Local/Competitor Lash Academy's: Red Flags & Grey Areas

Lashes are one of the newest growing trends, and it seems that boutiques are popping up left and right. But like I've explained in the past you do not have to be licensed (esthetician and/or cosmetologist) to do this service. 

Lashes is a gray area service. Sort of like make up artists. You do not have to be licensed in order to become a license make up artist. (At least for the state of California.) But if you have certification of a reputable company, than you're more highly likely to succeed. And it will also help to have some knowledge, however some certification programs can be a joke. But because neither make up or lashes are regulated, there is a gray area of how academy's are ran, and who can teach. Because to be honest, there is NONE. So you're interested in becoming a lash extension technician, than it can be easy to acquire, but where to begin. There are so many academy's to choose from, SO why choose us or what to look for?

Here are some RED FLAGS.

Most lash academy's or education is taught by unlicensed technicians. Meaning they are not licensed estheticians or cosmetologists.
A local competitors add had advertised (but I will re frame from mentioning who)  

"One of our instructors has her Masters Degree in Education and one has their degree in Psychology."

I laughed so hard, I almost fell out of my seat after reading the add. Just because you have a degree in education and psychology, doesn't mean you have any experience with beauty, cosmetology, esthetics, cosmetics, health - safety-sanitation, diseases, etc.  
Which I hope is a RED FLAG to students and/or clients. 

Some competitors rank there information, education, or program stating "5 Star". 
What I would like to ask is, who the hell is rating your class/packet/information/etc. 5 stars? Yourself? the business? or actual students? Because the only one who would matter would be the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology of California. But, because its not regulated, of course it wouldn't be ranked by them. SO than who? 

It's reminds me of the movie "Elf", when Will Ferrell runs into a hole in the wall coffee shop, because the advertisement on the window said,"Worlds best cup of coffee." He truly believed they had the worlds best, and bursts in the cafe to congratulate the staff. The staff and customers look at him like he's gone mad. Here's the clip.

Don't be like Will. Don't fall for FALSE ADVERTISEMENT. Don't be afarid to ask for license and certification verification from your lash instructors. That information should be easily accessible.

Here is another example of a competitors academy add with a red flag. They had labeled there instructor as "Master Level Trainer." Again, I would love to know who had ranked any lash tech as a Master level trainer?
It would make sense if you are a "Master Colorist" after taking a advanced hair color class and if you we're a licensed cosmetologist. But the difference is, one is regulated and one is not. So how can someone just label themselves as extremely advanced, when they have no credentials?

Who is your instructor?

Another red flag from another lash training add was immediate "Job Placement". If clients knew this, they'd be MUCH more alarmed at this offer. Don't get me wrong, everyone has to start somewhere. But I recommend at least 2-3 months of practice and building a clientele mobile or as an added service. That way, you can be sure that you will continue to offer lashes. But immediate job placement is a bit disturbing. That's like offering a teaching position to a kindergartener. (No offense to any new lash techs.) These people should be looking into students as students. If they are interested in hiring them, than I would have been checking there backgrounds, getting references, making sure they have LIABILITY INSURANCE, and etc. These places do not even question.
Trust me when I say, I've worked for some shady and some professional lash boutqiues/salons. Some are professional, and some are a joke. Take my word for it. But to see some of the certifications and classes offered, that are taught by the shady or unlicensed people, REALLLLLLLLY Concerns me. But because no one talks about it,  it goes unnoticed by clients and students.

The lash issue I'll touch base on is lash kits. Lash kits can vary from sizes, prices, and products. Again, most nonlicensed boutiques cannot purchase "reputable" product. Meaning they are forced to buy from oversears or through local wholesalers who purchase overseas. The product can come from places like China, Japan, South Korea, etc. That's why most lash academy's and education programs are so cheap. The product is cheap, and they are able to offer class with kits at an insane low price. But is it worth is? Well first off, the sizes of products is usually a joke. The biggest complaint I've heard from students who have taken classes/certifications locally had said the quality of product was poor, as well as the sizes and quantity we're small and not adequate.

Meaning that the product is most likely SKETCHY. Most ALL adhesives contain harsh and harmful ingredients such as acrylic and formaldehyde. These are the leading ingredients for allergic reactions, and  most of the ingredients are found in nail products, and should never be used near or around the eyes. 

The Mink lashes also are not "animal cruelty free. Mink's (Part of the mustela family, Otters, Ferrets, Mongoose, Weasels, etc.) are gathered and slaughtered or treated unfairly and in poor conditions for there fur. There fur is used for lashes and other items. 

 My suggestion? Make sure you product is made and manufactured in the USA. That includes free of formaldehyde and acrylics, as well as animal cruelty free. And make sure the educators gives you the name of the product or brand they purchase from. Also, Request a list that comes in the lash kit, and what comes with your class. If they don't do any of the above, I'd take that as a red flag.

 Compared to Our own Lash Academy : Urban Lash Academy, I think it speaks for itself. Here's a part of our add for our classes.

 "Compared to competitor certification programs, learn from licensed and certified lash techs, who have experience in the beauty industry. Most education lash programs are taught by only certified lash techs, who do not have a esthetician or cosmetology license. Since the state of California does not regulate this service, the certification programs are not regulated. At Urban Lash Academy, we strive for our students to have a high end education and a legitimate experience. The only state that is regulated is Texas, so we abide by Texas eyelash extension specialty license rules and regulations, while abiding California state board regulations in our salon. Learn the difference in legalities and what the truth with Eyelash Extensions is.

We also carry 2 exclusive lash product lines, specially formulated for our lash salon. Most lash salons that are only certified, and do not have a licensed esthetician or cosmetologist, cannot buy reputable product from the USA. Meaning they are directed to buy from overseas, or from wholesales in the US who buy from overseas. Those products usually come from China, Japan, South Korea, etc. The danger of these products can contain harmful ingredients such as formaldehyde and acrylics, and are leading ingredients for allergic reactions. Since this service is not regulated by the FDA, these products are able to make its way to the US, regardless of its ingredients or contents.  Don’t get poor quality product and harmful product, be able to sleep well at night, and your clients too, with a high end quality product, made on our home soil. Every student from our program is able to purchase our exclusive product, even after the class. It’s only offered exclusively to our students and staff.

We offer small class base, for more efficient one-on-one time with instructors and staff. Don’t get distracted, or feel discouraged. Have the proper attention you deserve with our staff. The max class occupancy is 6 students. We also offer two education packages that come with a free refresher course, at any time.

Eyelash extension application is a technical and tedious art, requiring a steady hand, endurance, attentiveness and skilled technique. Unlike strip/false eyelashes, which are applied as a single strip or group/cluster, "individuals", that only last a few hours to a few days. Eyelash Extensions are individual lash extensions, bonding one lash extension to a natural lash. With our proper application technique, lash extensions help you to create a more natural look, each set customized while conforming to natural eye shapes and keeping the integrity of natural eyelashes. Our program and training is designed to maximize the longevity of lash extensions for each client, while maintaining the health of their natural lashes and lash cycle.  Our experienced, licensed & certified, and professional staff will instruct each student in today's most popular specialty training course.
Our luxury education is a one day, 8 hour intensive, technical, and superior seminar, providing the best licensed/certified professionals in the beauty industry. A two part program, our training covers both theory and practical courses. The theory course, which provides diligent and extensive amount of information on health and safety, sanitation, diseases, the history of lashes, proper application, techniques, product knowledge, legality information and forms for clients and technicians, business information, marketing information, lash science and theory, lash placement, and more. The practical course, is our hands on and in-depth training, supervised by our educators. The second portion of the class is all “hands on” while supervised by our lash instructors.

Our academy kits, which is included in each course, has our exclusive lash extensions and products solely made for our company. We offer two different options of kits, that can help accommodate any budget, but maintaining the quality and integrity of products. Only our students are given access for future purchases of product after completion of our training. Once completion, our students receive a certificate of training upon completion of our program!"

Other lash programs, such as Nova Lash, is extremely reputable. However, I have my own experience and opinions with the brad and products. However you can only be a licensed esthetician and/or cosmetologist, in order to take the class. 

My advice to perspective students, is to do your homework. Ask questions to instructors and the academy/lash programs. Ask about what the program holds, certification, products, ingredients, etc. 

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