Meet Jess Gershak of Lashes & Locks in Schaumburg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Gershak.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, my grandmother would watch me while my parents were at work. She was a hairdresser and had a little salon in her basement. I remember all of her clients always coming to the house and I would get to help her and she would always let me put rollers in her hair and let me play around. I look back a pictures from my childhood and I was always trying to do someone’s hair and I always had a comb in hand!

Moving on to after high school, I was unsure of what my ultimate plan was for my future. I was working in a salon and the girls there were teaching me everything they knew. I was always helping them with their clients and always eager to learn more. I finally decided to attend beauty school and turn my passions into a career, a career that I love so much.

After finishing beauty school, I did an apprenticeship and really got to get my hands deep into what it was really like working behind the chair. I learned so much during that apprenticeship and I couldn’t wait to start growing my own clientele.

I worked for salons for 12 years, not only doing hair but also managing and leading a great team. It was so rewarding to pass along my knowledge and watch stylists grow. Eventually, I began to want to learn MORE for myself. More of what the beauty industry has to offer. So, I decided to go back to school and learn both eyelash extensions and microblading. In this industry, you have to evolve. Stay current with what’s hot and popular. I was so happy with my decision to do that. And it eventually leads me to open my own studio, Lashes & Locks.

Opening Lashes & Locks was scary at first, having never owned my own business before, but I was determined to fulfill my passions and dreams. And I have never looked back since.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning your own business definitely has its struggles and worries. The constant thought of “Am I going to make it?” really pushes me to further my career. Working for other salons before definitely had its ups and downs as well, however, this is different. Now, this is “mine.” I work hard every single day to make it exactly how I have always envisioned it to be. Each day is a new challenge and I love it. The feeling you get when you have achieved something and that it’s “yours” is amazing. I love coming to work each and every single day, and seeing how much I have accomplished and how grateful I am to call this salon my own.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lashes & Locks – what should we know?
I specialize in everything hair, lash & brow! From creating trendy cuts to bombshell color, fusion hair extensions and I can’t forget giving my clients the ability to never have to wear mascara again or fill in their brows! I am so proud of where I have gotten to in my career in the beauty industry. I love that I can be that one person my clients come to, to have all their beauty needs to be met. I knew from the beginning that I would never work in a departmentalized salon. I hated the idea of having to hand my client off to someone else. I need to see my work from start to finish and everything in between. Not to mention the relationships I have built with my clients along the way. I have clients that come in for just a quick haircut and then I have clients that end up spending the entire day with me getting the works done – color, lashes extensions, brow enhancements. It’s an awesome feeling to make someone look and feel great about themselves. I think that’s what sets me apart from everyone else. I give my clients the time and attention they deserve, in one place. They don’t need to hop and skip around to get each service done.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the relationships I have built with my clients is the key to my success. You can ask any of my clients, that when they sit in my chair, it’s not a stylist to client relationship. It truly is a friendship that we have built over the years. They know what is going on in my life, I know about theirs. We truly enjoy the time we spend together whether they are there for 30 minutes or 3 hours. And I think my wanting to always further my education is also very important to my success. I always want to learn more whether it’s different services, or just a new trend, that way I can bring it back to my clients and be able to offer them the best of the best. And I think my clients really appreciate that.

Contact Info:

• Address: 235 W Golf Road
  Suite 120
  Schaumburg, IL 60195
• Phone: 7086682790
• Email: lashesandlocksbyjess@gmail.com
• Instagram: @lashesandlocksbyjess
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lashesandlocksbyjessg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lashes-and-locks-schaumburg?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

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