This interview has been a long time coming. I have been hunting this woman down for a date for a while but as you will learn in the interview, she is incredibly busy (but I got her). I have had the pleasure of knowing Kelsey for a while now, so I am going to take a selfish second and make it about me.
I recently had a conversation with her about how we both personally handle conflict during tough times. I will never forget how she uplifted me in the most unconventional ways during a bad breakup by allowing me to vent, but not long enough to let me wallow in it. As I layed in her bed with tears in my eyes and dirty ass feet because I was too upset to even put on shoes walking to her house, she said “okay get up”, wash your ass, and get dressed we’re leaving. She rallied up the crew and I spent the entire day NOT thinking about my stress which in turn was monumental for my healing. Her solutions based positivity is what I believe is a driving factor in all her successes.
I genuinely believe specific women come into my life to teach me and make me better. Every time I am around her and her close circle, I am reminded about the importance of having balanced feminine energy as close as possible despite what the world says regarding comparison to the next. She defends the women she knows, she confronts the women she knows when they need to be held accountable, and she openly admits when she is the one that potentially messed up too. Her unapologetic and raw demeanor is magnetic and her go getting tenacity is the inspiration that drew me to want to conduct this interview with her.
So speaking of I guess I’ll stop with the sap and get to what she has to say about the whole intent of this post. The Beauty Fixx.
Tell me about your business…
Kelsey started off by telling me about her transition from working in the nightlife to the beauty industry after a conversation with her nail technician. Despite her positive attitude surrounding the idea, she hit a mental wall after she finished her certification due to the initial complexities in perfecting her craft. She used her previous connections to get clients to practice on and in turn, overcame her fears and found her passion for it. It quickly went from a side hustle, to a full time career within 6 months. 4 years in I have her on the blog sharing her experiences as master lash artist, educator, and CEO of The Beauty Fixx. She specializes in microblading and ombre powder brows as well.
Kelsey: You have to be very disciplined and you have to know that you’re getting out of it exactly what you put into it. That part can be intimidating but it ends up making it more empowering because I am relying on myself and I am doing it well. It makes you feel good.
Charlottes Lash Facts.
The lash industry has grown exponentially since it first started blooming in 2018 and is expected to be a 1.8 billion industry by 2024. Why? Women love lashes! 98% of women have had or have false lashes whether in strip form or individually applied lash extensions. 50% of those women range from the age of 18-34. Lashes are more convenient and let’s keep it real they make you feel like a baddie.
Tell me about your morning routine…
I just recently read an article about 30 successful women and what their morning routines are and 95% all start their day with some sort of exercise or physical activity. I myself am a snoozer. I will hit it 4-5 times before I wake up. On a typical day I am waking up at 6-630, brushing my teeth, throwing on my gym clothes, and rushing out to the gym. I get my workout done first thing, after that I have a couple hours to shower, actually eat breakfast, and get my thoughts organized for the day. That makes that much of a difference as far as the flow of my day. If I didn’t have that…it would be a mess.
She’s also a dog mom so she told me how she has to give him morning cuddles.
If I didn’t have….I would go crazy.
That would definitely have to be my family, my friends that have become family, and my support system in its entirety…its so necessary. I lean on my friends and family heavy and they are incredible valuable to me. Every relationship is important for different reasons but all equally important.
When she said this no more had to be explained because as a friend, I’ve been witness to her sacrifice and immeasurable love she has for her friends and family. I have seen Kelsey in a devastating space due to family loss and watched her pull her self together for others. She gloats over her siblings and parents almost every time I talk to her.
If you could go back in time….what would you tell your 20 year old self?
I would’ve tell myself do not go to college until you know what tf you want to do. College is an investment, its a lot of money and time and you wouldn’t put your money into an investment if you didn’t know where it was going right?!
Kelsey spent a ton to go to college because she thought that was what she was supposed to do and ended up dropping out. She initially equated that to success like a lot of us do without knowledge that not everyones path needs a degree.
If you know what you want to do, by all means do it, but if you don’t…take the time to figure it out. Don’t commit yourself to a relationship in your 20s. You’re still figuring out who you are, what you like, what you don’t like. Date everyone! Date multiple people. Thats how you figure out what qualities and traits you like and value and you won’t figure that out by dating one person. Have fun, make mistakes, don’t take yourself too seriously, don’t be too hard on yourself and enjoy everything.
What does your last day on earth look like?
Okay let me circle back with my family! I am going to be at my moms house. My mom is my best friend in the whole world. My siblings and my dad are my favorite people to be with and have conversations with. I feel full of love around them. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
I told her to elaborate on the activity of choice.
We’re gonna be cooking and we’re gonna be eating!
Whats a day of self care for you?
I don’t wake up to an alarm clock. I would sleep in a little bit but still start my day with physical activity. It makes me feel good! I’d probably watch American Horror Story and… [eat] good food. My day to day is always non stop and my mind is in a million pieces so a day to have nothing to do…thats what I would do….and in a hammock!
What are the challenges that you run into as a small business owner?
Staying motivated and disciplined. I wear all the hats. I am the owner, the manager, payroll, and customer service. I am all of it. That can be challenging but I am doing what I love so that also makes it exciting. I love it.
What are some of pros vs. the cons?
I would say that the pros out whey the cons by far. I struggled with social media because I am not a tech person but I just hired someone to manage my social media. Shout out to her! It is such a relief! I am over the moon happy. Some of the other cons are that you can not get sick!
Kelsey went into how being alone can be taxing at times because rescheduling is impossible with a team of one. She also described how being a business owner doesn’t come with benefits like health insurance. During my research I came across statistics that identified a high level of job satisfaction amongst lash artists and Kelsey validated that during her interview.
I do overwork myself and I probably should not, but I am obsessed with what I do. I risk being burnt out but I am not there yet. I am figuring out how to manage that. I don’t typically take breaks so my advice would be to have a chiropractor and a masseuse on hand. Everything else is a plus!!
What do you tell someone that wants to quit?
Why do you want to quit? Is it because there is someone there that you don’t really want to deal with? Not making enough money currently? Is it some outside force that is making you feel like you don’t want to be there? The location? All of those things can be managed but if you’re not happy…QUIT. You spend a little less than half of your waking hours at work. Find something else and try everything because there are a million ways to monetize anything.
Amen.
How did COVID affect your business and life situation?
I know it affected a lot of people negatively. In Arizona I had to shut down for 6 weeks but once I started back all of my clients came back. The clients that didn’t come back was because of their job situation. Its hard to say because I know how many people that it has impacted but my business has grown so much since then. My personal life took a back seat.
Kelsey expressed how all of her energy was shifted into her business and how necessary it was in the grand scheme of things.
Future for the business?
I currently taking an instructors course with someone in the industry that I really admire. Just conceptualizing the course. I think it’s important to have a mentor when it comes to honing in and figuring out what your goal is. You need someone there to tell you to THINK BIGGER. People tend to doubt themselves…I doubt myself, but it feels good when you have someone more experienced and tell you to push yourself harder. It makes all the difference in the world.
What does women empowerment mean to you?
I think there is enough for us to all eat. It’s about amplifying each others voices, outwardly showing support, and putting other women in positions to win. Thats what I try to do. I am in the position that I am because other women have shown that to me and I try to pay that forward. Now I am teaching and I make that my goal.
What does love mean to you?
We will start with what love is not. I don’t view love as transactional and has anything to do with ego. I think love is a day to day action. You can hold onto affection and nostalgia but love is active. It’s you wanting someone to be the best version of themselves not for you but for them.
Kelsey has her own lash studio in Phoenix and is looking to lease additional space and brand products in the future. So she is definitely “Thinking BIG” It was such a pleasure to have her bless us all. Please follow her on IG @thebeautyfixx and book asap if you’re in the area.
