We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samarah Ballard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samarah below.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am an eyelash technician and owner of Bare Bone Beauty Bar. I started lashing full-time in 2020 after having a press-on nail business named Mad Click Nails. My first shop for my lash business was located in the Uptown area in Minneapolis, but I decided to move my shop to St. Louis Park in August of this year to expand my business since I plan on creating a lash school. I also plan on having an online and in-store product line for lash techs as well as teaching in-person classes and online webinars to help others achieve their goals as lash technicians. Something special about my business is that I do not charge deposits; this is very rare in the beauty industry. I wanted to stick out as a new lash tech and realized in my personal experience when receiving lash services that deposits were the most frustrating part of the process. I believe that every aspect of a beauty service should be catered to the customers’ experience.
Fun fact: I named my business Bare Bone Beauty Bar because I wanted to emphasize everyone’s natural beauty with eyelash extensions.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reading every day about marketing and businesses has helped me immensely on my journey as a business owner and lash tech. Learning from other masters of their craft has helped me master my craft, but I am constantly learning to make sure I can provide the best services to my clients. My drive is another aspect that has helped me along my journey. I absolutely love what I do, and I love the clientele that I have built. I persistently work around clients’ schedules to make sure that I am putting my customer’s first, even if it means waking up at 5am so a nurse can feel more beautiful before her shift!
Another quality that has helped me with my journey is problem-solving. To be in the beauty industry means to be malleable; trends change, the definition of beauty is extremely fluid, and owning a business can be stressful. Learning and loving my craft aids me in my problem-solving abilities because if you love what you do, it never feels like you’re working.
I recommend that others when starting their journey as business owners to not focus on the money. You have to love what you do or else you will be burnt out and give up on your business early. When you get frustrated, you have to remember why you started your business in the first place; if you are not rooted in passion, you will have no drive to continue your business once things get difficult.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My father is the person who has helped me most in my journey. Growing up, my dad would work days on end to make ends meet for his family. He would never complain even though he was constantly working just to satisfy everyone around him. My father has helped me build the interior of my shops for free because he believes in my vision for my business. He is my biggest supporter. When I first opened my press-on nail business, he was my first customer.
He is also an entrepreneur, so we bounce many ideas off of each other. Our relationship is built off of our love for each other and the love for our business passions. Without him, I would not be where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tr.ee/ZxrQS12ARJ
- Instagram: https://tr.ee/zLt0dDdJg3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BareBoneBeautyBar/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCfy-jzkHvAO8y-2QM4d3xtg?sub_confirmation=1
