Q & A with Lauralee Patience

“My first official training in the Beauty world was Hairstyling at Lasalle College in Montreal, Canada.” She says this experience allowed her to meet, interact with, and study alongside different peoples from various parts of the world, and is one that she holds dear to this day. Upon her return home from her Canadian study, she practiced her hairstyling skills at Turning Heads by Josephine George.

However, after some time she says hairstyling became something she would only practice on herself and family members. “I was in my teenage years and searching for what was for me,” she explains of trying to find her true passion. For three years, she studied Business Management and although her plans were to eventually work in an executive office, life had other plans for her. She began working at Piarco International Airport as a customer service representative, and eventually took her career to new and literal heights by becoming a flight attendant for Caribbean Airlines.

“Life took a sobering turn when I got pregnant,” she says of the unexpected turn of events. After giving birth, Lauralee decided to utilise her time at home to the best of her abilities and enrolled in some cosmetology courses.

“A couple months after having my son is when I took the microblading course and then an individual eyelash extensions course,” she shares of her newest venture. “Once I started practicing and saw the feedback I got on Facebook, I thought I can make this into a promising business.” Her microblading business, “Secret Beauty”, promises to save women countless hours in makeup prep time as microblading offers a permanent fix which leaves women with eyebrows that are “always perfect and camera ready”.

As Lauralee explains, “For many women, the ideal of perfect, glamour ready eyebrows is unachievable. For these women, no amount of plucking, pruning, shaving, or shaping can help them achieve the effect they desire most.” Lauralee’s goal with Secret Beauty is the share the secrets of the growing international trend of microblading.

Today, Lauralee chats with WMN about her business, what drives her passion for microblading, the evolving roles of women in our society, and the changes she hopes she can make through her contributions to society as a mother, an entrepreneur, and a young woman.

Q Tell us about Secret Beauty – how did it come about, what’s behind the name, why do you feel passionate about this?

Secret Beauty came about when I saw the opportunity to start my own business venture.
As easy as the name sounds, it was not my first option. I was thinking before along the lines of ‘Microblading by Lauralee’. The name Secret Beauty speaks for itself. Clients who have had microblading done want it to be kept secret!

Q What services do you offer? Currently, Secret Beauty offers microblading and eyelash extensions.

Clients can look foward to new services added to the list before Christmas 2016.
Just an idea of the services to look out for: dermaplaning and microdermabrasion facials and tattoo removal. And to the semi-permanent makeup list: advanced microblading, which the client will be able to choose a couple other eyebrow techniques, permanent eyeliner, permanent lips as well, lip liner and full lips.

Q For those of us who may not know, what is microblading in your terms and why should people seek this out?

Microblading is the use of a hand tool with fine needles in the form of a blade. This is used to manually implant pigment under the epidermis, which leaves thin, realistic hair strokes.
The best thing about microblading is that it is 100% smudge and waterproof, unlike regular make-up that claims to be! Whether it’s a hot or rainy day, your eyebrows are guaranteed to be perfect all day and all night long.

Q Eyebrows are what define one’s face. With microblading you can be picture perfect, liming with the girls or tanning at the beach. The latest phones are waterproof why shouldn’t your eyebrows be too?

Secret Beauty will design the perfect eyebrows to suit your face and to your liking. The client’s approval is most important at Secret Beauty.
Microblading sounds fun and easy but there are a lot of safety factors to consider. At Secret Beauty safety is definately number one. All equipment used at Secret Beauty is one-time usage. This is to ensure diseases are not spread and nothing is contaminated. I am certified in Blood Borne Pathogens and this course has definitely opened up my eyes. This course is detailed on how to prevent the spread of different diseases and viruses in a work environment.

Q How have your customers reacted to the results of your perfect brows?

I clean up the client’s face and then send them to the mirror instead of handing them a hand mirror. I love to see their reactions. Priceless! Their reaction is always like shock and awe, even the person with them is like ‘me next!’ With microblading there is not much downtime so my client leaves feeling good and looking good and heads to lunch or early dinner right after.
Personally, I am always excited to see the final result of my work. I can’t wait for the last soak and to wipe away the excess pigment and see those beautiful eyebrows every time. It amazes me every time, like WOW I did this!

Q Who is your target market for Secret Beauty?

Both men and women, ages 18 and up can get microblading done. For senior citizens in their ‘70s and ‘80s who have trouble filling their eyebrows on a daily basis, microblading is perfect for them as well.
Secret Beauty can provide what would look like an ‘eyebrow lift’. As my 76-year-old client says, ‘The older you get the more everything drops’. Her husband can’t stop complimenting her on how young she looks with her new eyebrows done by Secret Beauty.
Microblading can be a good life-changing experience for some clients, especially for alopecia clients who have lost all their hair.

Q You are also a mother apart from a businesswoman. What do you think of the always-changing roles of women in society? How do you believe you defy expectations?

I think the modern woman has definitely embraced the changing roles of women. We are expected to move seamlessy from being wife, mother, homemaker and breadwinner or co-breadwinner, all of which we continue to do with grace. Even in the wider community, we assume the roles of counsellors, mentors; we are literally leaders everywhere.
While it is said that men are the head of his home, in reality women have increasingly been charged to carry that mantle.
I defy these expectations by keeping myself grounded and giving the best of myself daily, whether at home or in my business and being able to successfully find a balance between the various roles.

Q You mentioned that you would like to spread messages of “hope” to women in TT. What are some of these messages and how do they personally resonate with you?

Don’t give up on your dreams! It took me quite a few years to find something I am passionate about and want to work hard at, and see it succeed.
From hairstyling, business management and even trying to open my own clothing store, none of which I was passionate about.
Microblading was definitely it for me, seeing how happy my clients are is a big part of it.

Q Is there any social or cultural change you feel strongly about? Are there ways you hope to change society (whether small or big)?

I am passionate about many social ills, from violence against women to abuse of our most precious assets, our children. It is absolutely heart rendering to think of the wrongs that are perpetrated against the vulnerable but what is most worrying is that society has not been able to curb these issues; they continue to occur at an alarming rate.
Changing society is a big challenge, a collective effort. In my own little way, I try to demonstrate the values of integrity, hard work and dedication that I was taught in every aspect of my life and in so doing hope to influence others. I would want to have a positive influence on young women like myself to strive for excellence in every area of their lives.

Q Last words or thoughts?

Microblading is still fairly new in Trinidad and Tobago - I hope to bring awareness to this great service.
You can find Secret Beauty on Facebook @ secretbeautybylauralee.