August 21, 2018

Meet Trailblazer Ashley Michele

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Michele.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I moved to Atlanta in 2011, my goal was to work in I.T. I attended Herzing University to obtain a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering and started working in the media industry. Years later I started to dabble in makeup and my life as I knew it would forever change. Before I discovered lash extensions, I got my start in the beauty industry as a makeup artist. Still fairly-new to makeup artistry, I discovered lash extensions and never looked back. Even though I still love the art of makeup, lashes stole my heart. Lashes alone can make you feel sexy. When a woman feels beautiful and confident, nothing can stop her. After getting lashes, women tell me all the time that they feel like they don’t need as much makeup and can wake up feeling like a better version of themselves. Just a little accent on the eyes makes such a huge impact. I feel like giving a woman lashes gives them a superpower.

I started my business Lashes by Ashley Michele after seeing a need for someone who was not only passionate about eyelash extensions but reasonably priced. As a working mother, I just didn’t have or could see myself paying $300 or more for lashes. I knew that other women could relate and I felt it would be appreciated to offer this luxury service at an affordable rate.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been smooth at all. The road to entrepreneurship is certainly not a straight one. You will experience many highs and lows and learn as you go. One of my biggest struggles was standing out in an overly saturated market. My advice is to stay true to your brand and know your worth in the industry.

Another tip is to practice your craft. You can attend the best trainings in the world but nothing will help you perfect your skill more than practice.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lashes by Ashley Michele – what should we know?
Lashes by Ashley Michele provides quality services in a relaxing environment that allows our clients to achieve a beautiful low-maintenance beauty routine. Our current offerings consists of Classic, Hybrid and Volume lash extensions.

We are unique in the fact that lashes are all we do! A lot of other salons offer multiple services and they don’t specialize in anything. We take pride in just focusing on the care and enhancement of your natural lashes.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Some of the biggest barriers is when women do not support each other. Together we can do great things if we collaborate and share knowledge. In general, it’s enough for us all to win. I’m happy to share what I have learned because we all need guidance at some point in our journey and it doesn’t cost me anything. If you can lend a helping hand, do it!

Since starting my own small business in Atlanta, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some very talented women entrepreneurs. I think it’s amazing when women can come together and support one another.

Pricing:

Classic Set $100
Mixed Set $130
Posh Set (Volume) $160

Contact Info:

Address: 544 Medlock Road
Decatur, GA 30030
Website: https://www.lashesbyashleymichele.com
Phone: 770-875-8125
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashesbyashleymichele/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LashesByAshleyMichele/

Image Credit:
Ashley Michele

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