I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Lauren over a decade ago when a few of my friends had the most beautiful hair. I was dying to know where they went…to Miss Lauren, of course! Naturally, I had to go and let her make my mane beautiful as well 😉
From the moment I met Lauren, she’s like someone you’ve known for years. Easy to talk to and so talented, too! We were both pregnant around the same time with our littles, which always gave us something to chat about, in addition to small talk. We would often discuss being moms, owning our own businesses, and trying to juggle it all! At that time, I was walking away from my old event/catering company, and Lauren was moving into bigger and better things, which was so inspiring!
Today, she is not only still thriving but has some exciting new opportunities on the horizon. I’m beyond excited & proud of her mama-hustle and thrilled for you all to learn more about her, her family, and her business.
Scroll down for my interview with Lauren Welch, Luxe Beauty Lounge…
Lauren, tell me a bit about yourself and your family
I am a 35-year old Florida native (and enthusiast, I must add) who’s been a hairstylist for the last fifteen years. I have always lived and breathed the beauty industry. Growing up, I was a dancer and cheerleader. At that time, you could always find me doing someone’s hair and make-up at competitions or recitals. It’s my passion, and I am super grateful to incorporate my passion into my career.
I am probably the clumsiest person on the planet! I love deep conversations, staying up too late while making memories with girlfriends over a glass of wine, and cherish any and every free moment I get to spend with my family.
I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for ten years this year. We have two of the best little boys together. Beckham is five and about to start kindergarten in the fall. And Bronx is two and is always keeping us on our toes! My husband Adam is such a hands-on daddy and partner. Because of him, I’ve been able to build my business while having a family all at the same time. As a family, we love to go to the beach, play in our backyard, and have wrestling matches in our living room (with me being the spectator, of course)! I’m beyond grateful for my bro crew…they are the best dudes that I know!
What exactly is your company and what services do you offer?
My company started as Lauren Welch Hair LLC. I branched out as an independent stylist on my own in 2014. I rented a salon suite and offered custom hair coloring services, hand-tied hair extensions, corrective coloring, special occasion hair and make-up, and men’s and women’s haircutting. My goal is to always help people look and feel beautiful. Making someone’s day is the absolute BEST feeling in this world.
I know you have owned your own successful salon for over five years, and now you have some more exciting things coming. Can you please share with us?
Yes, talk to an advisor yourself! Learn more about what they do day in and day out. I was so surprised to know Thank you! And yes, absolutely! My newest venture will be opening in August of 2021. It’s called Luxe Beauty Lounge, a boutique-style salon suite located right in the heart of the Land O’ Lakes/Lutz area. This has been my DREAM for such a long time! I am so so thrilled to bring something like this to the area!! I am handpicking my whole team: stylists, aestheticians, permanent make-up artists, nurse practitioners for injectables, and medical cosmetic treatments. We will be the dream team of health, wellness, and beauty!
I know being a working mom with two little ones can be quite the balancing act! What challenges do you face? Any advice or secrets you can share for other working mamas?
Ha! No secret sauce here, just a lot of time PRIORITIZATION. I am definitely juggling many balls right now, but I The balancing act is an understatement!! I’ve faced many challenges and still do over the last five-plus years since becoming a working mama. My main challenge has been accommodating my work schedule (meshing with my client’s schedule) and being there for my boys. It’s taken a really long time for me to find a work/life balance. And I feel like it changes constantly depending on my kids’ needs. Being a mom always has been my first priority. One piece of advice I would give working mamas is to do what is best for YOU and your FAMILY. I know that sometimes it seems impossible to figure it all out. But I handwrote a list of duties and then ranked my priorities according to what makes me whole. I knew my family would always be number one. However, seeing it on paper made it easier to adjust my schedule as I saw fit. And always remember…you are doing a kick-ass job!! Give yourself a lot of grace, and pat yourself on the back. FREQUENTLY!
What is your favorite part about owning your own business?
My favorite part is knowing that I built it!! Like, myself!!!! When I started to get some buzz in the community, and my schedule started to book out for one month, then two months at a time, I was very proud of myself. You’ll never work harder a day in your life until you work for yourself. And I would not change a thing about it!!
What was your favorite moment in your business?
A really cool moment was when I owned my lash company with my bestie Raina. We got invited to a private event in New York in the Hamptons. It is an annual event spotlighting women-owned businesses hosted by Jill Zaren from The Real Housewives of New York. We literally got the notice that we were invited to attend less than a week before the event. But we jumped on the opportunity, packed up a ton of lashes, and went to go present our business to the press and a TON of Bravo TV celebs!! It was such a whirlwind and rush! Definitely one for the books!!
What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking of starting their own business/branching out on their own?
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and LEAP! For real, though, it’s one of the scariest things you will ever do. But also one of the most rewarding. Always start with a plan. Map out what your start-up costs will be. What your monthly overheard and take home will be. Social media has played a HUGE part in growing my business. It’s one of the best tools for marketing yourself, and it’s free! Also, know, it takes work, a lot of work!!! You will put in a lot of hours fine-tuning your craft while the rest of the world sleeps. Keep your eye on the prize, and my mentality was I did not have the option to fail! You’ve got this!!
What’s the biggest lesson you have learned so far, working for yourself?
I am a workaholic. And I NEED boundaries. Setting “office hours” is something that I cannot stress enough. And it’s ok to say no, and not have to give an explanation for it. Being a business owner can be challenging because we are on 24/7. It’s ok to take time to spend with your family, yourself, or just to decompress.
To learn more about Luxe Beauty Lounge, follow them on Instagram @lowelch.luxebeautylounge.
Questions, comments or feedback on this article? Comment below or contact us! We would love to hear from you. Curious why we love our local revivalists and support small businesses so much? Read 6 Reasons We Love Supporting Small Business.
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