision is influenced by positive online reviews.

Have all new customers fill out a form about their interest in your services and be sure they include their contact information, including email and telephone number. You want contact information so you can follow-up with all your clients. This encourages repeat business.

Good to know:

These are the Top 5 Concerns facing lash technicians, according to The Eyelash Extensions Blog:

Client Aftercare When explaining aftercare requirements, including proper cleaning, ask clients if they are positive they understand your instructions. Don’t just settle for nodding heads.

Fixing another lash tech’s work You must decide if you will offer corrective services to another lash tech’s work. Some lash techs only follow-up on their own work, which is their right.

Product Value It may take you some time as a new lash tech to identify the products you like best and would feel confident recommending to your clients. Let quality, not price, be your guide. Many lash techs report they tried to save money by testing a cheaper brand of eyelash extension glue, only to have eyelash extensions all over the floor of their studios. As a general rule, with beauty products you get what you pay for.

Competitive pricing You must decide how much to charge. This is based on many factors, including your experience and certifications, competitor pricing in your market, and your reputation among clients. Currently, most lash artists charge $81 to $120 for a full set. Fill prices average $40 to $60 for both eyelashes. Stay within these ranges and you should be competitive.

Attracting new clients Referral programs work and provide an incentive for customer loyalty. Decide on an appropriate discount on your services and offer that price break to clients who refer new customers to your door.

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a lash technician. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.