Hi! I am Joanna.
Hey there! Welcome to my corner of the internet. Today, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit about the person behind the words on this blog. My name is Joanna Bueno, and I'm excited to let you in on the journey of my life, passions, and experiences. I hope after reading this, you'll get to know me better, from my humble beginnings to my present aspirations and everything in between.
Who Am I?
I'm a 28-year-old Latina lash and brow artist, and I call Laredo, Texas my home. I've always had a fascination for fashion, all things beauty, and video editing, which has led me down some exciting paths like making products, graphic designing, and even making content on Instagram & TikTok as a creative outlet for me to connect with others.
My Story:
Growing up, I had a love for making YouTube videos with my friends, watching makeup tutorials, and using the internet to sell and buy clothes online. After taking a year break from my second year of college, I decided to take the initiative of enrolling at The Professional Cosmetology Academy of Laredo, where I received my esthetics license in 2019. I was also working as a cashier full-time at Walgreens. It all started with me struggling with acne throughout elementary and my early adult life that lead me to this path.
In those years I would try masking my problem with really expensive full-coverage makeup, and eventually grew tired of hiding my insecurity. I wanted to fix my problem by learning how to treat my skin because it really messed with my self-confidence. I couldn't afford a professional skin care treatment at a salon or skin specialist to get rid of my problem with what I was making at my job, so I opted to get a facial service done at a new cosmetology & esthetics school in my hometown. I opened up to one of the students who did my facial about how I really enjoyed watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and was eager to learn more about taking care of my skin. When she said she could see me doing this, she introduced me to the esthetics instructor and I was fully convinced. I then talked it over with my sister and shortly enrolled.
Lashing was definitely not on my radar at the time, but my sister who was already in this industry was doing permanent makeup at a local lash salon in my hometown, and she told me they were looking for a new lash artist. That same year this job invested in my first lash training which offered social media tips and I quickly fell in love with this career. I left with my sister during Covid to work for a medical spa where I continued to lash and later added eyebrow waxing to my menu from 2020-2023. Due to this job no longer serving me and taking a mental toll, I took a leap of faith and left to open up my own business.
My Logo:
I chose my cat as my logo because he symbolized my reasoning to keep going. In 2021 my dad unexpectedly showed up to my sister's house with a white kitten to gift me inside a box. I named him Bubbles. Weeks after Bubbles was still a kitten, I had experienced work burnout at this last job that ultimately led me to being hospitalized. I was in one of the darkest places in my life. I kept a lot of the emotional abuse I endured from my last work environment from those closest to me. Feeling isolated from my parents, oldest sister, and close friends, led me to have suicidal thoughts. As silly as it may sound to some, my new pet gave me a reason to live.
My Hobbies:
When I'm not waxing or lashing, you can often find me indulging in some coffee and working on a new design. Whether it's graphic art, thrift shopping, or working out, I find immense joy and relaxation in these activities because I can disconnect.
Why Blogging?
So, why did I start this blog? Well, I've always had a deep desire to share my knowledge, experiences, and thoughts with the world, especially about mental health. I didn't know how common job burnout was in the lash industry until my mentor, Tianna, brought it up to my attention. I come from a small border town city, where 95% of the population is Latino and mental health is a pervasive issue that needs to be talked about more. I also believe everyone has a story to tell, and I'm here to share mine with you. Through this blog, I hope to inspire, entertain, and connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same interests as me.
In the upcoming posts, you can expect a variety of content, including reels and tiktoks. I'll be sharing tips, insights, and stories related to brows and lash extensions as well as some personal anecdotes and life lessons I've picked up along the way. I also want to share my graphic art where I'll be selling my merch soon!
In closing, I've shared a glimpse of my journey on who I am and what I'm about. Your support means the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me a little better and stay tuned for more exciting content coming your way!
