Casarez becomes licensed lash tech
No light yet creeps in as a hand reaches across the pink pillows to stop the obnoxious beeping from continuing any more than it has to. A light is switched on, the faucet starts to run and the back door is opened for a teacup yorkie to be let out at the crack of dawn. The necessary holy grail of bags: a backpack, snack bag and purse, is snatched up from the ground as senior communication major and licensed lash tech Brieana Casarez is headed out the door and into the hour and a half-crowded drive that lies ahead.
Casarez makes the drive from one ville to the next, hitting the road by seven in the morning every weekday from her house in Beeville to undergraduate school at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK).
In the state of Texas, eyelashes can be performed by either a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician, after concluding a 1,000-hour course. The alternative option is to take a 320-hour course and pass a written and practical hands-on test, which is the route Casarez took to get licensed.
The freshly licensed lash tech started beauty school in May 2022 and completed her 320-hour course by August.
After a day of scattered classes, Casarez once again makes another lengthy drive back home and upon arrival, turns on the ring light near her pink massage table and opens her pink box kit to expose her pair of glue tweezers, glue rings and extensions, preparing to start on her first client of the day.
Casarez spends anywhere from two to three hours working on clients’ lashes after school and finds time after to get homework done and rest for the same routine, a different day.
Casarez is qualified to do eyelash extensions in which she places an extension on the individual lash, however big or small desired. She can also perform lash lifts, which is similar to a perm but for lashes, and brow laminations where she manipulates the growth of the natural brow hair.
“It wasn’t too bad balancing my spring semester with starting lash school because I had a bit of a gap so it wasn’t too hard to adjust, but then summer classes started and it hit me that it was a lot. It worked itself out though because my summer class was online,” Casarez said.
The hour and a half drive from home to TAMUK is not the only drive to school that the student has grown accustomed to.
The beauty school Casarez attended was an hour drive away in the neighboring town of Calallen, forcing Casarez to yet again make another extensive drive.
Senior Communication major and fellow commuter Nadya Garcia explains the effects of having to drive hours a day.
“Just having to make those early morning drives, to make it on time to class whether at TAMUK or at her beauty school, shows that she does take responsibility in her education. I highly respect Brie because commuting every day is a tiring process that can take a toll on any student’s emotional and physical health, yet she always comes to class looking presentable with a smile on her face,” Garcia said.
Lash school occupied six to eight hours of Casarez’s day, Monday through Friday all summer long.
“I sacrificed my whole summer to go to lash school. I think it’s worth it if it’s something you really want to do. I think if you have the mindset to do something in that field then go for it,” Casarez advises.
The student and lash tech is scheduled to graduate December 2022 with a B.A in Communication.
“I feel so happy. I have worked so hard to get here and I feel like 2022 is my year because I got licensed and I’m graduating with my bachelor’s so I think things are slowly falling into place for me,” Casarez said.
Garcia states that she admires Casarez for being well-rounded and multi-talented, having worked in radio, writing for the school newspaper, and now being a licensed lash tech on top of finishing school.
“She has the perfect voice that automatically draws you in for the radio. Not only does she have a talent for speaking, but she could also write really well. The last thing Brie is good at is cosmetology. She has a big passion for doing lash extensions. I know she is still in training and is working hard to make all her clients feel beautiful at the end of the day,” Garcia said.
Junior Business Administration major and boyfriend Angel Valencia also states his admiration for Casarez in what she has set her mind to achieve.
“Going to lash school for Brie was important because she wanted to show her parents that she was capable of taking on another task and being successful at it. She also really enjoys doing lashes and she not only wanted to have a degree but she also wanted to have her lash tech license so that way in the future she can have more doors open work wise. I’m proud of all her accomplishments. She will always have the support from me and her family with anything she sets her mind to,” Valencia said.
Casarez is determined to go back to school to become an esthetician after graduation. She considers opening her own esthetician business or salon that allows her to focus on more trades like facials and waxing.Her favorite experience during the summer was spending time around cosmetologists and barbers who share similar interests.
One of Casarez’s classmates at Blessed Hands Barber and Cosmetology College, Caitlin Macias, states that she met Casarez when she started doing lashes and what bonded them was more than just the school.
“She would help me with my struggles with my mom having cancer since she also went through it. I very much appreciate Brie more than she knows. She’s a lot of help,” Macias said.
Along with being supportive emotionally, Casarez is supportive professionally, allowing Macias to practice her daily specials on her, performing manicures, blow drys and thermal curls.
“When you go to beauty school it’s completely different than when you’re in college. I felt like I was where I belonged. I was doing something that I had wanted to do. I was taking a step into the direction I wanted to go and it really made me realize I wanted to go to school for more than just lashes,” Casarez said.
Casarez has been interested in this field since graduating high school and decided to add this skill now while lashes are trending.
“Having a degree is great but also learning a trade is beneficial for me. Trades can range in all different things and this is one that I’ve always wanted to do so I think that’s the reason why I added it. I also didn’t want to prolong the process any longer,” Casarez explained.
Casarez will continue to take on clients as she wraps up her last semester of her undergraduate career and looks ahead to her new future.
“What motivates me is success. I want to be successful and I’ve always wanted to do this. So what motivates me is having this opportunity, now it’s just a matter of executing it and making sure that I really go through with it and get it done,” Casarez finished.
No outside light dares to seep in as the lash tech shuts off her ring light and closes her pink lash kit. Her hand, yet again, reaches for her phone, this time setting an alarm for the crack of dawn to do it all again.
For any questions regarding Casarez’s services or to book an appointment, follow @lusciouslashesbybrie on Instagram and like the @The Lash Studio page on Facebook, shown with a pink profile picture and green header.