[Image: Getty Images]The business of eyelash extensions is booming: In 2012, research company Mintel noted that 52 percent of women surveyed regularly obtain eyelash extensions or tinting. That same year, Women’s Wear Daily wrote that lash enhancements were leading sales growth in the beauty industry, and Fox News claimed that businesses banked more than $55 million from lashes in 2014. These numbers will likely continue to grow in the years ahead—but is this in-demand service right for you? Here, spa owners detail how to start a successful lash enterprise and keep it running at peak performance.
First things first: How do you determine the demand for lash extensions at your spa or salon? Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa was swept into the movement about five years ago and now employs two full-time lash technicians to cover its three New York City locations, plus one full-time tech for its Philadelphia outpost. “We saw real demand for lash services: Our makeup team was fielding daily requests,” says CEO Brian Cantor. “In our experience, very few people getting their hair and makeup done don’t want lashes, so we sought a more permanent solution. Now, it’s so popular, it’s unbelievable.”
[Image: Courtesy of FACES]Milk + honey spa, with locations in Houston and Austin, Texas, introduced lash services in 2008 to meet client requests. “I would recommend that spa owners who are considering offering lash services survey their current clientele to gauge interest,” advises Summer Smith, managing director of operations. “Also, make sure to do a competition comparison when determining your menu offerings and prices.”
A well-trained staff remains key—after all, they’re working with the über delicate eye area. At milk + honey, management requires that technicians undergo initial training from a professional brand. “We have an educational fund for employees, so we’ve brought in trainers to teach several people at a time, for a discounted cost per person,” says Smith. “Other estheticians travel elsewhere to obtain certification.” After certification, technicians can perform basic extension services, although many seek ongoing training outside the salon to advance their skill sets or learn new techniques.
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Meanwhile, Sargo received certification and now trains other FACES technicians, thereby ensuring quality and consistency. Basic training takes a minimum of four weeks, after which proven newbies can hit the floor as “junior stylists” for more practice—a crucial component of continued learning. Existing staff may even move to lashes exclusively, full or part time. But there are risks involved: “We’ve successfully trained a half-dozen technicians who then started their own businesses or left to work for someone else,” Owen relates. “All lash stylists must sign an agreement with a noncompete clause when they’re hired, but the clause is only for Hilton Head. With lashes, you invest a lot of time and money in training. So we’re looking at ways to ensure lash techs don’t leave as soon as they’re qualified.”
Cantor, too, cautions that performing lash extensions is laborious and time consuming, and not every technician will succeed. “I’ve sent 8 to 10 people for training, and only two have been able to perform the service permanently,” he says. Cantor typically recruits employees to learn lashing and pays for their training.
Whatever your setup, you must ensure staff members comply with regulations surrounding lash licensing, which vary among states. Many require lash techs to hold an esthetician or cosmetologist license, while Texas and Minnesota have instated a lash-only license. (Check with your state’s Board of Cosmetology for requirements.) For her part, Owen reports that she didn’t need additional insurance when launching her new lash services.
[Image: Courtesy of Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa]Meanwhile, Labrecque’s treatment rooms are allocated to makeup artists based upon availability, and all rooms are staffed 100 percent of the time, so scheduling requires a juggling act. “Clients are often given a choice of times, because the technician needs a treatment room with a magnifying lamp,” Cantor notes. “We educate the front desk person to never say no to a client; instead, they say, ‘Let me see what I can do; I’ll give you some options,’ based on room availability.”
When setting a price for lash services, be sure to do your homework. Milk + honey surveyed comparable businesses, plus lash bars and smaller facilities. “We have a per-minute average cost for our spa services, so we stuck to that algorithm for our lash pricing,” Smith says. “To keep costs down, we analyze sales, backbar and technician costs, and so on, on an annual basis.”
Owen also recommends doing some market research, both locally and nationally. FACES offers different looks at various price points: Coy (natural) for $99; Captivating (longer and fuller) for $119; and Catwalk (glamour girl) for $149. Owen’s supply costs are minimal; her main expense is labor. Cantor charges top dollar for his premium services: Full sets require two hours of labor, plus product costs, and clients pay $350, then $150 to $200 every three to four weeks for touch-ups. “I’d recommend lashes to anyone with a full-service business,” Cantor says. “If you have makeup artists, it’s a no-brainer—and a great way to make money.”
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Social media and cross-promoting are key for building a lash business; when clients see real life, high quality before and-afters, price cuts aren’t necessary. “We don’t discount; instead, we market our salon services to spa clients, and vice versa,” Smith notes. “We highlight our therapists on social media and post images, and we also use blogs, email newsletters and website marketing. Above all, we’re known for providing long-lasting, quality lash services— reputation fuels our lash business.”
At FACES, the word was first spread via print ads and email blasts, but the spa offered free makeovers with lash extensions (or vice versa) to score additional interest. “Word of mouth is huge, so we offer a lot of incentive programs,” Owen adds. “Clients receive bonus loyalty points for referrals, which makes them true brand ambassadors, and employees are encouraged to promote their work on their social media accounts.” An in-house look book, plus before-and-afters on Facebook, demonstrate the range of technicians’ skills.
Cantor used a PR firm to connect with media outlets, and in-house hairstylists, makeup artists and skincare experts initiated referrals to their existing clients. “We haven’t felt the need to offer huge incentives or discounts; there’s such a built-in demand,” Cantor says. “But if we were unveiling a new technician, that would certainly be a valid avenue.”
In addition to raking in considerable profits, lashes open up additional new revenue streams. Milk + honey scores extra income through refill appointments; sales of mascara, lash-enhancing products and makeup; and booking spa appointments for captive clients. Paul Labrecque also sells lash and brow boosters, plus his lash company’s retail line. “Everyone here is fantastic at up selling other services,” Cantor adds. “Hair, makeup and lashes go together beautifully.”
FACES works with a supplier to create a proprietary line of lashes, ensuring a competitive edge. Retail products like oil-free cleansers and mascaras, plus fun makeup bags and lash-growth products, also boost the bottom line. But the spa’s largest moneymaker is perhaps rabid client loyalty. “Even after we recently evacuated for Hurricane Matthew, people frantically called to book lash appointments!” Owen marvels. “It’s truly a golden business.”
–by Tracy Morin
