Meet Sandy Nguyen | Esthetician, Lash Artist & Trainer

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

Hi Sandy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

My thought process behind starting my own business was I wanted to help other women like me. Most importantly I didn’t want to work for anybody else. I spent 10 years in the beauty industry and I felt like it was my turn to create something that was mine that I can share with the world.

Like most people, I realized I didn’t want to work for anybody else. It was too limiting, working for somebody else and I couldn’t be in my creative space. Since I was a little girl I dreamt of having my own beauty business and being my own boss. Since high school, I had a passion for lashes and I used to sell strip lashes to girls at school. I was into makeup artistry and believed I was going to be a traveling freelance artist. Well, I’m an esthetician who travels to give clients bomb lash extensions and facials.

When I became a mom, I realized how hard it was to balance career and motherhood. It was impossible working a 9-5 and being fulfilled as a mother. I felt like I was always miserable and I didn’t have enough time for my kid. I hated begging for time off from a manager so I decided the only way I could enjoy my life was to be in charge of my own time. I see why my parents always owned their own salon. My parents were always their own bosses, owning several salon spas when I was growing up so they were my role models. I saw how my parents had more flexibility when they owned their businesses. So I wanted to do the same for my son.

I wanted to create my own schedule and make money off of doing what I love. Never to be limited to doing just one thing. Having a business was the only way I could do everything I ever wanted to do, make a difference in my clients life, and to be attentive in my kid’s life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’ve been in the beauty industry for 10+ years and an esthetician of 7+ years. My journey started when I was in high school, which was where my deep passion for beauty began. My adolescent years were tough as I felt like I never fit in. I used beauty to escape and to find peace with my art. I remember Michelle Phan was the YouTuber I watched back then and the beauty guru who became the inspiration for my career in beauty. I told my young self I was going to be the next Michelle Phan.

I spent majority of my career in retail even after I received my license in Esthetics. I worked for various brands like NARS, Benefit Cosmetics, Charlotte Tilbury, Lancome, and more. It was an amazing feeling when I received a position as a freelance makeup artist for NARS. I’d thought I was living my dreams when I joined Ulta and built their Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar…but that was my first realization that working for other people was not for me.

Soon, I stepped away from freelancing and went full time at a salon. At this salon, I met my first mentor Mai, who taught me how to do lash extensions. It took me two years to learn how to do lash extensions, and it wasn’t until after I gave birth to my son Rayden that I discovered my flair for it. When I became really dedicated to it was when I succeeded. I still thank her to this day for taking me under her wing and believing in me. She made me realize how important and beneficial it is to have a mentor.

Another thing is if you want to be good at something you have to be totally dedicated to it. I dedicated myself to the goal of being seen as one of the best estheticians who creates the most flattering transformations for clients. My dedication in becoming the best in my profession took me to a whole new city where I was forced to step out of my comfort zone and do things I had never done before.

When I took my business seriously and created a brand with a mission that represented who I am, that was the moment when my career skyrocketed. I stopped treating my passion as a side hustle. I became determined to make my passion my main source of income. I became committed to showing people their inner beauty and teaching others how to love themselves. My success comes from my passion for everything beauty, self-development, and living an authentic life. My brand is a true reflection of who I am.

As a mother, I am understanding how important it is to pour into myself before I’m able to pour into others. I want to give people the best version of me. I want to show others their true value, and I feel the way I’m most effective at doing that is by showing others how I value myself. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to do this. It could be as simple as getting your lashes done every two weeks, getting your brows threaded often, and relaxing in the spa. The feeling I get when I leave the spa is revitalizing. That’s the same feeling I want women to feel when they trust in me to take care of them.

Nothing worth it comes easily. I got to where I am professionally when I learned to embrace entrepreneurship while being a mom. I went through many trials and tribulations, but in the end I’ve gained growth and elevation. I created my brand High Maintenance because I wanted to help women like me to practice self-love through the art of beauty. One thing I’m most proud of and excited for is, I’m building a marketing agency specifically to cater to growing medical aesthetic spas and consulting beauty businesses. It ties with my new venture of becoming an aesthetic nurse injector. I’m proud that I’ve conquered being an Esthetician on a basic level, so it’s time for me to tackle new challenges. What separates me from the rest is I’m always learning and ready for a challenge. My dreams become bigger as my empire grows bigger.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta is such a fun city to be in. I love that there is so much to do. The spa is the first place I visit when I go to any city. My favorite is Bougie Spa and I go to Spa Land often. Some of my favorite outdoor places to go is the Beltline and Piedmont Park. I love amusement parks and go-karting so I spend the whole day there! For lunch, Mojave is a nice place for food and drinks. Their blue cornbread is delicious as well as the rest of their appetizers. Blue Martini and Cru are also cool spots for hookah and drinks. The Garden Room is also an experience! My favorite casual place for a quick meal are The Snackboxe Bistro in Doraville and Pho Dai Nam in Norcross. Those are my favorite spots to eat and I go often like every week. I bring all my friends there because the food is authentic and I know the owner too.

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?

My son Rayden is everything to me. My relationship with GOD gets me through most days when others weren’t there. I shout out to all my supporters who have always believed in me. My parents for caring for my son whenever I travel. They give me comfort knowing my son is well taken care of when I travel for work. My son for being the person I do things for. The reason why I get up and continue to do amazing things. My best friends who are always there supporting me aka “My Lifers” When life gets tough I’m able to call them every single time. Giving me wisdom, inspiration and encouragement.

To all my supporters, families, friends, clients, and my mentors because without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: Highmaintenancelash.com

Instagram: Sandyhighmaintenance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075960325250&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: highmaintenancelashllc@gmail.com