LYNNWOOD—The Lash & Wax Boutique is Lynnwood’s latest addition to beautification salons in its up-and-coming Alderwood business development center.
Lynnwood The Lash & Wax Boutique is a minority-owned business located below the Alexan Apartments at 2927 Alderwood Mall Blvd, that specializes in eye lash extension, waxing, lash lifts, brow lamination, skin care, micro blading, among other services.
Lynnwood’s The Lash & Wax Boutique are owners O.J. Johnson and his wife Carolina Cruz’s fourth location after Seattle’s Lower Queen Anne, Greenlake, and Redmond.
Cruz has been doing eyelashes out of her house since 1998 but in 2006 her husband O.J. decided to open her a salon in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood – a commercial house that Johnson, a carpenter by trade for nearly 13-years, converted into a salon.
“We strive to ensure that our lash techs are really good at what they do and they apply them properly so they don’t ruin your lashes,” said Johnson. “I would say that fifty percent, more like seventy-to-eighty, of people who get lashes from other salons don’t get lashes applied properly. There are no regulations in any of the states right now regarding this particular service but if we keep our quality on point, we’ll always have the advantage.”
Johnson used his experience as a carpenter to design and build all four of their Lash & Wax Boutique locations himself. He told the Lynnwood Times it’s the “best thing in the world” to think up an idea in his mind, design it, create it, and finally witness people enjoy it.
Cruz’s business immediately took off and she soon needed an extra set of hands. Her husband took up the mantle enrolling in beauty school in Everett where he received his esthetician license in 2010.
“I just had a vision, I know we’re pumping out stuff that’s really cool and it’s really worth it where people are eager to come back, have a conversation and have their services done, get beautified and leave that way, so I just kept going with it,” Johnson told the Lynnwood Times. “I’m an eye opener for people. I show you that someone like me, a confident, straight Black male, can do lashes and will do a great job and you’ll have a wonderful experience. If you’re lucky and I feel comfortable with you, I may even sing some old school R&B songs to you.”
Facing stiff competition in the world of beauty salons, Cruz informed the Lynnwood Times that they’re leaders in the industry, continually witnessing many of their competitors “copy” their model—a key reason he gave when asked why patrons should visit their salon over others.
“As long as I’m the one leading the way that’s what’s going to keep us where we are,” said Johnson. “That’s what makes us different, that’s what keeps people wanting to come to us.”
Johnson and Cruz likes to believe they have done a good job at raising their two kids who they loves very much—a 23-year-old daughter, and a 31-year-old daughter who is a U.S. Marine currently stationed in San Diego.
Cruz informed the Lynnwood Times that she is immensely proud of her children for being such hard workers. Her youngest, Jacqueline, is currently helping her family run the business while attending college courses for business management.
Lynnwood’s The Lash & Wax Boutique offers a full set of eyelash extensions for just $99 for first-time clients only until September 30. With that purchase comes a complimentary brow wax.
The Lash & Wax Boutique offers eyelash extensions, lash lifts, lash and brow tints, brow lamination, waxing, sugaring, facials and peels, hydrafacials, microblading, permanent makeup, spray tanning, teeth whitening, and more.
Johnson and Cruz are now working on franchising their business and building it up for future generations to come.
“For me the sky is the limits. You can label me however you want, I don’t care. just love seeing people get beautified and know that they’re spending their money at a place where it’s worth it to them,” said Johnson.
To book an appointment at Lynnwood’s The Lash and Wax Boutique call 425-725-5274 or visit online at https://lashwaxboutique.com/appointments/
Author: Kienan Briscoe
