Black History Month
KCC's Black Entrepreneurs Series
Sasha Barnett | Sasha B Beauty, LLC
At the height of the pandemic, Sasha Barnett was furloughed from the retail business where she worked. Rather than give up, she “lashed” out – by adding eyelash extensions to her repertoire.
“I wasn’t sure what direction the world was going in. I didn’t know if working for a company was going to still be an option for me,” admitted the KCC business of fashion major. “After reflecting on how I could make a living, I decided to explore my passion for the beauty industry.”
With 15 years of experience in cosmetology, she’d long had an interest in learning how to do lash extensions. She decided to take an 8-hour course in classic extensions after being encouraged by a cousin who was able to use her lash skills to earn extra income during the pandemic. Her timing couldn’t have been better: Mask-wearing led to a new focus on the eyes. During the height of the pandemic, fashion industry statistics indicated that while lipstick sales were down, eye makeup was up 204 percent, and eyelashes were up 15 percent.
To learn other set styles, Barnett referenced YouTube videos and the Instagram pages of other technicians. But overall, practice was what made it perfect. “It takes a lot of practice and patience to become a lash technician,” she shared. “Lash extensions take about 1-3 hours for application, depending on the set style and the artist’s experience. In the beginning, my sets sometimes took about 4 hours to be completed, but over time I got much better.” With patience and practice, she is now able to offer multiple different styles.
In January 2020, she launched Sasha B Beauty. “The idea of starting a business sounds good, but it’s only the beginning to a road of success,” she said. “My journey has been somewhat challenging, but also a learning experience.”
Juggling her career, school and being a single mom have all played a role in shaping her business. “I have gotten better with time management and multitasking,” she notes.
She currently offers individual lash extensions out of her home. People can make appointments through her Instagram page or by phone. She’s in the process of creating a scheduling site and a website. In the future, she would like to offer such services as hair care and skin care.
Barnett thinks it is important to have a mentor when starting a business, even if it’s not the same type of business. “Just having someone with experience can help you navigate through your journey.”
With a graduation date of spring 2023, Barnett plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business, with an eye towards a career in luxury fashion. “I would love to be the director for a luxury designer. As for beauty, I want to learn all the different areas that contribute to fashion.”
Her advice to someone thinking of starting a business is “go for it!” “Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and don’t hesitate on starting either,” she said. “Your journey will have its challenges and its mistakes. But, ultimately, it’s yours. You can always make changes as you learn along the way.” She added: “Just make sure you’re passionate about whatever it is you’re doing.”
Sasha B Beauty, LLC
Instagram: @sashabbeauty_
786-624-8641