Meet Courtney Charles of High Maintenance Hippie House in Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Charles.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was 20 years old I was working full-time as a dental assistant in private practice in chandler, I had always had the increasing my salary in the back of my head but not sure where I was to begin. I thought to myself, ‘I have the dream and desire to become a dentist, I should get back into the swing of school, but how can I afford it?’ Needing a large some of the money for schooling and being completely independent, all while working in a low-income job was starting to drain me more and more. While I was trying to figure out what goal I should be tackling, I never stopped doing what makes me happy. One thing that brought me pure joy, confidence, and something I made a habit for myself was my eyelash extensions. I had been getting my lashes done for about two years at this point. The tech I had been going to had a similar background to mine. She worked in the dental field, not fully sure if this is what she was meant to do forever and what are other ways I can make some extra income. She had suggested for me to possibly follow in her footsteps and have her train me to become a tech. Now I always had the mindset that you should never mix work with pleasure, and I loved getting my lashes done. It was the highlight of my month.

I then came in contact with an old friend from high school and with catching up with one another I found out she was a lash tech, the same age as I was. Being her business owner. She was the second person to advise me to be trained in lashes because she as well had a similar background to mine.

So… I did it I bit the built and I was trained to become an eyelash tech.

Now did I think I would be where I am today when I first started my small, side business? No. I thought this was going to be something I did on the side, a Saturday gig for that extra income. Something to help me get through school. I thought well I will be continuing my education in the dental field, what a better way to ensure I will have income all while going to school full-time.

Three years later down the road… I run my business, full-time. I have expanded my trades with all styles of eyelashes, from your simple classic to volume. I learned how to do airbrush tanning, I networked and connected with a registered nurse and now host botox parties for all my clients. I quit my job in the dental field in April of 2018 and I have never been so happy and proud of myself for a decision. My business has opened my door more than I can count on my hands and toes. I have met hundreds of incredible women, I learned that I am capable of doing anything I set my heart and soul into. My business has changed me in the most positive aspect possible.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road to anything is never smooth. Things take time, hard work, dedication, and more importantly endless amounts of love. I have not given up on my business even when it was some weeks where I only worked on one person a day. I stayed with it. Rome wasn’t built overnight so how could my passion and love for something be as well. That is why I hold as much passion for my hard work as I do because it has been a three year six days a week project I’ve been working towards, and giving up was not a choice in my head, no matter the struggle.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
As I stated before, I am a certified eyelash artist. I work out of my home office full-time Monday – Friday. I specialize in all styles of lashes, classic, hybrid, volume. I perform airbrush tanning along with hosting botox parties. I am known for having a natural look but yet artificial look to my work, having my clients getting asked constantly, “Are those your real lashes?” I am most proud of the relationships I’ve built with so many people over time. I have created bonds with people, the majority of my clients are long term clients and I look at them all as friends and I truly do not only fall in love with the transformation I do to their eyes, I fall in love with getting to know everything about them. Being a shoulder for them to cry on in times of sorrow, congratulating them on the major achievements, attending some of the most important events of their lives, and lastly just seeing the people they all are and the lashes are just enhancements to their beauty, because all the women I meet already overshine in beauty from within.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I lucked out in my business, lashing in Gilbert has been a great success. I know many people in the PHX area that commute to me. Gilbert is a central area with freeways and easy access to my studio which is in my home.

Pricing:

• classic fullest $80 classic fill $40
• hybrid fullset $90 hybrid fill $45
• volume fullset $100 volume fill $50

Contact Info:

• Phone: (480) 708-4450
• Instagram: highmaintenancehippiehouse

Image Credit:
image credits to: spontaneous tragedy photography / conway captions

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