Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacquelyn Fausset.
Hi Jacquelyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My background is actually in manufacturing — I spent years working in a factory making circuit boards, and precision tweezers were just part of my everyday toolkit. Then one day, my girlfriend treated me to a lash appointment, and when I watched the artist working, I immediately recognized those same tweezers. Something just clicked. I thought, I can do that — and honestly, I knew I’d love it.
As a single mom, I was craving more flexibility and freedom than a factory floor could offer. So I took the leap, pursued my esthetics license, and threw myself into the lash world. What I quickly discovered was that proper lash education and technique were really lacking in my area — there wasn’t a strong foundation for clients or artists to build from. I wanted to change that. That vision became Great Lakes Lashes, a boutique studio bringing elevated, technique-focused lash services to Fruitport.
From there, things really grew. I launched a formal apprenticeship program because I wanted to bring other artists into this industry the right way — with real mentorship and structure. And most recently, I’ve been developing what I believe is the first-ever pretend play lash tech toy kit, which has been such a fun and exciting creative venture. But at the core of everything is the studio, my clients, and the community I’m building right here in Fruitport.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not smooth — and I think that’s actually part of what makes the story worth telling. I started with nothing. No job, no safety net, no guarantee that any of this would work. I had to pitch investors just to get off the ground. Most people would have waited until the timing was better or the circumstances were safer. I didn’t have that option — and honestly, I think that forced me to move with a level of faith and urgency I might not have had otherwise.
Being a single mom added another layer to everything. Every decision I made carried a lot of weight because my kids were counting on me. There were moments of real doubt. But I kept coming back to this feeling that God placed this in my path for a reason — so I could build something meaningful, be present for my kids, and pour into other people along the way. When I look at where I am now, I genuinely don’t have another explanation for it.
The lash industry itself also came with its own learning curve. There was a real lack of proper education and structured training in my area, which meant I had to seek out the best training I could find and essentially build the standard myself. That struggle is actually what drove me to create my apprenticeship program — I didn’t want the next generation of artists in this area to have to figure it all out alone
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Great Lakes Lashes is a boutique lash studio in Fruitport specializing in classic, volume, and mega volume lashes — all fully customized to each client’s eye shape, natural lashes, and lifestyle. What sets me apart is my commitment to proper education and technique. When I entered this industry I saw how big the gap was, and I made it my mission to do things differently and hold my studio to a higher standard.
What I’m most proud of is my apprenticeship program. I wanted to create a formal, structured path for new artists — real training, real mentorship, real accountability. Watching my apprentice, Karli, grow into a skilled, confident lash artist is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. At the end of the day, I’m an educator first, and the mission has always been bigger than any single set of lashes.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t give up. Lashes are genuinely hard to learn and there will be moments where you feel like you’ll never get it — and then one day it just clicks. Stick it out and trust the process.
The other thing I wish I’d done sooner is put myself out there. I’m naturally shy, and I waited way too long to start sharing my work. Don’t wait until you feel ready — start showing up, be confident in what you’re creating, and let people find you. Visibility matters more than most new artists realize.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://greatlakeslashes.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatlakeslashes?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18rvT9EZEj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
