Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisha Matthews.
Hi Elisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey in the beauty industry began in 2019 as a lash artist. About a year later, I expanded into brow services after recognizing a growing demand from my clients. That experience really opened my eyes to how much I enjoyed creating and helping people feel confident.
When I began my cosmetology journey in 2023, I was honestly scared and nervous. I even questioned whether I was starting too late. I had already gone to college and graduated, but despite that accomplishment, I still felt like something was missing.
I knew I wanted a career where I could serve and help people, but I also knew I needed an outlet for my creativity. Cosmetology gave me the opportunity to bring those two things together. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t late at all. I was just simply taking the path that was meant for me, at the time I was ready for it.
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?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome is comparing myself to other women and brands in my industry. I’ve definitely had moments where I looked at someone else’s business and wondered, “Am I doing enough? Should I be further along?” Especially because social media makes it so easy to see everyone else’s highlight reel while you’re living through your own process.
I’ve also struggled with the fear of failure because, honestly, I’m a level-one perfectionist. I want things to look good, feel right, and represent me well, so sometimes that perfectionism has caused me to overthink or hesitate instead of just taking the next step.
Another thing I wish I had done sooner was put stronger systems in place. In the beginning, I was wearing so many hats like serving clients, creating content, marketing, handling the administrative side, and figuring things out as I went. I’ve learned that being passionate about your business isn’t enough; you also need structure behind that passion.
Those challenges have really forced me to grow not just as a business owner, but as a person. I’m learning to trust my own journey, stop measuring my progress against someone else’s, and understand that everything doesn’t have to be perfect for me to move forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Loveli Collective is a full-service beauty brand created from my love for beauty, creativity, and helping women feel confident in themselves. I specialize in hair, lash, and brow services, with a strong focus on healthy hair, detailed work, and creating an experience that makes my clients feel cared for and not just serviced.
What sets The Loveli Collective apart is my versatility. I’ve always believed that “Versatility is my Specialty,” and I’ve built my brand around being able to meet my clients in different seasons of their beauty journey. Whether they’re coming in for a silk press, protective style, loc service, lashes, or brows, I want them to feel like they have a trusted beauty professional they can come to for multiple services.
I’m also very intentional about education. I don’t just want my clients to leave looking good; I want them to understand their hair, their beauty needs, and how to properly maintain their results. That education and personal connection are a huge part of the Loveli experience.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how much The Loveli Collective has evolved. I started in 2020 as a lash artist, and what began as a small beauty business has grown into a brand that reflects so much of who I am creatively and professionally. I’ve learned how to build, pivot, rebrand, and continue growing without losing the heart behind why I started.
I want readers to know that The Loveli Collective is about more than beauty services. It’s about creating a space where women can invest in themselves, feel seen, feel confident, and experience beauty in a way that feels personal to them. This brand is a reflection of my creativity, my growth, and my belief that there’s room to be both a skilled beauty professional and a businesswoman who continues to evolve.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is creating healthier relationships with my clients and, ultimately, helping them create a healthier relationship with their crown.
I have clients who come into my suite because they genuinely want to wear and embrace their natural hair more, but they may not know where to start or what works best for their hair. That’s where I feel like I come in. I want The Loveli Collective to be a safe space where clients can relax, feel comfortable, ask questions, and receive the education they need to better understand and care for their hair.
For me, it’s not just about doing their hair and sending them out the door. I want to help them fall in love with their hair again. Whether that means teaching them about their hair, recommending better practices, or simply giving them the confidence to embrace what naturally grows from their crown, that connection means so much to me.
I also really want to bring back the importance of genuine, elite customer service. We live in a time where, unfortunately, great customer service can sometimes feel rare because of so many different factors. I never want my clients to feel like they’re just a number, an appointment on my calendar, or a transaction.
I want to treat people the way I would want to be treated. I want my clients to feel welcomed, respected, heard, and valued from the moment they walk through my door until the moment they leave. That personal connection, combined with quality beauty services and education, is what I believe makes The Loveli Collective different.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelovelicollective.as.me/schedule/023bbfc5
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelicollective
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelovelicollective?_t=ZT-8zuxYj5ntLT&_r=1
