Rising Stars: Meet Alexis Leon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Leon. 

Hi Alexis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well, funny thing is I had thought I found my career when I was 18, I started as a Bank Teller for Wells Fargo and worked my way up through the company. I became a banker then eventually an Assistant Branch Manager. I was employed with them for 9 years and then I realized that it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I worked 40+ hours a week and I didn’t have time for my family and I wasn’t happy so I made a change I got into lashing. It had always caught my attention just because I personally would get my lashes done and I loved the way I felt after a fresh fill…it sounds silly but my confidence would be up! I then got certified and not only was I working my full-time job but I was lashing every spare moment I had. I would lash at 5 am in the morning before work, then get my kids ready, go drop them off then go to work. Then I would take clients after work and lash until 8 and on Sundays when the bank was closed. I built up my clientele and then finally decided to quit my job of 9 years, enroll in beauty school, got my esthetician license and now I am here with my own business. I have my own brand for lash artists to utilize, I am an educator as well to teach anyone that is in the beauty industry all my tips and tricks or just to even just fine-tune their current skills. Just recently I got my own studio which is a big accomplishment for me and I am so proud of. There is just so much to learn in this industry and I love to learn it all! I don’t only do lashes, I do PMU, waxing, body contouring and so much more! I’m looking to expand within the new year so super excited for that! I absolutely love what I do and I could have never accomplished where I am today without my family’s support and my clients! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Just with any business, there is some bumps in the road but I would say my most challenging is when we shut down due to Covid. We couldn’t work if we weren’t essential so I had absolutely no income coming in and being self-employed I didn’t qualify for unemployment. I had to think of alternative ways to bring in income so I would make “magnetic eyelash extensions” and my clients loved it because they still felt pretty during quarantine, they could wear them for up to 20 times and they looked like eyelash extensions! 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an esthetician but I specialize in eyelash extensions and semi-permanent makeup. I have been doing eyelash extensions for 5 years now and I absolutely love it! Throughout my career, I have expanded my services and have added PMU services like Microblading and lip blush, and as well as body contouring. I have always wanted to be a one-stop shop for my clients and future clients so I am always eager to add more services! I have also taken on the roll not only as a lash artist but an educator. I teach eyelash extension classes and I pass on all my knowledge I have learned to help groom new lash artists; I also help existing lash artists add to their current skills to fine-tune their skills. I have also launched my own brand of eyelash extension products such as Lashes, tweezers, and lash Adhesive! I am super happy on how far I have come from working at the bank for 9 years and then starting my own business I have always wanted to help others succeed and provide the best for my clients… I feel like I am making a difference on both parts to other lash artists and clients. I want to provide confidence one service at a time. 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family is my biggest support system! When I told my husband I wanted a career change he was supportive he knew I could do whatever I put my mind to! He is actually who built me my home studio. He painted my room pink, bought me a couch so my clients can sit on, a new lash light, but up shelves! It’s a big transformation from what my lash room looked before that. All of my family have been super helpful and supportive through it all. I couldn’t have done it without them. 

Of course, my kids are my biggest motivation to keep going, and even when it’s hard they are watching and learning that anything is possible! I love to see my girls pretend they are doing eyelashes on each other; it makes me happy to see that I am showing them anything is possible! 

Pricing:

• Soft Full Set & Volume $185
• Mega Volume Full Set $230
• Volume Fills $105/ Mega Fill $130
• 2-day Classic & Volume Training $1500

Contact Info:

• Email: Lashesbylex5@gmail.com
• Website: www.lashesbylex.com
• Instagram: @lashesbylex5