We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rylie Sowders. Check out our conversation below.
Rylie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
A lot of people may think that running a lash business is just doing pretty lashes all day. That is the easy part. What they don’t see is the long hours, the constant learning, the marketing, the customer care, the trial and erroring hoping you’re doing something right, and wearing about ten hats at once. I think people underestimate the strategizing that is happening behind scenes. Yes, I’m a lash artist, but I’m also a businesswoman, a bookkeeper, a photographer, a social media manager, an educator, a marketer, and any other hat that has to be worn. It can often be overwhelming and at times not having a boss or a real ‘deadline’ can make it easy to procrastinate because nothing happens if you don’t get things done. You can constantly elevate your business to new levels or stay comfortable and stagnant because you’re making just enough. If you want to keep growing, nothing changes if nothing changes. Lashes are my medium, but my mission is bigger—helping other women build their own success stories. The reality is, it’s long hours, back-to-back clients, constant problem-solving—but I truly wouldn’t trade it for anything. I get to be creative, make people feel beautiful, and build a brand that’s mine, and that’s worth every challenge.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Rylie, the founder of RyLashBar, and what started as me lashing clients in my small bedroom has grown into a brand that blends artistry, education, and empowerment. I specialize in volume and wispy lash styling with an emphasis on creating custom one-of-one lash sets mapped out for each individual client, but my mission goes beyond the lashes themselves — I’m here to give women confidence and create an experience where they leave feeling like the best version of themselves. Over the past few years, I’ve expanded into training other lash artists, both in person and online, helping them build their own skills and businesses. Right now, I’m working on launching my full lash product line so I can provide high-quality tools for a not only myself but artists everywhere. My brand is unique because it’s built on connection, community, and customization — every client and student becomes part of the RyLashBar family. Whether they are getting a lash set or a training, I take the time to tailor every bit of the process to that specific person. They did not have to spend their money with me so I make sure I go above and beyond to give them an experience most artists don’t. It’s been a journey full of late nights, learning curves, and leaps of faith, but my brand is my passion and what I look forward to growing every single day!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has shaped me most is by far my relationship with God. My faith grounds me, gives me strength in the hard seasons, and keeps me humble in the wins. It’s the foundation of how I see myself and how I approach my business — I know I’m not walking this path alone, and that gives me the courage to keep going and the grace to keep growing.
When I don’t feel like I have the answers or am deserving enough, remembering that even if some things don’t work out the way I had hoped, I never get too low because I want what God has for me and my business, so it’s hard to get upset when things don’t work out because that just means He has something better for me. And at the end of the day, if it’s not from Him, I don’t want it.
Having faith gives me direction and reminds me of my purpose, even on the hardest days. It’s what keeps me centered, gives me confidence, and helps me see myself through a lens of growth and grace. I’ve learned that we are often our own toughest critics, but when you know who God says you are, you have a steady foundation, no matter what.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I changed my mind about hustle culture recently. For a while, I believed success meant non-stop grinding and saying yes to everything and that was the magic potion to make all my dreams come true. Now I understand that rest and boundaries are just as important as hard work. I was constantly getting burned out and going through up and down phases of motivation and productivity. I had this hustle expectation of myself that was ultimately hurting me. Trying to grow your business is a marathon and not a sprint. It’s about getting just 1% better every day. Not 100%, just 1. I had to restructure my business in a way that allowed me to enjoy it in the now. Taking baby steps rather than trying to exhaust myself to get it all done. Taking care of myself actually helps me show up better for my clients, students, and my business as a whole. I don’t need to have it all figured out before starting something new. I used to wait until I felt ‘ready,’ but I’ve learned you never really feel 100% ready — you grow into it as you go. That shift has helped me take leaps I might have talked myself out of before.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I’m a firm believer in enjoying the ‘now.’ Life has taught me that stress and struggles are inevitable, so if you only let yourself be happy when things are perfect, you’ll never actually be happy. I found myself stuck in a cycle of thinking, ‘When this next thing happens, then I’ll finally be happy.’ But the truth was, every time I reached that milestone, I immediately started chasing the next one. I never paused to appreciate that I was living in a moment my past self once prayed for. God has helped shift my perspective to gratitude — to see that my present is something my past self once prayed for. Instead of constantly chasing the next milestone, I try to fully appreciate where I am while I’m here. I want to live in a way that, when I’m older, I don’t have ‘I wish I did that’ regrets. God has already blessed each of us with so much, but when we’re always fixated on the future, we overlook the abundance we already have. I’ve learned that life feels like it ‘falls into place’ when you start to slow down, appreciate the little things, and romanticize the present. That gratitude is often when God shows you even more blessings. My friends would say what matters to me is living fully, being grateful for what I have, and encouraging others to do the same.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients would miss the relationships and the space we’ve built together just as much as the lashes themselves. About 90% of my clientele are regulars, so I see them every 2–3 weeks — honestly, more than I see most family and friends. Over time, those appointments have become so much more than just lashes. Even if we’ve never hung out outside of the lash room, we’ve built these intimate friendships where we laugh, cry, vent, and share things we might not even tell our closest loved ones.
I’ve been blessed to be the first person to hear life-changing news — pregnancies, engagements, promotions, new homes — and I’ve also been there during some of their hardest moments, like loss, heartbreak, or uncertainty. It’s a safe space where my clients know they can show up exactly as they are and be heard without judgment. In some cases, I am their ‘break’ from their hard real life happening outside of my walls. I might be the only person my client feels safe to talk to. We’ve joked, we’ve laughed, we’ve even cried. Being able to offer such an intimate safe space for my girls is something I don’t take lightly.
That bond is what makes this work so special to me. Yes, they leave feeling beautiful on the outside, but it’s the trust, the connection, and the feeling of being seen that makes it unforgettable. If I retired tomorrow, I think that’s what they’d miss the most — not just the lashes, but the rare kind of bond that can’t be replicated.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rylashbar.as.me
- Instagram: RyLashBar
- Facebook: RyLashBar
- Yelp: RyLashBar
- Youtube: RyLashBar
- Other: Tiktok: @rylashbar
