I was introduced to eyelash extensions in my early twenties when I was a model for Bikini Village. Their lash artist sat me down on a chair, tilted my head back and started lashing me. The result was absolutely stunning, and I was immediately hooked - how wonderful, lashes looking amazing at all times without any mascara.
I had a very lucrative career in food and beverage at the time but lashes always stayed in the back of my mind. I finally decided to get certified, just out of curiosity - who would have known where this would have lead me. I absolutely fell in love with lashing, it is my passion.
As a perfectionist, I wanted to know everything there was to know about lashes, so I travelled worldwide to attend Master classes and lash conferences in order to offer my clients the best.
I was lashing twelve hours a day, seven days a week. I dedicated every hour of the day to mastering my craft. Testing and experimenting on clients, I played with curls, thicknesses, lengths, textures and colours. My wish was to enhance my client’s natural beauty, without making them look too obvious.
I invented my own style when it came to classic, and later on transferred it to Hybrid and Volume. In every single set I made, I wanted it to be the most beautiful in the world, to make my clients look amazing.
I developed my own techniques and lash designs, and soon enough people were asking me to train them and to provide them with lash products.
I founded Star Lashes and Distributions STAR Lashes, our online store, to provide high-quality products worldwide. A few years later, I founded World Beauty University.
We now offer services and training in classic lashes, volume lashes, lash lifts, micro blading, threading, sugar wax, scalp micro pigmentation, nails and teeth whitening.
It has been an amazing journey that took me to Russia, Rome, London, Prague, Paris, Hong Kong, China, Tokyo, Australia, Mexico and many beautiful states in the USA. Every place I went, I made great friends and business opportunities.
Styling: I absolutely believe that each client deserves a personalised Lash Map, as we are all unique, so I created my multi-coloured Lash Map technique, now taught in all our training centres. It’s important to take the time to create a special set of lashes for a specific client, according to their eye shape, age, style, face, natural lashes, how many layers of lashes they have, etc.
Personally, I like to style very intense sets for photo shoots and more natural sets for every day.
Dare to Be Different!
Play around with styles, thicknesses, curls, lengths, colours…
There are so many styles and different ways to define your work. Most technicians stick to the basics, but you don’t have to follow the trends and do what everybody else is doing in order to be successful.
It’s important to personalise your work in order to stand out. Don’t be scared to try different things to find out what you like, what looks good, and what you’re good at.
Wanting to be like others is far from being the best thing to do. In order to stand out, you need to have your own style, don’t be afraid to be different.
If you’re not quite sure how to personalise your style, it would be my pleasure to help.
My training is available year-round in Montreal, West Palm Beach and Hollywood FL. I also travel for groups worldwide.
My Advice to Lash Artists Who Are Starting Out
-Go on as many training sessions as you can
-Never say no to an opportunity
-Put your heart and soul into your work, you can only succeed.
-Ignore bullying and negative people.
-Always give 200% of yourself.
-Take the time to style and personalise each and every lash set.
A Look at My Journey
by Jessika Aude Gautier
Instagram - @distributionsstarlashes
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