Today we’d like to introduce you to Imari Vaughn.
Hi Imari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always had a love for makeup and beauty, but I’ve also believed that true beauty comes from within. Refined Beauty is deeply personal to me because it reflects my own spiritual journey of shedding the old, growing into womanhood, and becoming a better version of myself.
The idea for my lash cluster business came to me during a trip to Nigeria two years ago for my grandmother’s memorial. I had been in a dark place for a while and had lost interest in many things. While I was there, my mom asked me to do her lashes, and in that moment, I felt a sense of joy and peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time. There was something so special about that moment between my mom and me, and I knew I wanted to run with that feeling. It felt right.
To me, Refined Beauty isn’t just a name it represents transformation. We are all works in progress, constantly growing and becoming, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t already beautiful and amazing in our own way. While I currently specialize in lashes, my vision for Refined Beauty is so much bigger. I hope to continue expanding the brand into a larger beauty and lifestyle platform that inspires women to embrace their beauty, their growth, and every version of themselves along the way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been so many layers to the journey. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy finding a place to work, and I had to retake one of my licensing exams before earning my lash technician and salon manager licenses. I’ve also had to navigate the pressure of wanting to be great while competing with other young women in the beauty industry. When I first started, I didn’t see many people doing what I was doing, so watching the industry grow and become more competitive has challenged me to keep evolving and believing in what makes me different.
There have also been moments of financial uncertainty where I’ve worried about whether I would be able to cover my rent and questioned whether all the time, energy, and resources I was investing into my business were worth it. I’ve had to be my own biggest supporter and push myself on the days when I wanted to give up. I’ve also been intimidated by the amount of responsibility that comes with being a business owner. You think you’ll have more freedom, but sometimes you realize you actually have even more to manage!
Another challenge came when increased ICE activity in my community affected many of my clients, who were immigrants and became afraid to leave their homes. It was heartbreaking to see people I had built relationships with living in fear. It wasn’t just about losing business it genuinely hurt me to see people I cared about afraid.
Through all of these experiences, I’ve learned resilience, patience, and the importance of being willing to keep going even when things don’t go as planned. I’ve had to learn how to support myself, trust my vision, and remind myself that I don’t have to have everything figured out right away. I’m still growing, and I’m realizing that the journey itself is part of the refinement.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Right now, I specialize in lash clusters, creating customized lash looks that help my clients feel confident, beautiful, and like the best version of themselves all at an affordable price. I’m known for my creativity, attention to detail, and creating a private, personalized experience for each client.
What sets Refined Beauty apart is that it begins with lashes but ends with wholeness. I believe beauty is about more than what we see on the outside; it’s also about how we feel within. During appointments, I love speaking life into my clients, affirming them, and encouraging them. That same message extends beyond my salon chair through my TikTok, where I share messages of encouragement, personal insight, and reminders that we are all capable of becoming better versions of ourselves.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built Refined Beauty from an idea that came to me during a very personal season of my life and turned it into something real. I’m proud that I kept going even during the moments when I doubted myself or wanted to give up.
My long-term vision is to grow Refined Beauty beyond lashes into a larger beauty and lifestyle brand that inspires women to embrace their beauty, their growth, and their journey toward wholeness.
Any big plans?
My plans for the future are to continue growing Refined Beauty into something much bigger than a lash business. I want Refined Beauty to become a recognizable brand that represents beauty, transformation, confidence, and wholeness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://refinedbeautyllc.as.me/schedule/6ba90e85
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imariluxury
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imarivaughn
