Today we’d like to introduce you to Sable Grayson.
Hi Sable, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path to entrepreneurship was never planned. I earned my GED at 15 and started community college at 16, but eventually dropped out. If I am being completely honest, I was a bit of a crash out before all of this. I was often in trouble, dealing with trauma and mental health struggles, and trying to figure out where I belonged. I never imagined that someone like me could build a successful business, lead a team, or create a life that felt this meaningful.
I entered the beauty industry in 2019 and began working as a mobile lash artist at 22. At first, it was simply something I enjoyed and a way to support myself. Over time, I realized that beauty gave me something I had been missing. It gave me a creative outlet, a connection to other people, and a sense of purpose.
I opened my first studio in 2021, and in 2025, Extended Studio expanded into a storefront with six treatment beds in Libbie Mill Midtown. Somewhere along the way, I stopped feeling like the lost version of myself and began seeing what I was capable of creating.
Entrepreneurship has not primarily been a journey of professional growth for me. It has been a deeply personal one. I created a career that became my life, and it is a beautiful one. It has taken me to places, introduced me to people, and given me opportunities I never knew were possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The greatest challenge has been building a business while also rebuilding myself. Entrepreneurship has required me to confront my fears, develop discipline, trust my instincts, and become the kind of person who could lead others. There have been beautiful moments, but there have also been periods of uncertainty, burnout, financial pressure, difficult decisions, and learning lessons the hard way.
Transitioning from an independent artist into the owner of a growing studio was especially challenging. When other people began depending on me, I had to learn that leadership is about much more than being talented at a service. It requires communication, consistency, accountability, and the ability to support people without losing yourself in the process.
I still do not have everything figured out, but I no longer view that as a failure. Every new stage has asked me to become a new version of myself. The challenges have made the journey more meaningful because I know how different this life is from where I once believed I would end up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Extended Studio?
My work exists at the intersection of beauty, fashion, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Extended Studio offers lash extensions, Korean lash lifts, brow services, waxing, and customized facials, but my work extends far beyond providing beauty services.
Building the visual world around Extended has become one of my greatest creative outlets. I love branding, marketing, content creation, photography, design, and finding new ways to turn an idea into an experience. My creative and fashion work has allowed me to collaborate with artists, models, photographers, designers, and local organizations. In 2026, Extended Studio was honored as RVA Fashion Week’s Business of the Year, which was especially meaningful because fashion and creative expression have become such important parts of my journey.
I am also a Lashbox LA Brand Ambassador, have worked as a trade show artist at IBS New York, and have had opportunities to speak to and educate future estheticians. I enjoy being an artist, but I have discovered that I am equally passionate about creating opportunities, developing ideas, and building something larger than myself.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The people are what made me truly passionate about this work. The relationships I have formed with clients and team members have given the business meaning far beyond its financial success. Just as importantly, I have learned how meaningful it is to have fun while building something I care about. The laughter, creativity, shared experiences, and unexpected moments along the way have made the journey even more rewarding.
I care deeply about creating a space where clients feel comfortable, understood, and more confident when they leave. Many of them have supported me through multiple stages of my life and business, and those relationships mean more to me than they probably realize. I also want them to feel joy when they visit us to enjoy the experience, have fun, and leave feeling great about themselves and connected.
I am equally passionate about helping the women on my team recognize their own potential. I want them to feel supported as artists and as people while giving them opportunities to grow their confidence, creativity, and careers. I also want us to enjoy the process together. Watching another woman accomplish something she once doubted she could do, while celebrating and having fun along the way, is one of the most rewarding parts of building Extended Studio.
Extended is more than a business to me. It gave me a creative outlet, meaningful relationships, an entirely new outlook on life, and the freedom to have fun while creating something meaningful. It gave me a reason to believe that my past did not have to determine my future. Building it has been beautiful, challenging, emotional, fun, and transformative. That is what makes it so valuable to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.extendedstudiorva.com
- Instagram: @lashbbygrl (business personal) @extendedstudiorva (main studio page)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/extendedstudiorva
