The Power of Community
The Power of Community in the Beauty Industry
This past weekend I hosted my 4th Lash Artist Meetup here in Tulsa, Ok. If you’re a beauty professional, you know how isolating this career can feel, if you don’t have a good network connection. I felt the same when I first got into my beauty profession. Solo esthetician renting the only room out of a salon space, with no other estheticians, or lash artists in the space. No one I could troubleshoot with, no one to have casual banter about the ups and downs of our clientele, and no one to learn and grow with. This year I spoke on how to create community within our beauty industry right here in Tulsa. I want to share the main points with you today, to hopefully encourage my readers to also take on this mindset that we can all help each other, and we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
So today, in this post, I’m sharing the 4 ways YOU can help build a community in your local beauty industry. You can be a hairstylist, manicurist, lash artist, esthetician, barber etc This concept applies to all fields! The four prompts are:
· Ditch the Competition Mindset
· Give More Than You Take
· Create Safe Spaces
· Lead by Example
If you’re ready to really dive deep into creating a caring community of beauty professionals, keep reading! I have a passion to help others feels connected in what could be a lonely industry. Let’s get started!
1. Ditch the Competition Mindset
Let’s be real—competition is normal. We all want to be successful. We all want a thriving business, fully booked calendars, and financial security. But when competition turns into comparison or jealousy, that’s where things get toxic.
How many of you have ever looked at another artist’s work and thought, “Wow, she’s killing it. I wish I was at that level.”
Or maybe you’ve felt a twinge of jealousy seeing someone book out their schedule while you’re still trying to fill your spots.
That feeling? That’s normal. But you know what’s not normal? Letting that feeling turn into resentment or self-doubt.
Think about it this way—wouldn’t it be amazing to have another artist /esthetician in your area you could rely on? Someone to send overflow clients to when you’re fully booked? Someone to refer to when a client is looking for a service you don’t specialize in? When we build relationships instead of rivalries, we all win.
Tulsa is huge. There are so many clients out there, each looking for someone whose energy, style, and expertise fits them. Just because another artist is thriving doesn’t mean there’s less success available for you. The truth is, there are plenty of clients to go around.
Imagine you walk into a grocery store. There isn’t just one brand of bread on the shelf—there are dozens. And guess what? They all sell. Why? Because different people want different things. The same goes for the beauty industry. You have something that no one else has—you. Your unique style, your personality, the experience you give your clients. That is your magic. That’s your selling point. So instead of worrying about who’s doing better, focus on who you can learn from, who you can support, and how you can grow together.
Here’s a challenge: The next time you catch yourself comparing, replace that thought with inspiration. Instead of thinking, “Why isn’t that me?” ask yourself, “What can I learn from them?”
*I can guarantee that anyone who’s “someone” in our industry, who you look up to, would be happy to cheer you on and help guide, or point you to someone who can get you to that next level.
That shift alone can change the entire way you view this industry.
2. Give More Than You Take
You may have heard the saying, “Your network is your net worth.” But let’s take that a step further—"your community is your currency.”
One of the most powerful ways to build a strong community is to give without expecting anything in return. Share knowledge. Offer encouragement. Be the person who lifts others up, even if you don’t immediately benefit from it.
Think about the last time someone complimented your work or shared your business. How did it make you feel? That one small gesture could have made your entire day. Imagine if we all did that for each other consistently. Who are the beauty professionals you remember? Who are the ones you look up to? It’s not just the ones with the best skills—it’s the ones who give without expecting anything in return.
The artists who share their knowledge.
The ones who celebrate others’ wins.
The ones who lift people up, even when no one is watching.
When we pour into others, we build a network of people who are more willing to pour back into us. And that’s how real community starts.
Ways to give more in this industry:
1. Engagement – Instead of just scrolling, leave a comment, share a post, compliment someone’s work. Share a local artist’s work on your Instagram stories just because you love it.
2. Shout out a business that you admire.
3. Encouragement – If you see someone struggling, reach out. A simple, “You’re doing amazing, keep going” can change someone’s day. Offer a kind word to someone who seems like they’re struggling.
4. Help a newer artist by answering their questions instead of keeping all the knowledge to yourself.
5. Referrals – If you’re fully booked, send a client to someone else in your area. That energy always comes back to you.
Being generous with your support and knowledge doesn’t mean giving away all your secrets—it means creating an industry where we all feel valued. Because here’s the thing—when we support others, we build a network of people who are more than willing to support us in return.
3. Create Safe Spaces
Let’s be honest—this industry can be intimidating. Social media has made it easy to feel like we must be perfect all the time. Perfect work, perfect branding, perfect business. And when we don’t feel like we measure up, we hesitate to ask for help.
Have you ever been in an environment where you felt like you had to prove yourself constantly? Like you couldn’t admit your struggles because it would make you seem less successful?
That is not what real community is about.
Real community is about having a space where you feel safe to be honest. Where you can ask questions without fear of judgment. Where you can say, “Hey, I’m struggling with this. Does anyone have advice?” and instead of getting silence, you get support.
If you want a stronger beauty community in our area, start by creating safe spaces where people feel comfortable talking, learning, and supporting each other. So, how can we create these spaces?
- Start a group chat with other artists in your area: regularly check in with each other.
- Host small coffee meet-ups where people can talk openly: this strengthens bonds.
- Lead with vulnerability: Be the first to share your struggles, so others feel comfortable sharing theirs.
When people feel safe to be themselves, they’re more willing to connect. And those connections turn into long-term relationships. A strong COMMUNITY isn’t about having a huge social media following – it’s about having real relationships.
4. Lead by Example
It’s easy to say we want a more positive industry, but the truth is—we have to be the ones to create it. It starts with us. We must create the COMMUNITY.
That means:
- If you see negativity, don’t engage in it.
- If someone talks badly about another artist, shut it down or walk away.
- If you feel jealous of someone’s success, turn that feeling into inspiration and motivation instead of resentment.
- If you want to see more collaboration, be the first to offer it.
The way we treat others sets the tone for how we want our industry to be. If we want more support, we must give more support. If we want less drama, we must stay away from it. Because when we lead with kindness, collaboration, and integrity, we inspire others to do the same.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, community isn’t about numbers—it’s about relationships. It’s about making sure no one feels alone in this journey. It’s about creating an industry where we don’t just work next to each other, but we stand next to each other.
So, as we go forward, I want to challenge you—be the one who builds the beauty community you wish you had when you started.
Ask yourself: What kind of beauty community do I want to be a part of?
And then, ask yourself—what am I doing to build that?
Be the one who reaches out.
Be the one who encourages.
Be the one who shows up.
Because when we shift from competition to connection, when we focus on lifting each other up, we don’t just build better businesses—we build something so much bigger.
We build a legacy.
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