Light Heart Lash — Visionary, In The Lash Industry

 

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Madison Morris, the powerhouse behind Light Heart Lash, to pick her brain on the journey, the grit, and the glow-up behind one of the most beloved lash brands in the industry. From humble beginnings to building a full-scale lash empire, Madison shares the raw, behind-the-scenes answers to the questions every lash artist wants to know.

From Boat Dreams to Lash Empire: The Story of Madison Morris & Light Heart

Madison Morris has always had a deep passion for making others feel loved and special through beauty. Growing up on a small sailboat, she would crush seashells into powder to create eyeshadow and give makeovers to anyone she met. At 15, Madison discovered a love for makeup and began an apprenticeship as a bridal makeup artist assistant. That early experience ignited a fire. She went on to build an impressive bridal portfolio and, by 18, was attending aesthetics school in Anchorage, Alaska.

Her journey into lashes began unexpectedly when she landed a job at a busy local day spa. Working long hours for minimum wage, Madison’s lash career quietly took root. But it didn’t take long for her to recognise a gap in the training she received—and to want more for herself. Determined to elevate her artistry, Madison spent every last dime she earned on continuing education, traveling near and far to take over a dozen advanced lash courses.

What started as curiosity became obsession. Her love for lash artistry grew with every client, every set, every step. At 20, Madison launched her own lash business in Alaska, taking 12 clients a day, six days a week. She dreamed of building a better life for herself and her husband, Elliott, who was in college studying to become a robotics engineer.

The couple knew the uphill battle of building a lash business firsthand—Madison lived it. That shared understanding became the foundation of what was to come. In 2020, Madison and Elliott made the bold decision to leave Alaska behind and grow what would become Light Heart. Madison left her clientele and poured her heart into building something bigger. She wrote her own curriculum, trained every local artist she could, and successfully passed on her beloved clients to new hands. After mentoring 15 students in 15 weekends, her trainings began drawing attention around the world—and just like that, Light Heart Academy was born.

CEO of Light Heart Lash — Maddison Morris

When they arrived in Arizona, their mission was clear: not just to grow Madison’s business, but to help others build theirs—with less struggle, more support, and a whole lot of heart.

Madison began offering private in-person training in Scottsdale, mentoring up to 15 students a month, traveling to salons around the country, taking a full book of clients, and creating online classes to expand her reach globally.

What set her apart? Everything. Madison prioritised client preferences, customised lashes to suit individual features, focused on lash and eye health, became known for her legendary 3–4 week retention, and used only 0.03 lashes to create every style. And most importantly—she genuinely loved to lash.

Photo of Before and After Madison's Lash Room's. 

After 1.5 years of relentless dedication, Madison and Elliott took the biggest leap of their lives: building a one-of-a-kind salon suite and coffee shop hybrid from the ground up.

Maddison and Elliot — Pre-construction of Light Heart Lash.

After 9 gruelling months of construction and pouring every dollar earned from teaching into the dream, Light Heart Studios, Academy, and Coffee Shop officially opened its doors. A space intentionally created for lash and beauty professionals to grow their businesses in a safe, inspiring, and supportive environment. You can now visit them 7 days a week at 6969 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, Arizona.

This vision became their full-time reality—so much so that Elliott left his robotics engineering career to join the lash world full-time. He now leads product development and education alongside Madison. 

They’ve since celebrated:

2 years of Light Heart Studios being open.

5 years of marriage.

8 years of lashing.

Over a decade of experience in the beauty industry.

Further construction of Light Heart Lash.

Light Heart Today
Today, Light Heart stands as an industry leader in lash education. Madison has personally trained over 500 students in person from across the globe—and over 5,000 students online through their award-winning programs. Their commitment to elite education, consistent product quality, and unmatched client care has made them a trusted name in the lash world.

Beyond the courses, Madison and Elliott pour their expertise into weekly podcast episodes, YouTube tutorials, blogs, and daily social media content. Their mission? To give lash artists everything they need to succeed in this ever-growing industry.

Maddison and Elliot — My Lash Two Braincells Podcast

The Launch That Shook the Industry
After nearly a year in development, Madison and Elliott unveiled their most anticipated project yet—a signature collection of professional lash products.

“We’re obsessed with our brand and our beautiful lash community,” Madison shares. “We live and breathe lashes. Making the lives and jobs of lash artists easier is our heart, our soul, and our forever mission.”

We had the opportunity to ask Madison the exact questions we know our students need to hear—because at ASCEND, we don’t just teach technique; we shape leaders. This series was born from our mission to spotlight the trailblazers raising the standard in our industry, so you can learn from the best, grow with purpose, and step fully into your role as the next generation of lash educators.

ASCEND — Lash Artist & Educators Quotes

QUESTIONS

When you first started learning how to lash, what was the hardest technique for you to master? RUSSIAN VOLUME! Because it required me to prioritise perfect symmetry, I really struggled. I took 4 different training sessions to master these techniques and it is still a technique that I highly admire to this day.

What advice would you give to new lash artists struggling with isolation and placement? Slow down, work on a mannequin until you are confident in your isolation, take models as often as possible and don’t rush this part of your lash journey. It has to be mastered before all else.

Do you believe natural talent plays a role in lashing, or is it all about practice and technique? I believe hard work and consistency will get you farther than anything else can.

What are some small adjustments new lash artists can make that will improve their lash sets instantly? Use more lengths than you think you need. This will create dimension in your sets.

Can you take us back to the first time you ever worked on a real client? How did it go, and what did you learn from that experience? It was my best friend. I applied about 50 .25 diameter classics on her. I didn’t learn a whole lot. I learned what not to do…;) 

Many new artists are terrified of taking their first paying client. How do you overcome that fear? Don’t charge until you’re ready. It’s okay to work for free for a period of time, a lot of people are scared to show up for themselves when there’s no reward, but you will be rewarded later. Take as many free models as you can until you can confidently get good coverage and great isolation in a reasonable period of time. That confidence in your skill will make you more comfortable charging. 

What do you think is the biggest mistake new lash artists make when working on their first few clients? They use poor quality products, this will make your job 10x harder than it needs to be. Product is something I wish I would have invested in early on. 

How do you build trust with clients when you’re brand new and don’t have much experience? Your customer service. Roll out the red carpet for them. Treat them like your only client, be reliable, be compassionate, listen to them, tailor each set to each individual client and get to know them.

What are the absolute essentials a new lash artist needs when setting up their business? Insurance. A savings account. A business credit card. Start with the basics. 

If you had to start all over again with a small budget, how would you set up your lash business today? I started with $0. Living on my own, paying all my own bills. I really set up my business as basically as possible, nothing fancy. I had a website I made myself on Wix, I had no Instagram, I made my own logo, my own LLC, my own marketing materials. I wouldn’t change a thing. I lived below my means for as long as possible and saved every penny I made for all of my big dreams that came to fruition many years later. 

What are some common things new lash artists waste money on that they don’t actually need when starting out? Paid Ads. Don’t think of running ads until you have exhausted every other marketing channel. I have never once paid for an ad to sell my lash services. Classes, yes. Lash services, no. 

What is one business lesson you wish you knew when you were first getting started? Stop worrying about what others are doing. Focus on your own journey. 

What worked for you when it came to getting your first few paying clients? Word of mouth, giving people an excellent service and pitching them my INCREDIBLE referral program. You can learn more about that in the class “Dream Clientele”. 

A lot of new lash artists struggle with confidence. How do you build confidence when you’re still learning? I believe confidence is a byproduct of knowing what you’re doing. How can you be confident when you barely have mastered your skills? Keep practicing and lashing everyday and one day…trust me, that confidence will naturally come with time. 

When did you finally feel like you were good at lashing, and what helped you get to that point? When I was fully booked with exceptionally happy clients. That made me feel good. I was about 3 years in.

If you could go back and talk to yourself when you were just starting, what advice would you give? Everything is going to be better than you could ever imagine. Just keep your head up, don’t get discouraged. 

What advice do you have for lash artists who are surrounded by people who don’t believe in them or try to bring them down? Prove them wrong ;)

Social media can be both an incredible tool and a breeding ground for comparison and negativity. How do you stop yourself from letting it affect your confidence and creative inspiration? Block anyone or anything that negatively impacts you or others. If I see drama, if I see someone bullying someone else, if I see something that actively makes me feel worse about myself, I block it. You can curate your own algorithm and consume more of what YOU want. And be careful not to scroll too long. Just post, interact with your community, build a community of your own and block anything that ruins your day.

If a new artist is listening to this right now and is struggling with self-doubt because of negative influences around them, what would you say to them? Everyone that’s ever bullied me in this industry has had to watch me achieve everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more. You can’t let the naysayers win. You have to remember YOUR mission, and it’s not to shrink to please everyone. It’s to create beauty and magic in the world. And not everyone is going to cheer you on and that’s okay.

What do you think separates lash artists who succeed from those who quit within the first year? Grit. Pushing through and looking for solutions instead of throwing in the towel. 

If a new artist is listening to this right now, feeling overwhelmed and unsure if they have what it takes, what would you say to them? Do you. Take a deep breath and know that lashing isn’t a race, it’s a marathon and everything incredible in this world took time. You are growing and growing can be painful. Just give yourself time and grace and love. 

What do you wish more new lash artists understood about the industry and their future in it? The industry is always evolving and there is a place for you. 

What’s the one thing every new lash artist should focus on right now to set themselves up for success? Quality in everything they do. Customer Care. Customised sets. An unforgettable client experience.

Discount Code

We have been lucky enough to have been given a discount code for all our wonderful Students to continue and advance their studies through Light Heart Lash. Use code dearlashbabe10 for 10% off the following courses.

https://lightheartlash.com

• Mapping Mastery.
• Facebook Ads For Lash Artist.
• Angel Lashes — Virtual Mini Course.
• Light Heart Consent Form.
• Dream Clientele.
• Client Communication Survival Guide.
• Mega Volume Online Masterclass.
• Mapping Practice Sheet.