From its scary history of needles and high-maintenance procedures to becoming a more understood side of the beauty industry, the history of semi-permanent makeup has come a long way. Yet, despite the challenging inception in the Philippines, the future of semi-permanent makeup is looking bright, and Keighty Wong of Strokes Eye Beauty Studio is here to prove it.
Before becoming the co-owner of Strokes Eye Beauty Studio, Keighty earned all the credentials to assure would-be clients that they’re in safe, competent, and experienced hands. To master brow artistry, Keighty graduated with a Certified Bold Brow Artist certificate in PhiAcademy in Russia. She also flew to Manchester to finish the Nataliya Yeremenko Master Class and took several classes from PrincessBrows in Hong Kong.
As the chief operating officer and senior microblading expert of Strokes, Keighty firmly believes that feeling good on the inside is just as important as looking good on the outside. And one indication of our confidence is having good eyebrows or, in other words, “brows on fleek!”
But, if you’re not the type of person who has other concerns aside from eyebrows, don’t fret! The Strokes Eye Beauty Studio is more than just that! The five-year-old aesthetics clinic also offers eyelash services such as Keralift, a keratin-infused lash lift and includes tint and gloss. The procedure takes 90 minutes, and the effect lasts up to six to eight weeks.
Another exceptional service from Strokes Eye Beauty Studio is the Keralush, wherein you can naturally grow your eyelashes with this stem cell-infused growth therapy for two sessions. However, if you prefer putting eyelash extensions rather than simply doing a lift procedure, Strokes offers Bespoke Vegan Lash Extensions for that extra lightweight feel on your lashes. It is made with a hypoallergenic polysynthetic fiber that looks and feels the same as natural lashes.
True to its brand vision of pampering its clients not just by making them feel good on the outside but also on the inside, Strokes also offers relaxation and pampering services like facial, manicure, pedicure, and IV Drips like Ultimate Anti-aging Infusion and Vitamin Boost.
(FROM LEFT) Toni Sia, Christine Samson, and Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez /Photos from Instagram
Some of the frequent clients of Strokes Eye Beauty Studio are vlogger Toni Sia, model Christine Samson, and actress Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez. They all express good reviews on social media after Keighty did her “strokes” magic on their eyebrows. “I just got my brows microbladed by none other than Keighty! I’m super excited and happy that I don’t have to do my kilay [eyebrows] every day!” Toni says in one of her videos.
In this CHiNOY TV exclusive interview, get to know Keighty as the eyebrow “strokes” expert talks about humble beginnings and how she and her business partner Momoi Supe came up with the Strokes Beauty brand in the Philippines.
Can you share with us the story of how you created the Strokes Eye Beauty Studio?
“Momoi and I started as makeup artists for wedding clients and some celebrities. We’ve also done high-end pageantry makeup for some clients. Since then, we have been very passionate about makeup and anything beauty, so we thought, why not bring our talent and passion together to create something even more remarkable?
Our main goal was to make it known to everyone that Strokes is not just a brand but a place — not just for beauty on the outside, but also a place to pamper and relax, as we believe that feeling good on the inside is just as important as looking good on the outside.”
In a nutshell, can you define what Strokes Eye Beauty Studio is all about?
“Strokes Eye Beauty is a premier eye beauty studio located in Metro Manila known for signature brow and lash services, nails, facials, and many more. Strokes Eye Beauty Studio also offers Strokes At Home for clients who prefer to have their treatments done in the comfort of their own homes.”
Why did you name the brand as such?
“Strokes came from the word itself, representing brow artistry and makeup.”
Can you recall the exact moment when Strokes Eye Beauty Studio started gaining attention from clients?
“Back in 2015, we used to do home service for clients we knew and some referrals. Later on, we put up a small clinic in Momoi’s condo unit and another at my house. Eventually, we were able to save enough for our first branch in Mother Ignacia in Quezon City.”
Strokes Eye Beauty Studio branch in Uptown Mall, BGC.
As of this writing, Strokes Beauty Eye Studio has branches in Ayala Malls Vertis North, Greenbelt, Molito Lifestyle Center, EDSA Shangri-La and Uptown, BGC. Unfortunately, all studios are closed due to the imposed enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila until August 20, 2021.
What do you think sets Strokes Eye Beauty Studio apart from other aesthetic studios?
“Strokes Eye Beauty Studio takes pride in its services which calibrate to professional standards. Everything is carefully done and brought to perfection, guaranteeing to make every visit worthwhile.”
What is the most challenging part of being a COO of a beauty brand?
“Being a COO requires a lot of monitoring internally and takes a lot of time in managing the company’s operations. As known to all, the beauty industry is fast-paced, so I would consider that keeping up with it and its demands would be the most challenging part. Not to mention that working in the beauty industry can be taxing at times, considering that every brand—both locally and globally—is now becoming beyond innovative to cater to an even bigger and dynamic market.”
On the other hand, what’s the most fulfilling part?
“The most fulfilling part would be seeing how customers show consistent curiosity and appreciation to the brands which, as we like to see it, have turned into brand loyalty. This makes me and everyone at Strokes proud of what we do and motivates us to do even better.”
What’s next for Strokes Eye Beauty Studio?
“You may expect extra development and more variety in our brow sculpting expertise. We’ve also started stepping up in the game of lashes, so this is also something that everyone can look forward to.”
For young Chinoys who look up to you, what advice can you give?
“Find out what it is that you would love to do, then do it in all the ways that you can, and everything will follow as long as you believe in yourself.”
Strokes at home
Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, Strokes Eye Beauty Studio has also shifted into offering home services dubbed as “Strokes at Home.” Here’s how it works: Your lash artist will arrive at your home wearing a complete set of personal protective equipment (PPE). Before your appointment, your artist will have her temperature checked. A new set of tools opened and sanitized with handheld UV lamps are used for every client.
Don’t fret! All Strokes’ lash artists have undergone a thorough safety training, ensuring a risk-free and high-quality experience performed under strict protective protocols.
On the other hand, clients who will book a home service will be required to sign a Health Declaration Form, Treatment Consent Form, and Home Service Booking Form. The information you provide Strokes will undergo a careful assessment to determine whether necessary client qualifications are met before confirming your home service request.
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