Why Most Lash Courses Suck: The Brutal Truth Lash Trainers Don't Want You to Know

If you’ve ever felt underwhelmed after attending a lash training course, trust me, you’re not alone. There are countless lash courses out there promising the world but delivering next to nothing, leaving aspiring lash stylists frustrated, confused, and doubting their future in the industry. And it’s not because you aren’t capable—it’s because most lash courses simply suck. Yes, I said it.

At LashJoy Academy, I’m not afraid to call out what’s wrong with the industry because I genuinely want to help set the standard for what true lash education should be. Over the years, I’ve seen far too many students come to our academy after wasting their time and money on basic courses that did nothing but leave them questioning if they’d ever be good enough to become successful lash artists.

So, what’s the real issue? Why are so many lash training courses letting students down? Let’s get into it.

Underqualified Educators Who’ve Barely Mastered the Basics

One of the biggest problems with many lash courses is that the educators themselves lack real-world experience. It’s common for lash artists to turn to teaching as a way to "get off the tools" because they’ve either lost passion for the craft or think becoming an educator is a fast track to making lots of money. But what kind of example does that set?

If your instructor has only been lashing for a couple of years, they’re still a beginner in my eyes. They may be able to lash the clients they have to a high standard, but true expertise only comes after years of encountering the full range of challenges the industry throws at you—understanding lash allergies, managing difficult clients, pricing correctly to ensure profitability, setting clear policies, adapting to new trends, and literally a thousand other things.

Let’s be clear: it’s not just about knowing how to apply lashes; it’s about having the experience and confidence to teach someone else to do it. There’s a huge difference between being a great lash artist and being a great lash educator. Many educators run short 1-2 day courses simply because it’s more convenient for them, not because it’s what’s best for the student.

To put it in perspective, when I first decided to become an educator back in 2013 (5 years into my career), it took me 10 months to develop the content for my Beginner Lash Course. Since then, I’ve refined that course a hundred times over to be what it is today—the most comprehensive beginner lash tech course on the market. I didn’t rush the process, and I continue to improve it year after year to ensure it remains relevant and effective.

But let me share a story that comes up time and time again during our courses: on day one, when we do introductions, I often hear that almost half of the students have already attended another course before coming to LashJoy. They tell me they knew from the moment they left their previous course that they weren’t ready to lash on a real person. The course just wasn’t in-depth enough and left them struggling, doubting their abilities, and wondering if they were cut out for lashing. After months of frustration and nearly giving up altogether, they finally did some research, found our reviews, and realised we were the real deal. These students always say the same thing: “I wish I’d found LashJoy Academy first. I wouldn’t have wasted so much time and money.”

Short Beginner Lash Courses = 99% Chance of Failure

Here’s the thing: most aspiring lash artists underestimate just how much there is to learn to become a confident lash stylist. It’s easy to assume that because you’re “just sticking hairs on lashes,” it can’t be that hard, right? But the reality is that when you try it for the first time, you realise very quickly—this isn’t easy. 

That’s why in my opinion a beginner lash extension course that only runs for one or two days is absolutely a waste of money. It’s impossible to learn how to apply lash extensions to a safe and high standard in such a short amount of time—let alone mastering all the other aspects like client consultations, troubleshooting retention issues, and managing your business.

I’ll let you in on a secret these trainers don’t want you to know: these cheap short lash courses aren’t designed for your benefit—they’re designed for the trainer’s. And let me be clear—this isn’t about putting other educators down. It’s about encouraging them to do better! If they genuinely cared about their students’ success, they’d put more thought and effort into building comprehensive programs that actually set their students up to win.

Ironically, I find it amusing that some people take issue with courses like ours because we charge more—even though we’ve spent over a decade developing some of the industry’s most successful lash artists. But these same people have no problem with academies running cheap crash courses that do nothing but flood the market with poorly trained techs who struggle, damage the industry’s reputation, and quit within months.

At LashJoy Academy, we refuse to compromise on quality. Our courses aren’t just about making you competent—they’re about making you confident. This is the blueprint for real success, and it’s why our students consistently thrive where others struggle.

Watching Isn’t Learning: Avoid “Look and Learn” Courses That Leave You Clueless

Another major issue I see with many lash courses is that they’re nothing more than glorified “look and learn” sessions—watching demos, reading through endless PowerPoint slides, and listening to the instructor talk. Don’t get me wrong; theory has its place, but you don’t learn how to lash by watching a PowerPoint presentation or by watching someone else do it.

Real learning comes from doing the work. Applying lash extensions is a highly technical skill that requires precision, an eye for detail and creativity —all of which can only be developed through hands-on practice.

That’s why our training at LashJoy Academy is so heavily practical-based. For example, our 6-Day Lash Artist Course includes 8 model practice sessions totalling over 26 hours of hands-on practice. You’ll experience what it’s like to work on a variety of clients with different lashes and eye shapes under real-world conditions—with me by your side to guide you.

We go beyond just lash extensions, too. Our 4-Day Beginner Brow Styling Course includes 7 practice sessions to ensure you’re prepared to tackle any brow shape and scenario. Our 2-Day Lash Lift & Tint Course features 5 model practice sessions so you can perfect your lash lift skills on a range of natural lashes.

For those looking to truly master every facet of the lash and brow industry, we offer our 7-in-1 Lash and Brow Mentorship Course Bundle. This intensive, non-consecutive 16-day program covers everything lash and brow related, with 22 guided model practice sessions. It’s the most comprehensive lash and brow artist apprenticeship on the market, giving you the hands-on experience needed to become a true expert. It’s also my favourite course to teach because it allows me maximum time with my students to build their skills and confidence.

Certification That Isn't Earned Is Just a Piece of Paper

Certification isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s a symbol that you’ve achieved a level of skill and professionalism that sets you apart. Unfortunately, I see so many educators hand out certificates like parting gifts on the last day of class. They pose for a photo with a classroom full of students holding their certificates and that’s it. They’re essentially saying, “Good luck, you’re on your own now.”

We don’t do that at LashJoy Academy. Why? Because your success actually matters to us. That’s why we have the reputation we have. It’s not about being harsh or withholding; it’s about ensuring that when you receive a certificate from LashJoy, it truly means something. 

Our beginner students, for example, go through a structured evaluation process that involves submitting 20 model sets in two batches of 10. After completing the first 10 sets, I personally provide detailed, constructive feedback on every aspect of their technique, highlighting areas for improvement. They then incorporate this feedback into their final set of 10 models, addressing any issues and refining their skills further. The improvement we see during this work experience phase is nothing short of incredible, and it’s at this point that am proud to issue their certificate.

We’re not here to rush you through a course and send you on your way with a short lived feel-good moment. We’re here to equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to deliver professional results—long after the course ends.

No Real Support After the Course? Prepare to Struggle.

Ever felt like you were dropped off the edge of a cliff after completing a course? No follow-up, no ongoing support—just “thanks for your money, see you later.” Unfortunately, this is common in the industry because many trainers simply don’t have the time or resources to look after their students post-training.

It frustrates me when I see new lash artists posting basic questions in Facebook groups like, “What glue should I use?” or “How do I isolate lashes?” These are things that should have been covered in-depth during training. If your educator isn’t there to support you after the course, you’re being let down.

At LashJoy Academy, we’ve made it our mission to provide post-training support that goes above and beyond. We have a dedicated team of staff employed purely to look after our students post-training via email and phone support. Additionally, every student who attends one of our beginner in-person lash courses receives lifetime access to our comprehensive video tutorial library—completely free. We’ve invested over $50,000 in creating this resource, which contains hundreds of videos covering everything from “How to Conduct a Lash Consultation” to “How to Troubleshoot Common Lash Retention Issues.”

And that’s not all—we also offer 1-on-1 Refresher Courses for students who want to revisit and refine their skills with personalised coaching. It’s like having a mentor on call—someone who genuinely cares about your success and is there for you every step of the way as you transition from beginner to professional.

Why High-Quality Lash Training Isn’t Cheap (and Shouldn’t Be)

Let’s address the elephant in the room: our courses are not cheap, and there’s a very good reason for that. If I’m going to give my best, invest my time, and share all my knowledge and secrets, I want to ensure that the student on the other end is 100% committed. This isn’t just about teaching you how to lash—it’s about showing you how to achieve long-term success in this industry in a fraction of the time that it's taken me.

By not being “cheap,” I’m also filtering out those who aren’t serious about becoming professional lash artists. It’s not meant to be harsh or discriminatory, but I value my time, and I only want to work with students who are willing to meet me halfway, invest in themselves, and commit to the process.

And to be honest, I’ve already given out more free, high-value content through my award-winning YouTube channel than just about any other lash educator in the country. Every day people comment that they learn more from my free YouTube videos than they did from the paid lash course they attended. And while that’s a huge compliment, it’s also a worry. If my free content is more comprehensive than what’s being taught in a paid course, it’s a clear sign that the standard of lash education out there needs to be raised.

What does all this really mean? It means when you invest in a LashJoy course, you’re learning from someone who’s not just an internationally awarded artist, but who also built a multi 7-figure business by the age of 30. You’re learning from someone who has spent every day since 2008 mastering their craft and helping to shape some of the most successful lash artists in the industry today.

I’m not saying this to brag, but knowing that your educator plays such a significant role in your future success, why would you settle for anything less than the best possible start?

Ready to get started? Check out our LashJoy Academy Course Collection to see why we’re the leaders in lash education. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist looking to take your skills to the next level, we have a course that’s right for you. Join us and see what sets LashJoy Academy apart from the rest!