Meet Taylor Allen | Owner of Lashes & More

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

Hi Taylor, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Before I started my own business I was working as a manager at a chain lash studio. I knew since I was a kid that owning my own business was something I wanted to do (was never good at being told what to do-ha) but I did not expect it to come so soon. The truth is, my older cousin texted me one day asking me if I wanted to go to Thailand and Indonesia with him for new years. He was going for 14 days and was going to cover a lot of the costs. I couldn’t turn it down so I booked the tickets and asked my boss for forgiveness instead of permission. Needless to say, my boss did not like that very much and told me I could not have the time off. So I quit. When I got back from the best trip ever, I knew I either needed to find a new job or start a business. At the time, I was 20 years old and did not have much to lose so I took the risk and opened Lashes & More. I figured if I could at least get 1 client a day that I would be making more than my hourly pay at my last job.

What should our readers know about your business?
One of the most important parts of owning a service based business is knowing how to build relationships and attract the type of clients you get excited to work with. When I opened my first salon suite, I did not decorate the space the way I would have liked it. I am a maximalist, I love bright and bold items, and I am probably not the most clean cut woman. My original salon was all gray and the walls were decorated with basic hobby lobby signs, it was boring. When I moved into my new suites I decided to decorate it the way I liked. I hung up music posters, bought vintage furniture, and ultimately i created a space that reflected my true self. I made the decision that I was not going to change who I was to attract clients. I wanted clients that loved my style, enjoyed me as a person, and would be loyal to my business because of the relationships I built. I have so many amazing clients, I truly love them all like they are family and I get excited to go to work and see them every day. Building great relationships and being yourself creates brand loyalty!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question! I am not a big partier or someone who likes to stay out late. I am usually so busy that doing anything relaxing sounds great. I am also a huge foodie, I am vegan so I love searching for the best vegan food. My itinerary would definitely include massages at The Four Seasons Spa. Ive never been, but I really want to go make custom hats at Flea Style. I would take my friend to get drinks and play pickleball at Chicken N Pickle. We would go eat at Tiki Loco in Deep Ellum or at Kai in Legacy West. I would also have to sneak Cinnaholic cinnamon rolls in there somewhere and grab a beer at Manhattan Brewery.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I believe that most relationships, good or bad serve a purpose in your life. I’ve had many people get me to where I am today. When it comes to support, my parents, close friends, and my fiance have all been there from the start rooting for me. They have helped me come up with new ideas, promoted me, and pushed me through the hard seasons. When it comes to education and entrepreneurship I always say that even though some of my job experiences were not the most enjoyable, I still owe them so much credit for teaching me the skills I have and for helping me know what I do and do not want when I started my own business.

Instagram: @taylorroseallen @yourfavelashartist

Facebook: Lashes & More

Image Credits
@iamalexjmartin @jacobtakespixs