Life & Work with Lash Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lash Allen. 

Hi Lash, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born and raised in a town 40 minutes south of Charleston, South Carolina called Walterboro. My entire family before me were all born and raised in Philadelphia, New York, Italy, etc. I always wondered and thought it strange that I was the first to have grown up in the south. I later found out why that was when my nana passed away in 2009. She was in the witness protection program. I was initially shocked, but as time passed, I understood why my mom and nana moved far away for privacy and to start a new life. 

To me, my nana was a magical person and always such a source of complete love and understanding. My mom gave birth to me one month after turning 17 years old! I can’t even imagine how difficult that was for her to power through that process without my father. I suppose he didn’t want the party to stop; he is and has always been a habitual user of street drugs. Having this knowledge and seeing confirmation of his own ruin before my eyes, I vowed I would never be a statistic and turn to drugs. 

Like many other children, I was teased a lot in school for being “fat” and gay. How the hell did they know I was gay? I was a child and wasn’t even thinking about anything sexual. I was playing with Barbies (I know what you’re thinking) and making mud pies outside of my nana’s house. Children can be so mean, but hey, I suppose they were right. I am a proud homosexual. 

Due to the relentless teasing, phone calls from the principal’s office about my being bullied, and my own personal struggle coping with those feelings, my mom enrolled me in martial arts from the ages of 5 to 17. The practices and competitions I participated in gave me so much confidence with my body. I knew that if I needed to protect myself, I could. That was such a period of growth for me and I am forever grateful for the feeling of strength and confidence that provided me. Thankfully, the teasing and name-calling stopped once word got around that I was on the National KarateDo Federation Team in High School. What a sigh of relief. 

Despite my struggles and family instability, I was creatively gifted and expressed this every moment I could. I wanted to be a singer, the next major “superstar”. From singing competitions, musical theater performances, gluing extensions in my Barbie’s and friend’s hair, cutting and coloring my friend’s hair to apprenticing at my town’s “top” salon, and competing nationally in Karate; I stayed extremely busy with creative pursuits and goals that interested me. I auditioned for several major universities after high school. I was recognized by all of them for my vocal ability but ultimately rejected as I lacked on the academic side of things. I occasionally wonder if I would have made it to Broadway had I applied myself more academically. Who knows? One thing I am certain of is that I am happy with what I’ve achieved thus far, and what I’m working towards. 

I went to Charleston Cosmetology Institute after receiving the rejection letters. Salon life does run in my blood; 4th generation to be exact. After a few months into school it clicked, “THIS IS IT”, I thought. This is exactly what I am meant to do. I wanted women to feel and look their absolute best. I still do! I truly believe when you look great, you feel great. I graduated CCI with flying colors and was so excited to start my forever career. 

After CCI, I was assisting at a salon located in downtown Charleston, SC. I was there for almost a year. I can truly say it was a fabulous experience and I learned a lot; however, I wanted and needed more. I submitted my resumé to an open casting call for a “talent” that needed a hairstylist on her new Bravo TV show in Los Angeles. I got the call to meet and style her the next weekend in New York City. I was young and nervous, not about styling the client, but about affording a trip to NYC. After meeting with her at the Mandarin Oriental, she took me to lunch. I was so out of place but in such a state of awe and excitement. At lunch, she broke the news that she loved my energy and loved how I styled her hair! It was happening, I was actually moving to LA in only two weeks! Wow! I was completely overwhelmed with so many emotions and feelings. It was incredible. 

I stepped outside of this stunning hotel onto the sidewalk in Columbus Circle after having the richest dining experience I had ever had, and I was immediately overcome with emotion. I felt this was my big break. I was soaring. I was brought to my knees with overwhelming gratitude and yet I was flying high from the intoxicating power of validation. I cherish that feeling, that memory, and I carry it with me each and every day. 

Reality set in. How am I going to afford this? How will I make it happen? Long story short, I made it happen. That’s what you have to do in life when you want something; you simply and complexly make it happen! You might fail along the way, but giving up is not an option. So, at 17 years old I drove my Honda Accord across the country by myself to do as my Nana did, to start a new life. What a journey! 

I lived in LA for about 5 years working on several television shows, short films, award shows, tours, etc. I was living my dream, or so I thought. I had just wrapped up a project and had two months off to relax, so I decided to return to Charleston for a visit since I hadn’t been back in quite a while. I had planned to stay for roughly one month then return to LA to prepare for the new TV project. 

As life continually shifts, things don’t always go as planned. I was out with friends one evening and met my now-husband. I spent that entire two months falling in love and I didn’t want to leave. Following my heart, I moved across the country again back to the East Coast! I worked at two salons for a few years in the downtown Charleston area, but it just wasn’t enough for me. I yearned for growth and professional challenges and dreamed of opening a beautiful salon of my own where I could mentor other stylists and encourage an atmosphere of support and creativity. 

Currently, I have lived in the Charleston, South Carolina area for 9 years. I co-own the beautiful salon IX ARTISTRY with my business partner, Maggie Carroll. We opened July 2019 not knowing we would have to navigate through a global pandemic, but here again, we made it happen. Setbacks and failures happen along the way, but I’ll say it again, “Giving up is not an option.” 

I am never satisfied for long when it comes to growth and feeling challenged. Hair extensions have always been a passion of mine and I’ve worked with them on clients my entire career. As I mentioned before, making women feel beautiful is a driving force for me. On many levels, hair loss and hair thinning present complex emotional and mental struggles for women. While these issues are caused by a variety of reasons, camouflaging these conditions is extremely important to me simply because I have and will always want women to feel and look their best. To make their lives as “normal” and as glamorous as possible. I love empowering women! 

At the end of 2020, ART OF ILLUSION was born. My very own hair extension company gives every woman glamorous and luxurious hair, empowering them to look and live on their own terms. This latest venture has been a collaboration and labor of love with Tiffany Hammond, my friend, and family member. 

To conclude, I’m not finished. There are many more dreams of mine to venture and achieve. To anyone who grew up feeling less than or that may have parents with addiction issues, this is a message to you that it is possible. You don’t have to be a statistic. You don’t have to let hardship hold you back from achieving your largest dreams. 

Xoxo 

-Lash Allen 

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?
No, my life has not been a smooth road by any means. I’m not the only person to have obstacles like mine. My parents having addiction issues, constantly moving from home to home, witnessing physical abuse, the list goes on. Everyone has challenges, I choose to focus on how you overcome those challenges and how they inspire you to be a better version of you. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a hairstylist, hair extension brand owner, and salon owner. I specialize in color, styling, and extensions. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
There really isn’t anything I dislike about Charleston. The food, the community, the architecture, the beaches, are all stunningly amazing! 

Contact Info:

• Email: Sessions@lashallen.com
• Website: www.lashallen.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lashallen.ix?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/lashallen.ixartistry/
• Twitter: @lashallen
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/LASHALLENOFFICIAL