Teaira Tennison, also known as Tee the Brand (@IamTeetheBrand) is the dynamic owner of Powerhouse Lash Company in Dallas, TX. Teaira attended Prairie View A&M University from 2013 to 2016 majoring in Social Work. During that time she was a Black Fox with the Marching Storm. Regarding her post graduate plans, Teaira stated, “My post graduation plans were to immediately attend graduate school to earn my Masters of Social Work degree and become a Licensed Master Social Worker. My dream was to practice social work by way of counseling and therapy so that I could become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and open my own practice. I wanted to offer therapy services to Black families, and have a full staff of Black therapists.” This dream almost came to pass, however, Teaira was taken in a different direction. It’s truly an inspirational story.

Tell us how your career transitioned from social work to lash entrepreneur?

I was a Middle School Social Worker undergoing clinical supervision to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I’d decided to look for employment beyond the school that I was servicing. Spring Break came, COVID-19 shut the world down, and the Social Work position was cut from the school… so I had no job lol. During the Summer of 2020 I applied for different positions in the Social Work Department of the district I’d been employed with. All Summer I received rejection letters, or offers that were WAY too low in pay.

I decided I wanted to take a Lash Training. I took a lash training in August 2020 and started taking clients. After learning it was illegal to do eyelash extensions in Texas without a license, I enrolled in cosmetology school to get my lash license.

In December, I had an interview for my dream Social Work job at a new district. I was called back for a second interview. Before walking into the second interview in January 2021, I prayed and told God if I didn’t get this job, I’d trust He wanted me to go all in to build my lash business and committed to it. I did NOT get the job lol, and I kept my commitment to trusting this new path He had me on.

How did you become well-known in the industry of lash artist and entrepreneur?

After going full time with my business, I had a really hard time growing my clientele because I knew nothing about social media marketing. In February 2021 I invested in a marketing mentor who was also a lash artist, which helped me start building confidence to market myself and my services.

Because I still was not able to grow my clientele right away, I accepted a job as a lash artist at a nearby spa. After a BUNCH of prayers for clarity and trial and error with marketing, I was able to grow my clientele significantly. As I continued using the system God had given me, I kept repeating it and seeing results.

I knew that I wasn’t the only lash artist struggling with social media marketing, so I started doing some lash marketing education on social media and eventually that turned into a podcast for lash artist education. Once  the demand for my knowledge picked up, I launched a mentorship program to help artists learn how to market themselves and their service.

I also learned that the lash industry was HUGE and had conferences! So I started attending, and eventually the artists and companies I connected with saw the value in what I teach, and now I get to educate at conferences across the United States.

At what point did you realize that you had a large following and could influence others in the business? 

The realization of my influence came before the large following. I started mentoring other lash artists at the end of 2021 and each cohort grew over the years. It wasn’t until I reached 10K followers in Summer 2024 that I realized I had some REAL motion lol.

What advice would you give young hbcu band members about finding their careers after graduation?  About working and being successful in their passion? 

There’s a quote that I love that reads, “Write the goal in ink, and the strategy in pencil.” I’ve learned that flexibility and an open mind are two of the greatest tools you can have. My goal was always to serve women. The initial strategy was to do so through my social work career. As a lash artist and educator, I serve women! It just didn’t come in the package I expected. Had I not been flexible in the pursuit of my passion, I’d have never taken that lash training in 2020, and I probably wouldn’t have reached my goal in a way that truly fulfills me. So chase the dreams, but prepare for detours. On those detours, keep your eyes open for different opportunities and don’t be afraid of getting off your course. When it’s hard, don’t give up. Take a break, take a nap, regulate yourself, and get back to it with a clear mind and open heart.

What are some of the things you learned performing with the Foxes that you use today? 

The importance of timeliness is a huge one that plays a part in my business. Different experiences as a Fox have also taught me how to manage politics in the lash industry. And of course the mastery of performance. Being a Black Fox taught me very early that your audience always has the expectation of you to give your best- no matter what. When it’s time to be “Tee The Brand”, Teaira’s personal feelings (fatigue, insecurities, fears, and so on) have to take a back seat because no matter what, I have to deliver. During my days as a Fox I had a pretty good handle on “work/life balance.” Now almost 10 years later I’m reaching back to apply those tools that helped me take care of myself as a person and performer.