Inspiring Conversations with Karteriya Sims of Ohsoominks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karteriya Sims.

Hi Karteriya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I come from a single mother of four. I was the only girl out of my three brothers. In elementary, I was a quiet and shy kid. When I was in first grade my teachers were swapped out because they could not get me to talk in class. I also really never talked outside of school. I came out of my shell a little after my mom put me into pageants. My mom put me into pageants when I was in 7th or 8th grade. I signed up for my first pageant and won. I won a scholarship to a bigger pageant that was featured on the lifetime show “Kim of Queens” at the time. In middle school I was in dance and sports. I played softball & soccer and found out fast that it was not for me. At the time I did enjoy playing because my coach made it fun for us. My coach nickname for me was “prissy pooh” because I kept my nails and hair together even while I was out in the field getting dirty. I went off to high school and didn’t continue with sports. I soon became a teen mom. At 16, I was pregnant with my son who is now five years old. My pregnancy shocked everyone because of the image I had. I just figured my life was over when I found out I was pregnant at 16. I talked with my mom and her best friend, Chancie, which helped and made me feel a lot better. I knew from then I had a lot of support. Being pregnant still in school was not as hard as I thought but there were a lot of talking behind my back. There were text messages between two girls that I went to school with that read “you get pregnant at 16 she might as well drop out”. I will never ever forget those messages because that is the reason I am where I am today. I had something to prove after I read that.

I had my child and still was at school every day going as hard as I could. My last year of high school was the hardest year. I had to be up at 7 am every morning for school right after school I had worked at 5pm I didn’t get off work until 11pm every day of the week. After work, I still had to go home and be a mother. There were A LOT of nights I never got sleep because my child stayed up all night and I could not go to sleep on him. So I was at school everyday with no sleep and I had to go to work then go back home and be a mom again. I never complained, I just did what was supposed to be done. My mom & my younger brother were a big help and still is with watching my kid for me while I handle my business. I always stayed with a job because I had to not only take care of myself I had a kid that didn’t ask to be here to provide for. My kid never went without anything that he needed. My child’s father was very present and active in his life before he went to jail and got sentenced to ten years. So that left me to provide for my child alone, still no complaints. My mom was always on my back about starting my own business and I also was tired of managers overdoing their part and also I wanted more money. So I had to figure something out fast. I did not want to keep working at jobs that I didn’t really enjoy and wasn’t paying me enough. I was always into beauty and lashes. My friend lala always use to tell me you should do lashes since that’s what you’re into, and I always use to say to her “everybody does that”. I soon learned that it’s enough money in this world for everybody to make some doing the same thing. 2019 I sold my 11th-grade prom dress for $350.

I was so excited when I got the money, but I spent it wisely. I went and ordered everything I needed to start doing lashes, from the bed to the light to the supplies. I was left with zero dollars after I bought all my supplies. That night after I bought everything I was on youtube watching a million videos on how to do lash extensions. I had so much support from family and friends. When My supplies came my mom was my first model, I took all day doing her lashes. I was struggling but I got it done. I posted on Instagram “first 5 people to book pay $25” . My five slots filled fast and it was all family and friends. I wanted to get as much practice as I could every day I was in my mom’s living room doing somebody’s lashes. I raised my prices to $65 and turned my mom downstairs into my work area. I knew I was getting good and business was growing when I started getting a lot of clients I did not know, so it wasn’t just family and friends anymore. I was going to school, still on and off with jobs, and doing lashes all while being a teen mom. I graduated from Therrell High school in May 2019. Proud because everybody that doubted me and ran their mouth about me and what I had going on was proven wrong that day. I made them eat their words!!! The last time I worked a job was at the end of 2020.

In 2021, I decided to go full time with lashes and find a suite to work in because my clientele was growing. April 2021 I found me a location to work at and went full time only doing lashes. My clientele went up big time, and I was at the shop working from sun up to sun down most days. I was making $600 – $1000 every day, and the only thing I was thinking about was how my work checks were $300-$500 every two weeks. I was in charge of my schedule and the times I wanted to work, I could use my phone when I got ready, I also was making more money doing what I enjoyed doing rather than working for a company and hating it. Just to think back I was just this 16 years old crying thinking my life was over, thinking I made the biggest mistake ever and getting judged by everybody. I later find out that was my motivation to become better in life and do better. I do not regret anything in my life, I only wish I started my business sooner. I’m so happy I stayed consistent with my business and what I want to do in life. Today I am still pushing my lash business to be better, growing my clientele and working to expand my skills. I am currently working to become a licensed esthetician. I will be adding facials and brow tinted to services soon.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey has been great but it has not been a smooth road. All though I have a great clientele I have slow days, weeks and even months. Slow times will really put you in a depressing mood and make you want to give up on your business. I have went weeks without clients and being that I am a full-time lash tech, that means I have went weeks without making any money. You have to stay consistent with your business no matter how bad it gets. Keep going! Also, there are times where my son have to come to work with me and he is a toddler and is very busy, so it be very hard at work trying to do lashes and make sure he is not touching things.

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?
Ohsoominks is A lash business. I am a self-taught Lash Artist. I apply for mink lash extensions and I also make custom lash strips by hand. I came up with my name from my original Instagram name “ohsooclassy” at the time, I just remixed the name being that my business was to apply for mink extensions. I specialize in volume lash sets. My most popular set and what I am known for is my regular volume set with bottom lashes. I play around with my lash sets. You could get a light volume, mega volume, wispy volume or a cat eye. I have a conversation with my clients before they lay down to get service just to see what type of lashes they like and what looks they’re going for. Most of my clients show me a picture and I make it happen. I make sure they look and feel pretty and love their lashes before they leave. I look forward to seeing all my client’s reactions when they look in the mirror after their service. My hand-made lash strips are more so for my clients that want the same look of lash extensions but don’t have time to honestly lay down for over an hour to get them. My lash strip could be shipped, picked up or dropped off for my local customers. Every client I have encountered I have tried my best to make sure they experience with Ohsoominks is like no other. I offer lash courses for beginners & refreshers. I sometimes host group lash classes and have a group class scheduled for July 31st. I enjoy teaching other women how to make money on the side or for a living.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I have learned a lot of lessons on my journey but the most important lesson I learned is consistency. Set your goals and stick with them. It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. Fight your emotions. Everybody gets discouraged. I have watched a lot of people in my field that have took a lash class or any business and was not consistent. I have only seen a few people start a business to stay consistent and was successful. I have not once seen someone be consistent and fail. Even on my bad days, I stay consistent, I think that’s what it is all about.

Pricing:

• Volume Set $155
• Mega volume set $175
• Volume x bottom lashes $195
• Custom strips $40-$60
• Beginners lash courses $550

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ohsoominks.as.me/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ohsoominks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Image Credits:
@thatsbawselife