Daily Inspiration: Meet Shakiya Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakiya Smith.

Hi Shakiya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been interested in having my own business. I never wanted to work for anyone; I always wanted something to call “my own.” At first, I wanted to do hair, but I found that to be very time-consuming. So, later on down the path, I decided to try “lashing.” I constantly watched YouTube and practiced on my friends. It was very hard at first and almost took me 3 hours just to complete one lash set! I stopped lashing due to a lack of encouragement and seeing how much better others were than me. Fast forward to today! I’m back and better than ever; I feel as if I’ve almost mastered my craft and ready to take on any obstacle that comes my way! Oh and btw I can now finish a lash set in 45 minutes! Talk about growth, huh?

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been as smooth as it seems. I’ve been off and on with lashing for about a year. Some struggles I had along the way was “lash retention.” I struggled with proper isolation and my lashes weren’t lasting long enough. This was a breaking point in my upcoming career.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in “lash extensions.” I’m most known for my lash style called “The Brat.” It is my most popular lash style at this moment. I’m very proud of my work and how far I’ve come. I’m also proud to announce that I’ll be opening up my very own shop! At the age of 18!!!! It took a lot of time and effort to get to this point. What sets me apart from others is my speed. Every time a client gets up from my lash bed, they compliment me on how fast and neat my work is.

How do you define success?
I define success as “getting it how you live.” I say this because it’s up to you how you want to live your life. Don’t look at the next person to try to determine success. What do you want for your life? Not what others want for you!

Pricing:

• The Brat Wispy – $100
• The Brat – $90
• Natural Baddie Wispy – $80
• Natural Baddie – $70
• Fill ins – $60

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://luxxbeauttyco.as.me/
• Instagram: @co.luxbeauty