Today we’d like to introduce you to Gulnaz Khannanova.
Hi Gulnaz, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Summer 2017 was when I did my first lash extensions. My client was laying on the couch in front of me for 9 freaking hours! Only my teacher’s care and belief in me didn’t let me give up. Actually at that moment, I didn’t even think of being a lash artist professionally, more of a hobby to develop. I was looking into a business management career in those times. However, it turned out that growing in beauty business has been my top priority for five happy years, three of which I’ve spent here in Houston.
While working in a beauty salon in Russia, I became the first top artist in town to make the most naturally looking lash extensions. Besides, I created and coached my own courses for beginners and won five professional contests including country-level ones.
I must admit it was not a smooth road. There were tears from rude and ungrateful clients, as well as moments of being desperate when I couldn’t improve my work speed for a long time which is very important for a lash artist. But also, there was a ton of joy from great results and happy clients and days when I was extremely proud of myself as I went through milestones.
I am really happy I didn’t give up doing eyelashes because this was what helped my family make a living when we moved to the US. During the first months here, I managed to obtain my professional license and get a large pool of clients. Last year I took part in the international contest Artistic Lash League 2021 and won both 1st Place and the People’s Choice Award. This made me even more sure that I’m going in the right direction. Here in America, I realized it doesn’t matter where you come from — if you love what you do and do your best, you get all the chances to succeed.
People come to me to get top-quality natural looks and not to spend much time on it, as now it takes me 1-1.5 hours at average.
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?
First, it was hard for me to be patient and sit in place for hours. You need to know many details and spend really much time practicing. I am so thankful to my teacher, family and friends for their support and belief in me — otherwise, I wouldn’t get that far.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Houston-based lash and brow artist and an immigrant from Russia.
People come to me to get top-quality natural looks and not to spend much time on it, as now it takes me 1-1.5 hours at average.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Of course, Covid was a hard time for me like for every business with direct communication involved. The main thing I realized is that it’s extremely important to take 200% care of yourself and of your clients. You will always earn your money but you cannot buy wellness. Moreover, I wanted to be very conscious and not to become another link in the pandemic chain. I tried to take advantage of the situation and treated it like an unplanned vacation, which had been actually much needed by that moment.
Pricing:
- Classic volume – 130$
- 1,5D volume – 150$
- 2D volume – 170$
- Eyebrow tint and wax – 55$
- Brow lift and wax – 150$
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gulnaz_lashartist/
