LASH ARTIST OF THE MONTH: COLIE SERHAN
MEET COLIE SERHAN
IG:
coliemarieartistry
Colie Marie Artistry
Portland, Oregon
Congratulations to Colie Sherhan, our February lash artist of the month! We had the absolute pleasure of meeting and interviewing Colie over the phone, and we could have talked for hours about all things lashes. Colie is full of inspiring thoughts, and has a beautiful outlook about sharing knowledge in the industry to create a focus on perfecting your consistency as an artist.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONNECT WITH YOU?
Instagram is such a great platform for creating community. It allows me to reach out to other artists, and to communicate with my clients. Find me at @coliemarieartistry!
WHERE DO YOU WORK?
Colie Marie Artistry is the name of my business. For now, I am a solo lash artist. My books are so full that I would love to hire and train the right person. It’s difficult to say no to clients, but I do feel overwhelmed sometimes. Someday I’d love to expand and have a storefront!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LASHING AND WHAT CERTIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
I’ve been lashing for four years, and on my own the entire time. The journey has brought me a lot of learning, self reflection, and growth as a person. I was certified by Tricia Doggess, owner of Eyelash Divas, who does a little of everything including facials, nails, and lashes. She’s been in the industry for 20 years and when I found her while I was in school for esthetics, I knew I wanted to learn lashes - I’ve always loved them. Trisha was a wonderful mentor to me, because she taught me the fundamentals of lashing and made sure I understood them. She wanted me to be confident and comfortable lashing so I could practice! She set a goal for me, that before I learned volume, I was to complete 40 full sets of classic lashes in six months, and I did! I didn’t charge for a single full set, I just wanted the practice and to perfect the fundamental skills including isolating, removals, taping, fills, etc.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A LASH ARTIST? WHAT GOT YOU INTO LASHING?
My background is in makeup, and I loved working with people. I loved being able to create something beautiful for them, and to see their reaction. Making people more beautiful, confident, and happy is so rewarding! I was blown away when I saw how lashes could make someone feel- I knew I had to do that. Seeing someone genuinely smile is the most rewarding part of what I do. It’s such an amazing craft.
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR GOING INTO THIS INDUSTRY?
I had a full time traveling job with a large makeup brand, that felt so safe and secure, so taking the risk of leaving that to lash was a hard decision! When I took the risk, I was so scared because in the beginning I only had a few clients. Change can provoke fear and cause anxiety, but it is the first step in seeing where the journey takes you. I’m so glad I took the leap without knowing what was ahead. Mindset is everything, and I knew that if I was passionate about this, and I was, I believed wholeheartedly that I could be successful.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF BEING A LASH ARTIST?
Being able to express my form of creativity through the love of art.
OTHER THAN LASHING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY?
I really am a homebody! I love watching movies with my husband and two cats, Boo and Bagheera. I also love to read, exercise, and do things that allow me to really decompress, which we all need as lash artists!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW LASH ARTIST?
While you need passion and drive, it’s helpful to have an actionable business plan and goals. Practice, practice, practice! Take all that practice, and once you’re comfortable enough, make it your own. Consistency is the key to retaining clients, which comes from practice too. Follow people on Instagram who inspire you to be better at your craft. Get uncomfortable and take risks! Try a new curl that scares you and put it out there. Don’t be afraid to put your own twists on your art- that can help you stand out in this industry. Most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something- trust your own journey.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE LASH INDUSTRY?
I want to share what I have learned, and what I continue to learn, so I can help others set themselves up for success. I want to help others in the areas that they’re struggling in to become more comfortable with them, so they can keep going and never give up. Sometimes in business, you can get comfortable and sedentary, and lose motivation. I want to help ignite the fire in people to continue learning new things, and to step out of their comfort zones to keep them excited and motivated. Lashes will always be a challenge- I am never done learning! I am most passionate about helping others to see that the learning never stops, and to motivate them to want to always keep learning.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR INSPIRATIONS?
First and foremost, my husband Graham, who is my best friend and my biggest fan. He is always there when I have a hard day, and to offer constructive criticism when I need it. Tricia, who I mentioned before that trained me, has always been an incredible mentor. My suite mate and friend, Jen (@dahlface_brows) has built an incredible brow business for herself. I have learned so much from her about how she works with her clients and gains their loyalty. Sylvia’s (LBLA) work has been a huge inspiration for me. Lydia (LBLA) has a passionate ability to motivate others to be successful in their careers and inspires as well. These are just a few of the people that I look up to and admire greatly! I think that surrounding yourself with people that really believe in you and your capabilities really can fuel your motivation as an artist.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY YOU’VE FOUND TO GAIN AND RETAIN YOUR CLIENTS?
Word of mouth has been a huge way to gain new clients and retain them. It helps that I share a studio with Jen, so we are able to cross refer our clients. Instagram has been a huge help in marketing and finding new clients as well. I focus heavily on consistency, and clients return because I deliver that for them. My timing for fills is quick also, which is helpful to my very busy downtown clients. I focus on getting every lash, creating a consistent look for my clients, and getting them in and out and respecting their time.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER LASH ARTISTS? WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
What sets me apart from other artists is that I am constantly practicing. In between clients, I do spongework and time myself to see how many fans I can make in that time. I practice as much as humanly possible, and my hyperfocus on that sets me apart. What’s next for me is working on an advanced artistry course. I’m really looking forward to it! I want other artists to learn what has helped me, so it can hopefully help them in their careers. I feel it’s important to stress the importance of practicing their craft. I want to help fuel their passion and drive- you can teach technique all day long, but passion and drive is what will move your career forward.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LASH AFFAIR PRODUCT?
I love the True Love adhesive from Lash Affair. It’s a quick dry formula which is great when I’m working with volume and mega volume. Humidity is low right now in Portland so having a glue that works well in cold weather has been a lifesaver.
Use code “COLIESPICK” at checkout to save 15% on True Love Adhesive 2/18 and 2/19 only!
Want to see more of Colie’s magnificent work? Follow her on Instagram at @coliemarieartistry
Become our next Lash Artist of the Month! To enter, make sure to follow us on Instagram at @lashaffairbyjp. Look for the LAM photo and follow the instructions in the description. Good luck and happy lashing!