BY: DELLIA RISMAY
For those of us who would rather savor every possible minute in bed in the morning rather than get up and spend an extra ten (or more) minutes on makeup, the thought of being able to look like you’ve spent time primping in the mirror when you really haven’t is a tantalizing one. Imagine not having to fight with mascara clumps or smudged eyeliner when you’re already running late. Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, pinch yourself, because Pink Lashes is here to make your mornings smoother and more beautiful.
Located at Jane and Wilson, Pink Lashes has been giving clients flirty, fuller lashes for eight years, while the creator, Camille Spencer Reid, has been perfecting her craft for eleven years. Camille, a hard-working immigrant from Jamaica, a wife, and a mother, found herself at a career crossroads and was initially looking into pursuing a career in child and youth work, but then she started hearing buzz about eyelash extensions. One day, she got a phone call that continued to push her towards that career path. “I got a phone call that said, ‘hey, why don’t you try it?’ And I thought, ‘eyelash extensions? How can I use that as a career?’” Camille says. Back when she got that call, she and many other people wouldn’t have predicted the recent explosion in popularity that lash extensions is currently enjoying. Although she was hesitant, she decided to enroll herself in a two-day course that taught both theory and hands-on aspects of applying lashes. Camille says that while she was naturally very good at doing other people’s makeup and styling their hair, it was more of a hobby than a profession; prior to enrolling in the two-day course, she hadn’t had any formal cosmetology training. Despite this, Camille began her journey into becoming a lash stylist and currently runs Pink Lashes with the help of her team.
When Camille first started applying lash extensions for clients, she was intimidated by the level of meticulousness necessary to do a good application. “I learned about three different types [of eyelash extensions] and I didn’t even want to do the most expensive one because it was nerve-racking for me. The strip lash and the cluster lash, I leaned more towards that because I had mastered that really quickly,” she says. Mink single strand lashes were the source of her fear for a while, as they require so much attention to detail because the lashes must be individually applied to the client’s lash line. “I would shun clients and try and get them to do the other ones because I could do them very well. But eventually, I overcame my fear, and I started practicing more and more.” The good reviews on her single lash applications started to come in, and things took off.
Eyelash extensions have really begun to take off recently for a variety of reasons. The look is buildable, especially for single-strand lashes. You have the ability to go from a natural look to a more dramatic one, depending on how many lashes are applied. Lashes come in a variety of styles, including strip lashes, individual flare lashes, classic single strands, mink single strands, and more. They’re pretty heavy-duty too; with proper care, they can last for months, and after a 24-hour waiting period, the lashes can get wet, provided the wearer doesn’t rub them rigorously, or use any oil-free makeup removers, as this can break down the lash adhesive. Plus, once you have an initial set installed, you can simply return to have them refilled as the artificial lashes begin to fall out. Unsurprisingly, several celebrities wear them. From Kim Kardashian to Jennifer Lopez, Hollywood’s hottest can often be spotted wearing lash extensions for that effortlessly glamorous look. And, of course, there’s the benefit of time being saved; with lash extensions, it’s easy to look like you’ve spent a considerable amount of time in the mirror, even if you’ve just rolled out of bed.
At Pink Lashes, Camille looks at every single client as her awaiting canvas. “I like to say that I’m not just a technician, I like to refer to myself as an artist, because I create and customize the client,” Camille explains. From the moment her clients come through the door, Camille analyses their facial features and shape, determining what style of lashes would best work for them. Clients also get a consultation before lashes are applied and have the option of looking at images of lashes she’s applied to other clients so that they can get an idea of how they’d like their lashes to look. Camille has also made recommendations for her clients, based on what she thinks would look good on them. It’s a highly individualized experience. “For an older person—say someone in their 50s or 60s, I wouldn’t want to give them anything too long, or too glamorous unless this is what they want. I take the whole person into consideration. I look at your eye shape, I look at the face,” she says. “I create and customize for the client, I don’t just do the eyelashes.”
Camille’s clients aren’t the only ones who benefit from her close attention to detail. For those interested in learning how to install lash extensions, Camille offers to teach the craft. She offers a one-day course, as well as a two-day option. “I’m so thankful for my company, and the direction of how my company is going, and I want other people, not just women, because men are interested in this, too, to become entrepreneurs. As I go on about my business, whenever that day comes, they can pick up and continue on providing this for our community. I’m willing to share; I don’t mind sharing my knowledge, I don’t mind sharing my skills,” she says.
No matter who you are, or who you love, everyone is welcome at Pink Lashes. Camille says she is happy to have members of the LGBTQ+ community as clients, as they have been coming to the shop for several years. It’s just another example of Pink Lashes striving to provide unique, stylish, effortless beauty for everyone. Go to bookmepinklashessalon.as.me or call 647-222-3631 to get one step closer to luxury lashes today!
