Dive Deeper with LASHED WITH NIKKI
Nikki Bui is a young entrepreneur in the thriving beauty industry. Her creative and hard-working spirit led her journey to become a lash artist, educator, and supplier. Read on to learn about Nikki’s journey to becoming a lash expert!
Please introduce yourself and your business to our readers.
Hi! I’m Nikki. I’m 25 years old and started my business back in 2017. I was a cosmetic tattoo artist initially but decided I wanted to incorporate something other than brows into my services! So, I started lashing in 2018.
I’m still a small business but I’m growing and getting more creative day by day. Thankful for everyone who’s been apart of this journey from the start! ♥️
What inspired you to start your business?
I’ve always wanted to be an optometrist since I was 5, but unfortunately, school and I aren’t friends haha. I never liked school. I loved tutoring and teaching since I did it at my grandmas after school from 7th grade to 12th grade, but when it comes to test-taking, I’m honestly terrible.
Since I needed at least 6 more years after finishing undergrad to apply to optometry school, I decided to take a break and find another side hustle or hobby to do. That’s when I jumped into the beauty industry! Haven’t looked back since.
What is unique about your business?
It’s always growing and changing. New techniques, styles, lash products. I love that there isn’t one specific formula when lashing. I get bored with things easily so I needed a career that would keep me on my toes!
What was your first “I can do this moment.”
6 months into lashing I had a spike of clients. It was weird to me because I honestly didn’t think lashing was a job but it was the only income I had. More and more people were booking and I went from 5 clients a week to 5 clients a day in less than a year.
How do you manage time to run your business efficiently?
I’m too busy for my own good. But I’m a hustler. Always have been. I’m a total workaholic and everyone knows it. I average 80 hours a week with training, lashing, running my online business. It’s a lot to handle on my own, but it’s worth it.
How do you advertise your business?
Instagram is the best social media platform out there. Hands down. Sponsoring ads helped me during my first few months of lashing. I’ve probably paid a total of $500 for sponsored ads on Instagram to get where I am today.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
Not to give up. As cliche as that sounds, I NEVER give up. I can’t. I do everything I possibly can until all of the possibilities have been tried and then I’ll quit or give up.
Was there a time you wanted to quit?
Yes, it was when I took my brow and lash course. I felt like I wasn’t given enough information to be confident with doing clients. But after researching on my own and just having my friends and family be my guinea pigs, I was slowly getting the hang of it.
What do you wish someone told you before you started?
It’s not easy. You’ll be stressed out 6 out of 7 days of the week. That it’s okay to say no.
What businesses do you admire?
All small businesses. You don’t understand how hard they work to do what they do.
How do you personally define success?
This is a hard one for me because I feel like you can stop growing so success to me doesn’t really mean anything. I always have a lot of people saying I’m so big and known but I honestly don’t feel that way. I guess success to me would be to have everything you won't go as planned.
What was the best piece of advice you ever got? The worst?
Best: Don’t give up.
Worst: Give up.
What is a quote you like to live by?
Keep growing for yourself and no one else. Stay humble. Work hard.
How do you find inspiration? What motivates you every day?
The people who support me inspire and motivate me every day.
Book LASHED WITH NIKKI at https://www.instagram.com/lashedwithnikki/
