Today we’d like to introduce you to Karli Dawson.
Hi Karli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My whole life I was set on being a second grade teacher. I had such a deep passion for educating and loved kids, so I thought it would be the perfect fit. Fresh out of high school, two weeks before my classes started at Oakland University, I dropped out. I had no plan or idea what the future held, I just no longer felt like that was my path. My grandma was the one that suggested I take my other passion, makeup, and turn it into a career. Instead of just going to a makeup school, I decided to pursue an Esthetician License at Douglas J Aveda. I loved that school and the time I spent there. During my time at Douglas J, my focus started to shift from makeup into more facials, waxing, etc. I graduated in March of 2018 and received a job offer at a salon & spa that I was so excited for. I started out mainly doing facials, which I did love, but still didn’t feel like I found what I was really passionate about. I was getting my lashes done at the time & the girls at the studio I was getting lashed out of suggested I try out lash extensions! At the time I was excited about adding to my resume but my service menu as well. I had no idea just how much of an impact this was going to have on my life. I fell completely in love with lashing and eventually ended up working full time at the same studio that taught me how to lash. Those were some of the best years of my career. I learned so much valuable information not only about lashing, but about myself as well. I owe so much of the lash artist that I am now, and the way I run my business to Shelby, my instructor and lash mentor. She truly has sculpted so much of who I am today as a lash artist. After a few years of working for her, I unfortunately lost someone I loved and cherished so much, my grandpa. They say not to make big decisions in your first year of grief, but I was starting to feel like I was being called for more. I eventually started having interest in having my own lash studio. And it was around that time that I met someone who presented me with an opportunity to start up my own business and start lashing out of a salon suite. When I finally got behind the idea and had the confidence to take this leap of faith, Shelby & the rest of the team were so unbelievably kind, loving and supportive. I opened up MJ’s Beauty & Co. in August of 2021 in a small studio suite. The name MJ’s comes from my grandpas initials. All of the strength, blood, sweat and tears that I’ve poured into my small business comes from everything I’ve learned from him. What started in a tiny studio suite has grown into the cutest studio in a professional building that I love and adore so much. MJ’s started off as just me but I knew I eventually wanted to add on, and just this year I’ve started adding to the team. My passion for educating also never went away, I just hadn’t found what I was really passionate about to teach. This year was a full circle moment adding on to the team and starting to offer lash extension courses! I still love doing makeup, and bridal makeup is a service offered here at MJ’s, but my heart truly found its home in lashing. I’m looking forward to the continued growth of MJ’s and all that is to come for not just my future, but my team as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think that anyone that decides to open a small business can confidently say it’s always sunshine and rainbows. I truly had no idea what I was doing, but I knew that this was a calling from the Lord and that He would guide me. I again owe so much of where I’m at now to Shelby, she has helped guide me through so many of the highs and lows over the last almost 5 years of business. I’m grateful for the clientele I had already built up moving into my own suite, because I do feel like it made the transition smoother. It was the back end of things that I struggled with the most. It was a lot of late nights, early mornings, and endless hours of research and surrounding myself with people that were in the positions I wanted to be in. They say you are who you hang out with, and I wanted to be successful, so that’s who I tried my best to surround myself with. I started off in MJ’s current studio sharing it with someone else. In February of 2025 I had the opportunity to take it on by myself. This came with major financial risk that I really wasn’t sure I was prepared for. Looking back at the almost 2 years of owning the space myself, I see the Lords hand over all of it. I was uncertain but felt so much peace about this decision at the same time. I truly feel like taking over the suite by myself has transformed my business and the way I have shown up for it. I feel so grateful for the positions I have been put in that have pushed me far out of my comfort zone. I started MJ’s after experiencing a major loss in my life, without thinking about the potential of other losses I might experience in the future. In February of 2025 I also happened to learn that a long time, incredibly special client of mine, Michele, had passed away. That truly shook me to my core. I also believe the loss of this client was part of the driving force to succeed for her. She was such a positive influence on my life, my walk with the Lord, and a huge supporter of my business. I always felt a deep love and appreciation for my clients, but this loss opened my eyes to just how much each client means to me. Losing Michele changed the way I showed up for my clients. Hearing the positive things her husband shared with me about the relationship we had, made me want to have that impact on each and every client that walked through my doors. While I continue to educate myself and work on making the back end of things as seamless as possible, my ultimate goal is to show up for myself and my clients in the Lords light. Continuing to hold myself to a higher educational standard, that I pass down to my team, and that clients feel and see in the services they’re receiving.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
MJ’s Beauty is luxury lash studio that specializes in… you guessed it, lash extensions! We have a service menu that extends past just lash extensions. We offer full body waxing, lash lifts + tints, facials and event makeup as well! The most valuable lesson I learned from my lash course, is protecting the integrity and health of someone’s natural lashes. At MJ’s we aim to give you exactly the results you’re looking for, while maintaining the health of your natural lashes. Unfortunately it’s becoming harder to come by studios that enforce this. I’m most proud of the clientele that I have built up in my 9 years of being in the esthetics industry. Woman travel anywhere from a 15 minute drive to over an hour drive to be serviced by me or my team. It’s not just about the service they’re receiving, it’s the environment and connection they feel, that I feel sets me apart from other lash studios. I’m not just a lash artist to my clients, I’ve been called a friend, therapist, prayer warrior, holistic doctor 😉 The list could go own forever. My clients don’t just trust me with their lashes, they trust me with all the highs and lows that come with life. That is an honor I have never taken lightly and will never take for granted.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t feel like it has been luck that has played a role in my life or business. I believe it is the Lords hand in my life that has played a role. That isn’t to say I haven’t experienced hard times, I definitely have, but walking out those hard times was made easier by believing in God and His greater plan for me. The last couple years I came to head with a couple difficult circumstances occurring in my life, I couldn’t handle it on my own anymore. I chose to surrender those things to God and let Him work in my life. I can honestly say I’ve never been more aware of His presence in my life than I have been in the last couple of years. It’s all because of Him that I’m at where I’m at. I’m so thankful for His goodness in my life, and the way I’ve handled hard times knowing He is on my side. I’ve looked back at my life so many times this year and thought, “It is so evident that that was God. He worked that out without me evening noticing it.” It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think they’re so lucky, but what if it wasn’t luck at all? I believe the hard work, countless sacrifices I’ve made, and walking with the Lord is what got me to where I am today. And I’m so unbelievably grateful for every sacrifice, hard time, and blessing I’ve received along the way
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mjsbeautyco.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjsbeautyco?utm_source=qr
