Conversations with the Inspiring Hellen Pham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hellen Pham.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Hellen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up, I had a natural inclination toward the beauty industry. By the age of 19, I had already earned my cosmetology license but I knew that I personally had no interest in working with hair. I was, however, interested in makeup application and the notion of enhancing natural features to make others and myself feel more beautiful.

I first got eyelash extensions done before an upcoming vacation in 2017. At this time, eyelash extensions were slowly becoming popular in the beauty industry. I only knew a few friends who had eyelash extensions and I thought it looked great on them! With a vacation coming up at the time, I thought “why not?” and made the life-changing decision to give them a try. After my lash artist finished my full set, she handed me the mirror so I could take a look. The moment I opened my eyes and saw myself, I was immediately wowed by how the extensions enhanced the look of my natural lashes. This sparked my passion and led me to begin my journey to becoming a lash artist. I just loved how they made me feel and I wanted to make others feel the same way. When I returned from vacation, I was still so in love with my extensions. So much so, that I became curious as to how they were applied and how they worked. It was then that I decided to invest in my first eyelash extension course. As they say, “the rest was history.”

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Overall, my journey was relatively smooth but it definitely had its struggles. Personally, I faced a lot of pushback from some family and friends whenever I mentioned wanting to work in the beauty industry. Giving in to the negativity, I put my passion for beauty on hold while I enrolled in college to “find a more suitable, realistic” career path. After my first eyelash extension course, I started taking family and friends as clients at home while going to school and working as a waitress. I admit that starting my business was not easy since there were so many supplies to purchase. Going to school while also juggling lashing and waitressing spread me out thin to the point that I was burnt out. It was impossible juggling so many things at once. One day, I had an epiphany and thought, “F*ck this!” and resigned from college and quit my waitressing job. I began searching for a room to rent out.

Following the decision to fully commit to lashing, I struggled to build my clientele. By working on family and friends, that allowed me to practice and hone my craft. Through word of mouth, I was beginning to receive referrals from those family members and friends that I worked on.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Eyesolation story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a licensed cosmetologist that specializes in Volume eyelash extensions and lash lifts. To start off with, The volume eyelash extension service that I offer is to add volume and length, where individual handmade synthetic lashes are applied onto the natural lash. Each set of extensions is customized to each client and their preference. I take into consideration the length and quantity of their natural lashes as well as their eye shape among other things. Secondly, I also offer lash lifts which is a semi-permanent service that temporarily curls natural lashes for up to 6-8 weeks. This service is ideal for clients seeking a more natural look. It’s like a hair perm but for lashes! I am known for giving my clients the look that they want whether it’s a natural or dramatic look while maintaining the health of their natural lashes. What sets me apart from others is that I truly believe in building a connection with my clients and making them feel as comfortable as possible. Especially when I am working so closely in proximity to the client’s eye as well as spending a significant amount of time with them during each service. I also pride myself on the fact that I continuously invest in further education from industry leaders. By staying on top of the latest and greatest tips or trends, I am able to offer the very best to my clients. It also gives me a chance to connect with other lash artists which is very important in such a large industry.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
As cliché as it sounds, my advice to any woman starting the beauty industry is to never give up and practice your skills consistently. There is no doubt that reaching your goals and dreams will take a lot of work and self-determination. Most days, you will definitely be your biggest critic. And there will be good and bad days. Starting out, I was juggling too many things at once. The moment I decided to invest all my energy into my business was when I really began to flourish. I was able to build my business from absolutely nothing to having a full book of clientele. I am truly blessed for all the hardships I have overcome and the support of my friends, family, and clients.

Contact Info:

• Address: 10971 Garden Grove Blvd Unit B, Garden Grove, CA 92843
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyesolation.co/

Image Credit:
Hellen Pham

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