There is no role at iGlam Lash and Beauty that Charnae' hasn’t played. A natural born leader and serial entrepreneur who began owning businesses as early as college, she started the first lash and brow salon in Jacksonville, FL as a one-woman show in 2017. Now four years and a whole lot of lessons later, iGlam is a thriving one-stop shop for beauty and self-care that’s built on authenticity, strong relationships, and quality service. Charnae' is meticulous, intentional, and overflowing with wisdom—and we truly can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.

The Basics:

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Current city: Jacksonville, Florida
Alma mater: Savannah College of Art & Design
Degree: BFA, Fashion Marketing & Management
Very first job: Waitress, The Clock Diner
Hustle: Owner, iGlam Lash & Beauty & Crowned Hair Company

The Interests:

Babe you admire and why?
Kim Fernandez of Girlkin Lashes. We became friends by connecting as salon owners in the same industry. We both launched around the same time, however, she owns and operates FOUR salon locations in the DC area, recently opened her first franchise in Georgia, she’s also a wife and mother of four. She's amazing, and I love how she gracefully executes everything that she’s working toward. It’s so crazy how she does it all—witnessing her keeps me motivated. Operating and growing a successful beauty business is tough, and lash salons are still a new thing, so we’re all still figuring this thing out—but she’s absolutely killing it! 

Current favorite beauty icon?
I feel like in today’s society, some icons are introduced to us as influencers. Right now, I really like Jackie Aina. She unapologetically shines through being herself and promoting black girl magic and luxury. I love it!

What’s been the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 
Don't take anything personally, and trust your gut.

A book you’d recommend?
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Your favorite way to spend your free time?
Traveling and trying new dining experiences.

The Hustle:

Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily.

I’m the owner of iGlam Lash & Beauty, a salon located in Jacksonville, Florida where we specialize in all Lash and Brow services from eyelash extensions, lash lifts, brow threading, waxing, permanent makeup and more. As the owner, I’ve done it all; I don’t think there’s one role within the company that I haven’t played. From inception, iGlam started with me as a solo lash stylist taking clients in the back room of a hair store, to a storefront salon with several stylists. My role has changed from lash stylist to salon owner aka the lash trainer, salon manager, receptionist, social media manager, graphic designer, bookkeeper, janitor, exterminator, photographer, hiring manager—any and everything I needed to be at that time. 

Currently, I focus on continuing to grow the brand and the business by developing my staff, new products, hosting lash training courses, and all of the not-so-fun, operational things like studying our finances, tweaking internal processes, and meeting with my operational team weekly. 

Have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit? Where do you think that stems from?

Yes! My dad was self-employed for my entire life and always preached to me the importance of independence; I personally believe it’s just in my genes. When I was a little girl, I loved doing fundraisers—I was never intimidated to sell things to people; knowing what to say and using selling points always came easily to me.

When did you decide to start your biz, and what did that process look like for you? 

I actually started my first business in 2010 as a junior in college. I started an online shoe boutique that I eventually transitioned into a physical location with a partner. It was called Heels & Hers, specializing in women’s shoes and accessories. This was the business that gave me my first taste of learning business processes, hiring staff, promoting products, etc. That business did OK, but it wasn’t enough money for me to sustain my lifestyle, so I took my first corporate job out of college as a buyer for Rooms To Go in 2012. I stayed there until I fully launched my hair extension company in 2013, which just reached it’s 9th year in business. 

In 2016, I had the idea to open a lash salon. During that time in Atlanta, lash extensions were gaining a lot of popularity, but there were very few lash salons and I felt like this would eventually be a “thing”. In October of that year, I decided to start my journey of launching this business by learning the technique first. After a lash course, I practiced with family and friends for free as often as I could and then in February of 2017, I came back to my hometown of Jacksonville–initially with the intention of it being temporary. I found a space for rent that included all of that I needed to do lashes, so it was a no-brainer, and I was able to grow iGlam from 0-10K/month by September of that year. Those six months involved A LOT of hard work that I will never forget: building my booking site from scratch, developing booking policies, making my own business cards and graphics, creating all of my own social media posts, posting every day, answering calls, responding to DM’s and texts, researching and testing products, doing lashes 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week—it was just SO much for one person. BUT, the money that I made positioned me to move forward with my goals of opening as a salon, and allowed me to learn if this “lash thing” could be a viable business prior to opening on a larger scale. In September of that year, I taught a young lady my technique of applying lash extensions, and she eventually became my first employee. From September through December I worked really hard to continue growing iGlam’s clientele and reputation while simultaneously building out the salon space—and on December 20, 2017, iGlam Lash & Beauty opened its doors. 

What services + products do you offer? Which would you say is a must-have? 

iGlam focuses solely on lashes and brows. It was very important to me for this salon concept to have a true niche. I wanted iGlam to always be the go-to for anything related to lashes and brows. We offer lash extensions in several varieties, lash lifting and tinting. For eyebrows we offer threading, waxing, tweezing, tinting, lamination and permanent makeup which is commonly known as microblading. For me, our must-have is definitely the combination of any brow shaping, plus tint combined with Hybrid Lash Extensions, which are a mix of classic and volume lash extensions. These are perfect for someone who isn’t sure what to choose; it’s a great balance of natural mixed with some glam. When you combine this with a beautifully sculpted and polished brow. You’ll wake up each day looking and feeling like your best self without much effort. :)

How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?

From an academic perspective, being a SCAD grad was really a life-changing, next level experience for me creatively. I took away so much from their fashion marketing and management program; I was able to learn all of the back-end processes required to actually launch a business. I always sought out internships and jobs related to the field so I could apply everything that I learned in school. I’ve honestly never considered myself to be a true lash stylist by nature, however, my previous experiences in business taught me the importance of knowing about your craft to provide exceptional service, which is a principle iGlam stands on today. 

Professionally, my experiences from operating my hair company taught me so much before launching iGlam. This was my first business that actually hit six figures. With that came the lessons of registering, corporate filings, money management as an entrepreneur, hiring accountants and attorneys, dealing with the IRS, lease negotiations, staffing and payroll, managing fraud and chargebacks, vendor research, creating marketing campaigns, and so much more. Without the lessons from Crowned Hair Co, iGlam probably would have tanked as soon as I began to hire people lol. 

As iGlam approaches its fifth year in business, I still don’t have everything figured out. It’s so true that each time you advance to a new level, there are new challenges that you have to conquer. The challenges I had in 2017 are not the same challenges I face in 2021. As an entrepreneur, I don’t think there is any class you can take that will teach you to know how to handle each and every curveball that you face. You just begin to take the things you learned in the past and apply those things moving forward.

Is there any advice you’d like to provide to folks interested in taking the beauty school route?

You will only learn basic technical skills. Beauty schools will not prepare you to successfully launch or build your brand… that happens outside of the classroom. You either gain that knowledge by independently learning through trial and error, or you learn by working under someone else. Either way, the price of that knowledge comes with investing time and money into your own business or investing time into someone else’s business. 

How have you seen yourself grow professionally? In what ways has your professional growth influenced your personal growth?

Over the past eight years, I’ve grown to understand the importance of building strong relationships. Relationships in business are just as valuable as currency. Whether it's building a team or a clientele, it’s all based on relationships—and your business’s growth depends on it. As a business owner, I don’t think people know that it can actually feel very lonely at times, professionally. It’s not something I feel a lot of entrepreneurs openly discuss. So with that, I’ve learned how to see the value in people and good relationships in my personal life. I now understand the importance of not only pouring into others but allowing others to uplift and pour into me as well. 

How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?

Great question! Honestly, I think being a woman in business is a little tricky. It's like you're expected to maintain a kind, compassionate, bubbly energy, but also have the ability to be the boss, and unfortunately those traits don’t always align with operating a successful business. I feel like when a woman maintains boundaries and expectations, especially in a no-nonsense manner, she’s villainized. It's tough. You want people to like you because you need people to somewhat enjoy working with you and you definitely want people to support your business, so you have to care and try to find a balance that works for you. Unfortunately, I feel like men more often than women are able to command more respect in a professional environment with ease and still be liked. One of the main things that is a difficulty within the salon industry is staff turnover. From my experience, typically service providers come into a salon environment to learn new skills, develop existing skills, gain experience/clientele, and once they stabilize, they leave to go work for themselves. It’s the nature of the industry, but I wish more people saw the power in collaboration than the imagery of being a solopreneur. Don’t get me wrong—I love to see women operating businesses—but we all shouldn’t have to do it alone. In many ways, one can be successful by joining the right team. I would love to encourage all of us to begin collaborating more professionally and not being afraid to contribute to a brand you believe in.

Specifically, how has being a woman of color impacted your professional experience? What can we do to create more supportive and inclusive work environments inside and outside of your industry?

As an African American woman, the stigma of being “angry” follows us in society, and it definitely shows up in the workplace. Through my own experiences, it can be tough to operate at the same level of expectations and boundaries as a white male and not be described as mean or aggressive. I’ve personally had someone express that as a Caucasian, it’s difficult for them to see themselves being led by an African American; even if it’s a great opportunity. I think that’s silly, and it’s hurtful, but it’s real. I know in today’s social climate that everything is so shaken up; it may be difficult for some to open themselves to inclusivity. But we all deserve the same level of opportunities and respect. Honestly, I believe if we could look past the physical and search for the value a person brings into the workplace, that could easily even the playing field for every race and gender. 

What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?

I’m really proud to have been the first lash and brow salon to open in Jacksonville. I feel like iGlam really set the standard for other lash and brow concepts in the area. I love the reputation our brand has been able to maintain over these few years, and it also feels good to know that I’ve contributed to many women that are now able to operate their own businesses. I feel really proud to see women doing well for themselves. 

As a biz that revolves around beauty and self-care, how important are these practices in your daily life?

I’m the queen of self care! Having and providing a true work/life balance is very important to me. I don’t slack on my self care because if I don’t take care of myself then I’m no good to others. I focus a lot on my mental health because our thoughts are the source of our emotions, which contribute to the decisions that we make, which control our actions and eventually become our habits. I always make time for myself to rest, eat well, and find enjoyment outside of the workplace. I’m a true believer in the saying, “When you feel good, you look good.” ;)

Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?

Honestly, the lash and brow salon industry is still pretty new. Many of the lash and brow salons that exist now launched around the same time as iGam or after. so I usually find inspiration outside of my field. Some women that I’ve found to be inspirational are Kelly Baker of Kelley Baker Brows, Ming Lee of Snob Life, Shaunell Kennard of Conceited Inc., and Lena Meluk of Lash Makers. All of them started as solopreneurs, built their brand, opened salons, and eventually began to focus on developing and launching products. I respect them sharing their journey by highlighting the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and being a salon owner.

Who is someone that motivates + inspires you daily? 

I feel motivated by my own need to achieve my goals and create the life that I desire to live daily. However, I can say that I’ve always felt motivated to make my family proud of who I am. The sacrifices, support and prayers that my parents and family have given continues to light a fire in me to keep going. I’m inspired by all of the women that get up every day to work towards their goals despite the obstacles they face. It reminds me that I’m not alone—and if they can do it, so can I. 

Career and/or life advice for other babes?

I think one of the most life changing things I learned, that I see many young women struggle with, is being honest about what they want for themselves and making the decision to go after it. Ladies: don’t be afraid to envision the life you want for yourself. Get specific about how much money you want to make, how often you want to work, where you want to work, what you enjoy doing, the house/area you want to live in, the car you want to drive, the network of people you want to associate with, how often you want to travel, etc. Once you decide what you want, the universe (or God, whatever it is that you believe in) will begin to align with those visions, and you’ll experience them start to manifest in your life. 

If you have a goal, write it down and make it real. Create a plan around what you need to do to achieve that goal, but don’t be attached to the process. Plans won't always go exactly how you expect, but if you stay focused on the destination, the journey won't matter—as long as you arrive. 

Also, for the beauty professionals or any entrepreneur: one of the greatest lessons I learned a long time ago is the vital importance of knowing your numbers. For some, especially beauty professionals, it’s hard to grow and scale your business because you’re not financially savvy. Don’t avoid this. Sharpening your skills as a business professional is just as, if not more important than, your technical skills.

Connect with Charnae':

iGlam IG / Personal IG / Website / Email

This interview has been condensed and edited.

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