Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Gonzalez.
Hi Autumn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a salon owner and full specialist. I specialize in eyelash extensions and I’m also an instructor/mentor.
I had a very rough upbringing and had a child early. I’ve lost some of the closest people to me and I’ve still managed to push through. I’ve poured myself into my business despite heartbreak, betrayal, and major mishaps.
My business has now blossomed and I am the first in my family to see 6 figures.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I never really had any direction in life and once I started doing lashes I fell in love with it. It’s therapeutic to me despite all of my personal obstacles.
There were times when I worked a 9-5 and was at the salon from 6-10. I’ve had issues with growth due to salons I’ve worked out of and still overcame and achieved many of my goals.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started offering eyelash extensions services before they became as popular as it is now. My experience is profound.
I would be considered a veteran in this service, I believe my superb customer service sets me apart from many others.
Most of my clients I’ve built a rapport with and I’m proud of it because it keeps my business growing. I told myself my goal was to open a salon/storefront one day and in February 2022, my best friend and I opened up one in Boca Raton.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
It definitely took a village. I learn to do individual clusters from a family friend, Shequana.
She did them on me for a party and I fell in love with them. Shortly after she moved back to New York and I couldn’t help but sit in front of the mirror and teach myself. I eventually started having lashes everywhere I went and more and more people began to question where? Who? And the answer was me.
Shortly after that coworkers were asking me to do their lashes on lunch breaks and people in my church were noticing and asking as well.
Thankfully, I caught the attention of a church member who owned a salon and was also a hairstylist. Fortaysia, she put me on. She let me come to her shop rent free so many months and do lash. She helped open my eyes to what it feels like to be in a salon.
I spent a year there until I felt the sudden need to grow, I started doing lashes for a more popular crowd and came across a client named Jade, she loved the way I did her lashes and told me her friend owned a salon in pompano and is looking for a lash artist. With prayer and patience, I knew this would be a great move for me. I started at Chloe hair 7 salons within that month.
Chloe allowed me to work out of her salon and rent a room/suite for a price I couldn’t beat. She is a very popular stylist and in a way took me under her wing. She literally taught me “the game”, the things to do and not to do, and of course helped me build up my business.
She was a big inspiration I began to see her growth and it made me want more. I built my website and with the help of my best friend started my online store and started training other girls to do the job I do so they could grow as well.
I was at Chloe hair 7 studios for 5 years until I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I left there and for a short time while my best friend and I attempted to look for rental spaces for a store front I was at fantasy lash with my friend Tachauna.
She was great and her salon was beautiful but once I found the salon I was ready to branch out. My best friend Shey who is an aesthetician and I opened up besties’ beauty and company.
We have a beautiful storefront in Boca Raton where we have a nail tech, braider, makeup artist, and another lash artist who is currently being mentored by me.
Pricing:
- Natural eyelash extensions $105
- Volume eyelash extensions $160
- Lash lift $85
- Clusters $25
- Natural and supreme eyelash fills $55 volume $85
Contact Info:
- Website: Autystouch.com
- Instagram: @autystouch
- Facebook: Autys Touch
- Other: @bestiesbeautyandco
