Meet Raya Lash | Nail Addict • Hair Therapist • Lash Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raya Lash and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raya, how do you think about risk?
I look at risk from every perspective, especially when it comes to my career and my business. I graduated high school here in Grand Junction, Colorado a semester early at the age of 17. From there I didn’t know exactly what career I wanted to pursue, but I sure was excited to get a head start! I knew my passion for creating art in the beauty industry was my number one priority and I ran with it.

I started my journey at The Salon Professional Academy two weeks after graduating high school. I thought to myself while sitting in that classroom, did I make the right choice? Should I have taken a break? What if I wanted to continue my education in the medical field? All of these questions picked at my mind but my drive to make people feel beautiful was so powerful I knew I made the right choice.

The beauty school I attended was solely focused on hair but my passion was strictly for creating fun, artistic, beautiful nails. I loved having the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of hair but my cravings for learning the ins and outs of nails was still burning.

I began my journey of being a fresh stylist at Posh Salon and Boutique. I was a stylist there for two years and learned an extravagant amount of knowledge for my passion- nails! The creativity I was given and products that were provided drove me to be a better person and better nail artist everyday!

I took the risk to leave the commission salon i held near and dear to my heart and I went on my way to start a fresh career as my own business, Raya’s Creations GJ.

I now own my own business and with this opportunity I’ve been able to create my own schedule, continue my education, have enormous amounts of family time, and provide top services I love, all while maintaining my happiness and creating that self love I lacked. This change scared me and I knew I was risking a lot- money, self worth, clients, motivation, etc. but now that I’m here, I wish I would’ve done it sooner.

Taking risks is scary and may seem like everything will go downhill, but that’s the park of risks that makes it so fun! The adrenaline you feel while making big choices that could change your life for the good or the bad, makes it all worth it in the end. I’m the most happiest with my career that I’ve ever been.

Take risks! It’s nerve wrecking but you won’t regret it!! How will you learn or grow without taking risks?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is how I express myself as a person. I don’t draw on big canvases or paint murals at my local downtown location, I create art on nails. Nails have always been a passion of mine, from a simple nude color to a full set of The Nightmare Before Christmas nails with Jack Skellington and Sally, to an Easter bunny with pastel eggs and grass. All of it!

I realized my passion for nails became so much stronger around the age of 11. When I was in middle school, I’d come home everyday to polish my nails. I would go all out, from doing a flag and stars for the 4th of July, to a Christmas tree and ornaments for Christmas, or even just a simple white polish. It became a part of my routine and that’s when I realized it was my outlet. To come home and have my own space to let everything that I was dealing with that day out and let everything else around my disappear.

Growing up I had a really hard childhood. My biological mother was an addict and alcoholic. From constantly being scared of what’s gonna happen next or how I’m gonna be able to provide for my two younger sisters on a daily basis was very traumatizing. I had to learn to grow up at a very young age and take care of not only myself, but my two younger sisters that constantly relied on me.

When I moved into my fathers home at the age of 10, I was able to be a kid. It was everything I lacked and everything I’ve ever craved. I was able to have my own space and do what I wanted to do. I was able to let out my emotions and feel how I wanted without feeling bad about it. I was able to sit down and take out my frustrations while creating art.

Not to be dramatic, but nails saved me. Having that outlet was so therapeutic. It’s crazy how nails make you feel so whole and at peace. It makes you feel good about yourself, and to be the one creating these masterpieces, I feel over the moon!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend visiting my hometown, the first thing I would do is take them downtown. There are so many yummy restaurants, cute boutiques, small antique shops, fun activities and more! I would love to take them to this place called Candle Kitchen. It’s a place that has all of the scents you can think of, you pick your favorite ones and create a candle of your own! One of my favorite restaurants downtown is called Rockslide, I love their chicken and rice dish, and their drinks are the bomb.com! Downtown is a really fun place to take pictures as well. If you check out my personal instagram (xoxox.raya), 90% of my photos are taken there! There’s murals painted everywhere, cute artistic benches, and everything else you could imagine!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest supporters have always been my parents. Their drive to wake up everyday and support myself and my siblings is astonishing. The love they give off could feed a village. No matter the path I’ve taken in life, no matter the decisions I’ve made, no matter the demons I was dealing with, no matter the indecisiveness, no matter anything, my parents were right by my side to help guide me in the right direction to make positive choices in my life and for my future. The day I made the choice to go into the beauty industry, they were right there to tour the school alongside me, they were right there when I signed my contract, they were there for my first haircut! They’ve allowed me to turn them into my guinea pigs and they now rely on me and continue to support me for their beauty services! It’s such an honor to have such amazing parents and such a great support system. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today and I wouldn’t be pursuing my passion.

Website: https://arayas-creations.square.site/

Instagram: rayascreationsgj

Facebook: Araya Lash