It depends on where you live, first of all! The laws regarding licensing for lash technicians are different across all fifty states – find out what the requirements are in your location and determine exactly what the laws are.
For instance, in the State of California, the Board Of Barbering and Technology outlines that you must be either a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician in order to do eyelash extensions.
Violating this law gets you a fine or a legal misdemeanor, so it’s not worth trying to get away with it. Once you’ve assessed what the situation is in your state, it’s time to take an accredited cosmetology course.
Where you do so is up to you: you’ll have to commit a certain number of hours and undergo thorough training in order to be prepared for the final step.
When you feel ready, then you need to get in touch with the Board of Cosmetology or Esthetics in your state, so you can take the official licensing exam.
There will also be opportunities to take further courses which are more advanced, should you wish to gather as much experience as possible to offer more to your prospective clients.
Once you’ve passed the exam and you’ve got your license, you’ll be ready to practice as an official lash technician – and you can start earning back all the money you spend on taking classes!
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Can you get lash certified online?
Yes…and no. You won’t be considered a certified lash technician officially until you have taken the licensing exam offered in your state, but what you can do is take all of the classes or courses required to pass that exam online.
Of course, when you take said course, you’ll usually be issued with a certificate of completion from whichever institution you virtually attended. This definitely certifies that you know what you’re doing, but it doesn’t mean you’re licensed.
Though the rules differ by state, in the majority of places it is illegal to practice without a license – therefore you must complete the licensing exam before you begin your career, no matter how many courses and certifications you’ve got.
There are benefits to doing your training online, like being able to complete it in your own time, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. Some of them have limits on how long you are allowed to complete them, but otherwise, it’s super flexible.
However, you will miss out on the opportunity to do some hands-on learning, getting real-time feedback from instructors, and the customer service and communication skills you’ll pick up from interacting with your fellow students and any volunteers.
It is also very important you make sure the online course you take is accredited and recognized by your state’s Board of Cosmetology. Not only will this ensure you receive good quality tuition, but you’ll also definitely be eligible for the exams.
How do I find my lash model?
Well, the easiest way is probably to ask your family and friends! First, make sure they are reliable and won’t let you down at the last minute – you could ask several different people to make sure you have plenty of options, just in case.
These will be the easiest people to pin down for modeling because if they love you and like the idea of looking cute with some lashes, it’s a win-win situation! They do you a very very easy favor and get a free beauty treatment… what’s not to love!
After this, the next best thing is to check out Facebook pages for beauty gurus and lash lovers in your local area. There’s probably already an existing community – just make sure to check the rules about what you can and cannot post in the group!
Some pages will allow you to write whatever you want, all the time, whereas others are stricter and have rules about what is acceptable to share or ask for.
As long as it’s not against the rules, there should be plenty of willing participants ready to help you out!
If the above methods have failed, you can always take to social media or even post an ad in your apartment building, even put up a flyer on the nearest local noticeboard. There’s bound to be someone around who wants some lashes!
Do try and vet the volunteer before you meet up with them in real life. Nobody wants to get catfished by some gross stranger whilst trying to make a living! Always have someone else with you when working with people you’ve never met before.
How long does it take to become a lash tech?
It’s different for everybody, and again, also depends on where you’re living. Whether you’re taking the lashes course online or in-person will have an impact, as well as how many hours are required in order to successfully complete it.
Whilst some folks will be able to wrap up their courses in just a few days, others might take weeks, months or even years to complete them and become competent enough to consider taking the licensing exam.
If you’re studying in Illinois, for example, a cosmetologist is required to have finished 1500 hours of education via a course in order to be allowed to sit the exam, whereas in other states it is a great deal less, and occasionally even more.
You can only begin working as a lash technician legally once you have passed the exam – being certified just means you have taken a course, it doesn’t mean you’re qualified to practice yet! Unless you want to get fined for doing so, that is.
This adds yet more time onto the estimated completion date, as you are reliant on the free time that the Board of Cosmetology has for their licensing examinations, as well as whether you can make them or not.
What do lash techs do?
In a nutshell, they apply false lashes to the existing eyelashes or eyelids of their customers. This is putting it in incredibly simple terms, however, and does not take into account the numerous other skills that a lash technician requires.
Before any treatments, a lash tech must first perform an assessment or consultation for potential clients, during which they will determine what style and color they might like, as well as if they have any reference pictures to indicate their desired look.
Lash technicians will either work as part of a team of beauticians and hairdressers at a boutique or salon, or on their own as a self-employed tech who practices out of their own home or visits the home of their clients.
Some lash technicians are also qualified in other skills, like waxing, tinting, or facials, which means they may also offer these services during an initial consultation. What are the benefits of eyelash tinting?. It’s up to you whether you want to offer multiple services or just stick to lash enhancements!
In order to work in a public-facing role, you must have excellent communication skills, be able to empathize with customers, and also put up with some of their less pleasant behaviors whilst still successfully completing their treatment.
That’s not to say you have to work with anybody that makes you uncomfortable, but rather that some humans are terrible and it will be part of a lash tech’s job to pretend they don’t want to run screaming from the room on some days!
As a certified lash and brow artist, I am passionate about helping others grow their lash and brow businesses, while educating consumers on the current trends.
So let me help you get the lash or brow business you’ve always wanted! We have a lot of great information on One Stop Lashes to help you.
Need more clients? Get your business listed with us, and we can help you get customers in your seat. I have 15 years of experience in the beauty industry and am certified in eyelash extensions, lash lifts, microblading, and lash and brow tints.
Being involved in the lash and brow industry, I have helped numerous businesses as a consultant helping lash artists grow their businesses and income.
In addition, I help my clients with a strategy to build the perfect lash business for long-term sustainable growth.