AN AWARD-WINNING lash specialist from Taunton who started her business as a hobby has reached the finals of a national award.

Kristen Hardie, the owner of Feathered Beauty, was shortlisted for the UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2023 finals.

Kristen also was the regional winner of the Lash Specialist of the Year for the South West in August.

She also recently came second in the Lash Specialist of the Year, Lash Technician of the Year, and won silver for Lash Talent of the Year.

Kristen started her business as a hobby in 2017 and when lockdown hit, she started her own brand of lashes and tweezers.

She said: “In August 2022 I was honoured to receive Regional Winner Lash Specialist of the Year for the South West award.

“I have been lashing for five years and in that time I have accomplished so many things which I am so proud of.

“My business started off in August 2017 as a hobby, I didn’t imagine it would excel as much as it has, over the years I have invested in myself and kept up to date with the latest lash trends.

“As lockdown hit, I had a lot of spare time due to being unable to work, so, I worked with a few lash suppliers and started my own brand of lashes and tweezers, this has been a huge achievement as now all of my clients are wearing my own brand of lashes.

“There are a few lash artists around the country that have bought my Lash Trays and are using them on their clients.

“This is unbelievable for me, a dream come true. During lockdown, I started making Strip Lashes for all of my clients so they could still feel their best during such a rubbish time, this then kept me up to date with all my ladies.

“Just as we started coming out of lockdown, there were a few awards that a few of my clients had seen and entered me in, to find I was shortlisted was incredible.

“I came second in both awards, the awards were for Lash Specialist of the Year, Lash Technician of the Year, and I won silver for Lash Talent of the year.

“In August 2022 I was honoured to receive Regional Winner Lash Specialist of the year for the South West.

“Even today I’m still on cloud nine. All of my hard work has been noticed and to be awarded for it is just incredible.

“Today, I have just found out I have been shortlisted for Lash stylist of the year for the Hair and Beauty Award UK which takes places in Birmingham in April.

“To be a lash artist in a small town has its struggles but, to be noticed and awarded just makes all the hard work worth it.”

For more information, visit the Feathered Beauty website here.