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In today’s two-part episode, AnneMarie and Cheryl first discuss their best suggestions for increasing your lashing speed, and in the last segment, tips and tricks for lashing during the summer months. From taking the right amount of time to learn and train, to keeping your eyesight in tip-top shape, to investing in the best tools and materials for your lashing business, Cheryl and AnneMarie review their own learning paths to success. In part II, rain, humidity, heat, and summer habits of your clients can all affect the lashing process. Find out how to adjust and keep your services top-notch all year round. Expect to hear: How long it took AnneMarie and Cheryl to do their very first lash sets How to give yourself some grace while you’re learning and getting up to speed The stages of learning: Observation Practice Processing Why scheduling learning blocks, or shorter practice sessions, is best for your learning process Why depth perception could be holding you back from increasing your lash speed and application quality How to communicate to your optometrist. They can help optimize your eyecare/eyewear, but only if they understand the details of what you’re trying to see Can adhesive make you faster? A look at fast and slow dry times AnneMarie and Cheryl share their favorite adhesives for different situations Summer application tips Why and how your environment affects your lash application Houston vs. Toronto climates for lashing Resources: Cheryl Peng LinkedIn AnneMarie Lorenzini LinkedIn Untamed Artistry Website

In today’s episode, AnneMarie interviews Cheryl about creativity. As Cheryl puts it, everyone is creative in some way– it’s not limited to painting, drawing, or playing an instrument – if you think up ‘creative’ ways to work through problems or present your work, then you are creative. From tracking your creativity in a journal and watching for the ebb and flow, to tips and tricks for sparking creativity and preventing burnout, Cheryl and AnneMarie give you some excellent advice for maintaining your creativity in your life and your business. Expect to hear: Cheryl’s self-analysis of her creativity How creativity stems from being curious and determining what you are creative in The ebb and flow of creativity and how to track it How to utilize your ebb and flow to your advantage. Tips include: Batching your content when you’re riding a creative wave How to handle a creative rut. #1- Don’t beat yourself up! The signs of burnout and losing your joy Resources: Cheryl Peng LinkedIn AnneMarie Lorenzini LinkedIn Untamed Artistry Website

Are you happy with your work/life balance? Are you stressing yourself for clients day after day and only living paycheck to paycheck? It may be time for a mindset change. You can create the life that YOU want, but it may take some practice and methods to change your mindset. Our guest today is MacKenzie Graham, the Mack of MackLash. Mack transitioned from a full-time lash artist to a professional coach because she wanted to re-engineer her life and how she spent her time. Tune in to hear about Mack’s inspirational transformation and how she worked on her mindset and how she started sharing more of herself on social media to attract the right kind of clients to her business. Expect to Hear: How Mack’s previous mindset included panic attacks and too much emotion attached to her content How to provide value in free content while still selling your paid content Basics you can implement today to improve your content Getting over the “I’m not creative” mindset Books Mack recommends (see links below) Money mindset – Do you have money trauma from your early family life like Mack? Determining if you have the right profit margin for your business and life goals You can structure your life however you want to! We only get one shot at this human life. Don’t do what society, your mom, or YOU think you have to do. Resources: MackLash Website MackLash Instagram Atomic Habits Book Rich As F&%# Book Defining Decade Book The Alchemist Book Cheryl Peng LinkedIn AnneMarie Lorenzini LinkedIn Untamed Artistry Website

Are you hesitant or struggling to capture new clients through Instagram? Not sure of exactly what content to post to get customers to book with you? Our very own Sydney Nanton, Untamed Artistry’s Marketing and Media Manager, is with us again to share more Instagram how-to’s. From content do’s and don’t’s, to education, to including a “call to action,” Sydney gives us the best methods, proven statistics, and some technical tips on Instagram posts that will “entice and excite” followers and turn them into clients. Expect to Hear: Check out the previous episode with Sydney - link below! What’s the current Instagram temperature with people? How to excite and entice followers with your content The do’s and don’ts of photos Determining your specialty and how to promote that The benefits of having others envision themselves in your studio through the content you create Content types that appeal to clients… and what to avoid The fundamentals of content creation Maximizing your link in profile The “seven exposures” statistic Resources: Check out our link tree on UA Instagram page Listen to “Building a Digital Audience” Episode Untamed Artistry Website

Many lash artists get stuck when faced with how to get clients to return after their full set/initial appointment. It’s not always evident that fill appointments are the actual bread and butter of your business, and not all of us are confident about how to keep clients on the books and coming back every two weeks for fills. It’s part client education, part pro-active booking, and also tuning in to how your client responds to their first full set and making sure communication channels are wide open. Tara Walsh, Owner of The Lashpreneur, is with us today to talk about all things client retention.  From how to use bad reviews as an opportunity, to setting boundaries, to pricing your services correctly to be profitable, Tara tells it like it is and doesn’t hold back. She pushes lash artists to be confident, to create a business and schedule that they enjoy working in, and how to keep clients happy and returning regularly. Expect to Hear: Tara Walsh and Lashpreneur intro The importance of mental health and common struggles of entrepreneurs The work involved in gaining a returning client and a breakdown of what keeps clients coming back- hint, client communication is often overlooked Shifting your mindset to exceed your expectations Common myths about clients Pricing strategies The Lashpreneur Society- what it is and how it will benefit you Resources: The Lashpreneur Website The Lashpreneur Society Lessons of a Lashpreneur Podcast

In this episode, we’re providing you insider info on setting up your lash studio environment. We’ll tell you about some of the mistakes we made early on in our careers so that you don’t make the same ones. From blowing your budget furnishing your entire salon to skimping on your client's bed, forgetting about how well your adhesive works when you don’t monitor your environment, and making sure your client is completely comfortable (no matter how they prefer their environment) with heat, blankets, air-conditioning, etc. We’re going to discuss every tiny detail so you stay on track with your budget, retain clients, and control your environment so it doesn’t control you. The Untamed podcast is hosted by Cheryl Peng, Founder of Untamed Artistry, and AnneMarie Lorenzini, Managing Director of Untamed Artistry. Untamed Artistry provides professional lash artists with helpful knowledge and amazing eyelash extension products (hand-tested in our lash nerd lab). We want to make you successful by giving you high-quality products and showing you what you need to use them well. Find great products and all the education you could ever want (with a healthy dose of quirk) at www.untamedartistry.com Expect to Hear: Cheryl’s early days furnishing her studio spaces, mistakes were made Don’t rush, do your research, get necessities only first Don’t focus on the spaces like entryway decor where the client spends 30 seconds AnneMarie’s first spaces, salon room setups Our deep dive into the salon furnishing essentials - client bed, equipment storage, stool/chair, and lighting Non-negotiables to assure your adhesive is perfect: hygrometers, humidifier/dehumidifiers, air-conditioning Fume extractors for comfort and safety Sanitation practices Taxes, cash, and credit cards Nice to have’s: Waiting area - pre-and post-visit activities, social media content photos Minifridge for beverages and snacks- keep it full and contents front-facing! Berkey water filter High-end decor - art, plants, creating the vibe A great bathroom - including usable touch-up/refresh toiletries, sample size retail products Salt lamps Don’t forget the music– get a nice Bluetooth speaker, relaxing music Visit a spa you or your clients love, get inspired, and take some ideas from their setup Take your time, it’s an evolution that is always changing Resources: Please visit our blog post, here, to see our list of resources for this episode.

Our guest today is Lorena (Lor-REE-nah) Ashmore, podcast host, author, lash artist and Founder of Dear Lash + Love, an online retail shop selling lash-inspired apparel and accessories to beauty professionals and salons. Join us as we talk about Lorena’s “accidental career” as a social media influencer, her tips and tricks for content creation, and how to stay laser-focused on your business goals. We’ll hear how to build your personal brand on social media, balancing work and mom life, and marketing yourself with storytelling. Expect to Hear: In an open conversation we ask Lorena: How did you decide to do everything your own way, not following the “rules” You seem like a natural ‘social influencer’ – was there anything in your background that led to this? What advice can you give to someone who might want to become an influencer? What was the lightbulb moment that sent you in this direction? Your confidence is very striking, you don’t hold back - where did that come from? Your content is very intentional, yet seems so organic, any tips on how to create content like this? Lorena’s path to her current career Find out what makes you unique, tell stories The desire for passive income is everywhere, but it takes a lot of work Surgery, covid, and pregnancy Resources: A Beauty Industry Guide to Social Media (Use code: UntamedDLL for 20% off) Lash Love Apparel (Use code: UntamedDLL for 20% off) Dear Lash Love Instagram Cheryl Peng LinkedIn AnneMarie Lorenzini LnkedIn Untamed Artistry Website This episode is brought to you by Untamed Artistry Untamed Artistry is your one-stop lash biz shop: combining helpful knowledge and amazing eyelash extension products (hand-tested in our lash nerd lab). We want to make you successful by giving you high-quality products and showing you what you need to use them well. Find great products, all the education you could ever want, and a healthy dose of quirk at untamedartistry.com

Do you feel stressed out, angry, and disrespected by clients who show up late? What is your “window of tolerance” for late customers? In this episode, Cheryl Peng and AnneMarie Lorenzini of Untamed Artistry share ways to ease your stress and develop richer relationships with clients.  They’ll talk about the best ways to set boundaries, use direct and honest communication, and ensure that the quality of your artistry is not compromised. Whether your acceptable window is 5, 10, or 15 minutes, the key is to inform your clients right up front that if they are late, there are certain parameters that you will need to follow, as the service provider. Don’t blame or shame the client, but do let them know that they may be charged for a full service, or they will not receive as many lashes as they would within the full window of the appointment you’ve reserved for them. There may be clients that will not tolerate your boundaries, and in these cases, you may need to take additional boundary-setting steps including letting them know, kindly and honestly, that it's not a good fit for you. Expect to hear: AnneMarie and Cheryl discuss how long their services take, and their tolerance for client tardiness without consequences Cheryl shares considerations on behalf of the late client, as a late client herself How to set and communicate your policies clearly and directly You don’t want clients that feel the need to tiptoe or make excuses or feel guilty Explain clearly what you expect from clients because they certainly expect certain things from you! Cheryl and AnneMarie’s take on offering discounts to friends and family. Hint: You are an artist with a business model and boundaries How to handle clients who won’t accept your boundaries Remember, “one size never fits all” when it comes to policies. Knowing what works best for you and your business is key.

Are you in business (or planning to go into business) with your spouse or significant other? How do the two of you divide and conquer your business? In this episode of Untamed, Cheryl Peng and AnneMarie Lorenzini are speaking with married business partners Tussanee and Paul Luebbers, who together run Integrity Lash, host the long-running podcast, “LashCast” and also organize the largest lash convention in the world, LashConference. Their path to success has not been easy. Paul and Tussanee reveal some very personal details about their troubled “seasons” (as they call them) in the past, in the hope that they can help others through some of the rocky times couples may experience doing business together. From prioritizing family time to showing grace and respect for each other’s skills and shortcomings, they let us in on what it’s like to spend 24/7 with your spouse, and how to navigate the ups and downs of family and business. Expect to hear: How Tussanee founded Integrity Lash back in 2005 The transition of Paul moving from film to the beauty industry Breaking the conventional wisdom that says don’t go into business with friends and family Humility and sacrifice must come from both partners Key considerations before entering a partnership with a spouse Advice for expecting moms in business partnerships Paul breaks the gender norms of the male breadwinner Financial considerations when getting into a business partnership Resources Mentioned: Lash Conference Nov 5-7 2022 LashCast Instagram Integrity Lash Website

In this episode of Untamed by Untamed Artistry, Cheryl Peng, Founder & CEO of Untamed Artistry, and AnneMarie Lorenzini, Managing Director of Untamed Artistry, have a heart-to-heart about their unpopular lash artist industry opinions. (You don’t have to agree with them and they would love your opinions, too!) Ready? Let’s go then; here’s what you can expect on the show: Unpopular Lashing Opinions Fans don’t need to be perfect and symmetrical in an application. What’s more important than perfect fans? The base, for example, that provides greater retention. Although there are solutions for treating adhesive sensitivities in an application, it's not okay to take a client with a known allergy. Why? Legal issues are something that most businesses can't survive. Age and number of years of experience are not important qualities for teaching others about lashing; instead, the ability to teach is what should qualify a person to be a lash educator. Unpopular Business Opinions Don’t take business shortcuts, for logical and value reasons. All the shortcuts you take will catch up with you in the future. You can be a successful lash artist without making six figures. Success is defined by how you feel, not by what you have. Lash artists shouldn’t charge in the first few months of their careers if they’re learning. There are surprising long-term consequences to charging small amounts just to cover costs. Unpopular Client Opinions Be flexible within reason. For example, while you shouldn’t make it the norm that it’s okay for clients to be late, be kind. If they're willing to spend less time with you so that you are not late for your next client but you can still provide quality work, take them. Set boundaries when it’s important to you and your business but try not to be unreasonable, always putting yourself in your client’s shoes. Never make negative content about clients or fellow lash artists. The point of today’s show is that it is good to hold unpopular opinions because it means that you're a critical thinker. It means that you're willing to think for yourself, you're willing to go against the grain and dare to be different. This episode is brought to you by Untamed Artistry Untamed Artistry is your one-stop lash biz shop: combining helpful knowledge and amazing eyelash extension products (hand-tested in our lash nerd lab). We want to make you successful by giving you high-quality products and showing you what you need to use them well. Find great products, all the education you could ever want, and a healthy dose of quirk at untamedartistry.com

In this episode of Untamed by Untamed Artistry, Michelle Rowland, Chief Education Officer at La Lash Academy Sydney, shares her experience of starting out as a self-doubting lash artist to doing lashes for Hollywood celebrities—and doing it from home. The Dancing with the Stars producer had her lashes done right next to Michelle’s bed (although she didn’t know it!) Michelle has done lashes for some other big names in Hollywood, and the big question she answers is this: What made celebrities come to a home-based studio when they could go anywhere else? It could have had something to do with being able to trust the lash artist, her humility, and her genuine love for her clients. In a fascinating conversation, Michelle shares: What attracted celebrities to her service, even though it was home-based, and the customer experience she provided each client. The pros and cons of a home-based studio. What is absolutely essential when putting together a home-based studio to mitigate the stigma and pre-judgment about working from home. What to do if you feel uneasy about a new client coming to your home, your safe space. How to decide if a home-based lash studio is right for you (but take note that some areas do not allow home-based studios). This episode is brought to you by Untamed Artistry Untamed Artistry is your one-stop lash biz shop: combining helpful knowledge and amazing eyelash extension products (hand-tested in our lash nerd lab). We want to make you successful by giving you high-quality products and showing you what you need to use them well. Find great products, all the education you could ever want, and a healthy dose of quirk at untamedartistry.com

In this episode of Untamed by Untamed Artistry, the spotlight is on high-paying clientele and whether they are the right fit for you and your lash business. There are different levels and tiers in the industry—and one isn't better than the other. Lash Artists can not remain authentic to themselves if they aren’t servicing the clientele that naturally fits. Today’s conversation centers on everything that goes behind attracting and keeping a type of clientele who expect more. AnneMarie Lorenzini, Managing Director at Untamed Artistry, is one Lash Artist whose clientele is affluent. She shares practical advice to help you decide if a high-paying clientele is right for you, and if so, how to attract and keep them. AnneMarie also shares: What a high-paying clientele is like General price points Pros of targeting high-paying clients: They respect an artist who goes above and beyond, and they will happily pay for that service. They are extremely loyal once trust has been established. They come consistently; lashes are not a luxury but part of their lifestyle. The connections made with these clients expand your network. They’re resourceful and helpful. Cons of targeting high-paying clients: There’s more of an expectation to accommodate them. They expect you to pay attention to the details, giving them the customer experience they desire, even if they don’t actually say it. They’re paying premium prices for the service, so they expect premium service. Difficult to attract high-paying customers because they can choose any artist or salon. You have to work hard to cultivate this type of clientele. They place a high value on their time, so if you keep them waiting, or they experience issues that take up their time, they probably won’t return. Quick turnaround time, diligence, and handling situations right away are essential. Making excuses won’t work with them. The more professional you are, the more they will respect your expertise. As a new Lash Artist, the upfront expense of creating the right setting is costly. Tips to know if a high-paying clientele is the right target audience for you: Assess the cons. Consider the expectations and whether you will be able to realistically meet them. Location and aesthetics are important. Do you have the soft skills to deal with these types of clients? Finally, AnneMarie reveals the type of marketing that attracts affluent clients. Resources Mentioned: How To: Build a Lash Brand (Untamed podcast episode) Aveda Salon VitaJuwel This episode is brought to you by Untamed Artistry Untamed Artistry is your one-stop lash biz shop: combining helpful knowledge and amazing eyelash extension products (hand-tested in our lash nerd lab). We want to make you successful by giving you high-quality products and showing you what you need to use them well. Find great products, all the education you could ever want, and a healthy dose of quirk at untamedartistry.com