Meet Dessiah Daniel | Lash and Brow artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dessiah Daniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dessiah, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
If your pursuing something you truly love and believe in, then there is absolutely no reason to give up. Diamonds are made under pressure, and some of the most beautiful successes where made from struggle, pain, and failures, therefore giving up in something you believe in is not an option.

What should our readers know about your business?
My entrepreneurship journey began at the beginning of when COVID hit us. I was laid off from my job at the gym I was coaching at and had been working for since I graduated high school. Seeing what happened to myself as well as thousands of others is what truly started my journey. Bills were still due and the money stopped coming in, so at that moment I made a decision to write my own future. I began with a small custom made jewelry business, I spent about $100 on supplies and watched countless videos teaching myself how to make polymer clay jewelry. Stepping into this world was exciting to me, because I love learning new things, and during this process i learned how to make jewelry, build a website, work a POS, organization, ect, all of which would help in future endeavours. Although I did not keep making jewelry, it lit a fire in me and started my entrepreneurship journey. From then on I learned many skills (website/ graphic design, epoxy work, manging, customer service, the list goes on) I did small jobs here and there for people but nothing really took off and I honestly wasn’t in love with any of these. One day as I am scrolling online, I come across lashing pages and look through them, and thought “Hmm, I think I want to learn how to do lashes.” So, I got in touch with a friend of mine that did lashes and teaches lashing courses and got signed up. I didn’t have a lot of money, but felt like this investment would be one well worth it. I paid $350 for my course and from the first day of class I was hooked. I practiced and practiced for hundreds of hours, and the following month decided to make this into my business.
It was extremely tough getting started, as far as building my social media following and clientele. I dealt with the frustration of not getting the support I expected from friends and family, frustration of feeling like my skills were not where I wanted them to be as quick as i wanted, the frustration of working a full time job and trying to build a business, and the frustration of giving away free sets and people not returning because they were no longer getting something for free. I overcame the challenges of building a business, especially in the beauty industry, by keeping focused on my reason for beginning this journey and keeping my eye on the bigger picture and remembering what all Ive been through and knowing that I can grow this thing into absolutely anything I want it to be, it just takes hard work, preservation, determination and grit.
Along the way I have learned the importance of being well rounded and having multiple skills and tools under your belt. The skills I learned prior to starting my lash business, I currently use to market my business and saves me money because I do it all myself, and Im able to do the same for others, and teach others thus creating another avenue to make money, because you won’t always be booked up in the beginning, so having other ways to generate income is important. I have also learned more about myself and all that I am capable of. It was so beautiful to see what I have created this far from nothing, knowing what I have been through in getting here. Ive learned the true strength of my mind and intelligence.
I want the world to know that this business is so much more than just another beauty brand. I want this company to be inspiration to young women, I want everyone who gets serviced through this company to walk away feeling cared for, and get up feeling like the most beautiful woman on earth. Through building this brand, I want to inspire, teach, and be someone other entrepreneurs can look up to.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Houston, and think its one of the most beautiful and culture filled cities in the USA. I would start by taking them downtown for brunch, after that I would take them to our museum district to see the health museum, museum of natural science, the Houston Art Museum, and no museum trip would be complete without seeing the Downtown Aquarium. For nightlife I would take them to Midtown to see my favorite bar Little Woodrow’s and then Washington street in the Heights to go to Handlebar, and of course experience the multitude of of food trucks. I would take them to some of my favorite places to eat, including: Jupiter Pizza and Waffles, Cues Burgers, Red Wagon, Truck Yard, Brenda’s Tacos (Westpark location), Thirteen, Trez Art and Wine Bar, and soooo many more. I would end the week by taking them down to Galveston and going to Kemah, Pleasure Pier, and walk around Downtown Galveston. One of my favorite things about Galveston is the rich history of the city, as well as the plethora of outdoor activities available that many do not know about.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout my sisters, they are my biggest motivators. I say this because a lot of my hard work and things I do are for them. They inspire me to be the best version of myself as example for them, they also support me no matter what and always have my back. I would also like to recognize my support system, that consist of my mom, grandmother, dad, Ms. Sarah, my aunt Ned, and my family and friends, they push me to keep going and see things in me I dont see sometimes. My dad passed along his hustle, drive, and determination to me which is all what started my journey into entrepreneurship. They always encourage me and support me in whatever way they can. Someone else id like to shoutout is my self- proclaimed Godmom Vanessa James, throughout my journey she has truly been a rock for me, she is always there to listen and give sound advice. She and I have a lot in common and i have learned so much from her about life, and growing into the woman God intended for me to be, she has always made herself available to others and is truly selfless in her love for those around her. She’s been through a lot and always made a way, which is why her teachings and life advice are so dear to me. All in all, these people i mentioned have all contributed to who i have grown into, not only as a business woman but also who i am when it comes to life in general.

Website: https://linktr.ee/FanFlareLashHouse

Instagram: Business: @_fanflarelashhouse Personal: @_dessidee

Linkedin: Dessiah Daniel

Twitter: @_FanFlareLash

Image Credits
Kira Daniel