Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaleah Sydnor
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been wearing lashes since I was 15-16. I began doing my own and then into my second degree, I realized could use my passion of science and health to integrate quality and healthy care as a lash technician.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been smooth. One underrated struggle of successful businesses is balance. I am learning even now as a woman my worth or value is not based on my output or even my success. You must maintain duality between business and self or work and home… As well as yourself and your business. I am blessed to say my business has exponentially thrived since it began but with that I have to not only had to maintain but find myself throughout that journey of growing my business as it is easy to get distracted or content when you are young and successful. 7 years in and I can finally say I have found the balance of what works not only for myself as the owner of my business, but my business itself as well! My biggest achievement within my business is not being featured on TV and having celebrity clients but just like my self identity, figuring out who or what my business was. No, not just an eyelash business, but a scientific researcher that is an eyelash artist – and accepting that that is okay to not want to conform or be like other eyelash content creators. I do not want to make posts about a day in my life, I want to make posts on eye health, or how clients should lay to release and decompress the back during the lash service… It took me some time to accept that it is okay to be different, not only as a person but a business and brand, as well…
Scheduling, pricing, services, timing, marketing, branding – every asset that accumulates to a successful business has been obtained overtime. Being down for that ride of seeing harmony through mastering balance, identity, and purpose in the business has been a struggle yet a journey I have fallen in love with!
As you know, we’re big fans of Lashes By Leah J. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
LBLJ is an eyelash brand that offers eyelash services, education, and products. Everything is based around the artistry of creating customized looks that accentuate each client’s natural beauty and the science around the ocular area to ensure each set is installed with the upmost care and professional quality.
Our brand overall is unique in every way. One can just up and do something but it’s different when you focus on mastering the art prior to commencing. This is a service that requires trust 100%. It is a blind service meaning the clients are entrusting they wake up satisfied without seeing the process.
Services begin with a consultation to not only give the look but experience the client needs. Having three sciences degrees and over 6 years of research experience in my field, the practices are backed up by actual science. The services provided are again, based not only on the look but the care, comfort, and safety. Our techniques proven and researched ensure that throughout our services the eyes will not be damaged nor uncomfortable during or after the service.
We also offer not only education programs and certifications, but continuing programs. While most certifications just start and end to be employed, we begin and never stop as the goal is to build up other eyelash artists and not employ but deploy them into the field so they can build and blossom in the industry not under me, but next to me! The eyelash industry needs more master techs therefore following our certification programs and classes, we continue the education by offering an apprenticeship program so every student has the time to master the art of lashing directly under myself and other peers or students in the program as well.
Just like our services and education programs, our products are researched and perfected prior to customer use! With a focus of natural beauty, authentic health and genuine care, LBLJ offers eyelash strips, glue, lash/brow growth serum, and more!
One of my favorite, personal unique things about the business is that on Sundays we have a segment online and across social media platforms known as ‘Support Sis Sunday’ (SSS). SSS is our highlighting of other professional, high-quality, female-owned businesses. Whether across the world, local, or even virtual, we have experienced and support these businesses we desire to uplift, support, and share. We believe everyone should always have the same at-ease, lasting impression of a quality experience that clients have with Lashes By Leah J and encourage others to shop or deserves by the businesses highlighted on ‘SSS’.
That is my favorite thing, most proud? I am most proud of the integration between my background and my business. I started as a biology pre-med major, French minor. My first master’s is in healthcare administration and my second in community health with a certificate in health leadership. Always in school as I grew my business, I did one day wake up and actually ask myself, “Hmmm.. What really makes my business different?” And the answer was simple. It is simply who we are.. Leah J, the owner, is a lash technician that is a science nerd. Therefore, I began using my passion behind my business. I began doing research while practicing eyelash artistry, studying and interning doctors to learn more about the skill… The goal of your business should be not to simply be “a” business, but to make the business “your” business! And a good one at that! My lash business is not just a lash business that lashes celebrities and has an ice Instagram page and content, my business is at the core Jaleah Sydnor providing a solution, simply.
Do not worry about being like the businesses next to you… Integrate your true talents and truest self into your brand and watch how far your business goes!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
*I would go off of the previous question*
When people come to experience is completely different because it’s not just about doing eyelashes. I am thinking about the health of their eyes and ocular region behind the service. People experience that, there is an in-depth consultation and unique practices throughout the services that are reflective of my three science degrees in my research background in the eyelash industry. Many of my clients don’t know my exact background or what I have studied or done, but they experience it throughout my services.
Many people know me as an “independent boss woman” and my businesses, but I think one thing that always shocks people is that my greatest aspiration is to have a big family one day. I am very much a family oriented woman. I come from to amazing parents and am the only girl to the biggest inspiration of brothers. No matter how much money, success, or things I can obtain, I aspire to be a wife and have a family such as my own to add to my legacy and build onto my family’s empire one day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lashloungebylj.com
- Instagram: @lashloungebyleahj
- Facebook: Lash Lounge By Leah J
