Working Crush Wednesday: Meet Lex, A Normal LA Girl That Ran A Successful Storefront
Sometimes, I share my very strong opinions about how trash people in L.A. are, often calling them shallow and fake. And I say that, well, because… they are. But! But! But! A bunch of bad apples haven’t ruined the whole batch.
There are some amazing women in Los Angeles.
Instead of (or really, in addition to) rolling my eyes at the substance-lacking women that sell their souls for a shot at success, I’ve decided to celebrate the righteous women making an honest way for themselves in LA.
Yes, there are plenty of women selling tail; yes, a lot of what you’ve heard about Hollyweird is true. You’ve listened to Wendy Williams talk about the scandalous behavior and you’ve seen all the mess on TheShadeRoom, and I’m not here to tell you that those gossip outlets are lying. However, I am here to say that a lot of what doesn’t get publicized also exists in LA.
There are women doing well in LA that aren’t InstaThots.
There are normal girls like you and me. There are women with passion and drive. There are women pursuing their purpose. There are women with depth, that care more about what’s in them than what’s on them. There are women taking the moral high ground as they navigate this tricky metropolis. There are women that aren’t just saying it, but doing it — women whose actions reflect their intentions. They seem more and more rare, but they exist. And these are the women I’d like to share with you in my new Woman Crush Wednesday blog series.
Lexus Allen, beauty guru and former beauty supply store owner, is one of these women.
I met Lexus when I stumbled across a new Black-owned beauty supply store in LA, during an Internet search, and decided to ride my bicycle to go check it out. She didn’t know I was a budding blogger; I was just an awkward girl that walked into her storefront with a bike in tow. She was calm, polite, and professional.
Meet Lex!
Where did you grow up and what’s your favorite thing about where you grew up?
I was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. It’s a small city outside of LA. I don’t know; I just love it. I feel like we have our own unique culture and there’s no place like it. Our city gives boughetto vibes (like me). It’s a mix of the city and suburbs, and just a beautiful city.
Did you go to school? Are there any particular degrees, or training certificates that you hold?
Yes, I like to say I was a career student for a while. I graduated high school a year early, and then went on to receive my B.A. in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University. A few years later, I went to school and became a licensed esthetician. I think I use my license far more than my degree but undergrad was a good time.
Traditionally, people went to school, then got a job, and continued working jobs indefinitely, or at least quite a while. You’re only in your 20s, what drove you to open your own brick-and-mortar business at such a young age?
Well actually, my story started off super traditional. I got my degree and was working as a Health Office Attendant at a private elementary school when I decided to start my journey as an entrepreneur. My job was amazing, but I knew there was more out there for me — and that’s when I went to esthetician school, because originally I wanted to be a lash tech, but now I’m more so into skincare and maintenance. Like a week or two before my state board exam, my dad had two strokes and was in ICU. I didn’t want to study let alone take the exam, but my mom convinced me to and I passed the test (so I guess it was meant to be). My dad passed just a few days after that, and I realized doing lashes wasn’t my passion. I also realized life was too short to not do what makes you happy. So, I decided to pursue my real passion which was owning a beauty supply (or so I thought), and natural hair.
our #womancrushwednesday in action | photo credit: @aroundLAwithTK
What help did you have opening your own business?
Chile, I knew nothing about running or opening a business. I didn’t even do a business plan. I was grieving and this was my distraction, so I kind of rushed into it. I asked a friend’s parents, who own businesses, how to start my LLC and once I filed for that everything else just fell into place. I did the research and doors just started opening up. If only running a business was as easy as opening one is... So, I really didn’t have any help, I was just learning as I went.
What kind of business did you open, and if you had competitors, what did you do to set yourself apart?
I opened up a beauty supply in Glendale, CA. [My business, Blessed Beauty Supply,] didn’t really have any competition in this area. I tried my best to brand myself differently, you could just tell from the atmosphere in the store. I made it very clean, organized, and welcoming. We had a huge variety of natural hair products. I also had an online website (which helped me flourish in the pandemic), and I carried luxury human hair bundles as opposed to synthetic hair. I wanted the store to give black girl luxury and black excellence, and I believe it did.
What led you to choose that industry?
My love for my own natural hair. I’ve been natural my whole life. I got my first perm at 18 and first weave at 21. Then I dyed my hair at 21 and damaged it to the point I had no curl pattern anymore, so that’s when my real #naturalhairjourney started. But even before then I was a product junkie. I loved trying all the new natural hair products and trying different natural hair styles. I also thought I could help other girls learn how to take care of their hair, because before I damaged it with dye, it was thick, long, and healthy. Then after I damaged it, I was able to grow it out again, and this time healthier.
How would you rate the success of the run of your business?
9/10! Because all though I decided to close my store, I still did it. It was still an accomplishment. My brand was Blessed and I believe I touched people’s lives and blessed them. That was really my only goal.
If any, what are your regrets about opening a physical location?
None, I honestly prefer a physical location to an online one, but I think I’m just old school.
We learn a lot from our parents, mentors, school, and even our peers, but other people can’t teach us everything. What is one lesson you’ve learned, or trait you’ve acquired, being a businesswoman that your business taught you?
I don’t know. I think owning and running a business helped me take a look in the mirror. It started showing me my strengths and weaknesses. I can say the one thing I really learned was to have faith and keep going. You have to have strong faith and perseverance to be an entrepreneur, and you have to know how to pivot because things are always changing. I already had faith, but this journey definitely strengthened it and how to push through. It also helped/forced me to break out of my shell and learn to network!
What do you have planned, or see in your future, as a businesswoman?
To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it. Now that I’m free of the huge responsibility of being a store owner, I’m focused on me. My only goal this year is to heal, stay happy and healthy, and to live! I’ve always been so career driven, but I’m taking a step back from that this year. I may end up pouring into my esthetician career, but who knows?! I’m really just trying to get back to me and align with whatever God has in store for me.
And because this is a Los Angeles lifestyle blog after all, here’s an #aroundLA bonus question for kicks and giggles. What is your absolute favorite food and go-to spot to get it in L.A.?
Wow, I’m definitely a foodie. I have two favorites. Mexican is my favorite type of food, and I typically go to La Estrella in Pasadena or Baja Mar in Monrovia. I also really love seafood and my go to spots for that are Kickin’ Crab, Parker’s Lighthouse in Long Beach, and Crustacean’s in Beverly Hills. Literally, all around LA/LA county!
Related: While In Los Angeles > Eat
Learn from Lex!
Lex is definitely an LA girl. Mexican is your favorite cuisine?! Girl. I told y’all I went to a baby shower here in L.A. and they didn’t have baby shower meatballs, nor fried chicken, but instead, a taco bar?! I can’t with Black Angelenos… where are the red beans????
In all seriousness, Lexus is a great example of a girl getting to it in L.A. She’s evolving and pivoting, and building herself as a businesswoman and beyond. In the face of heartbreak, when losing her father, she built a business from scratch. And now, as she permanently closes the doors, she recognizes the beauty in it all and is grateful for just how much she was Blessed.
For more crush-worthy women, stayed tuned to While In Los Angeles > buy Black, a section dedicated to Black people and products around LA.
I’d like to keep shining a spotlight on admirable ladies that I meet in Los Angeles, but it doesn’t work as well if no one sees it. Click one of the buttons in the toggle to share this page with others.
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