At Courtney Akai Lash Boutique, clients come first, needs and desires are always met, and the end result is entirely fabulous, every time. Staffed with crafted, distinguished experts, Courtney Akai Lash Boutique is a growing mecca for talent.
Courtney Akai was most recently featured on the today show, click here to watch!
Lash expert and Courtney Akai Lash Boutique founder Courtney Akai’s lash legacy dates back to 2004. The primping pioneer is well versed in the latest lash trends, and most recently trained to execute the volume technique. Akai opened her 5th Avenue lash boutique location in 2009, has since relocated to an expansive salon location in SoHo, and boasts an extensive celebrity clientele. Akai’s artistry and dedication to the craft is consistently featured in top publications, such as The New York Times, Allure, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle.com, People Style Watch, Self, InStyle, The Huffington Post, The New York Post, OK Magazine, Lucky, New York Magazine’s Wedding Issue, Salon News and Launch Pad. Akai was featured on The Learning Channel’s “10 Years Younger” as a premier lash extension specialist and was named New York magazine’s Best of the Best two years in a row.
Akai’s lash love began when she was a passionate teenager in cosmetology school, where she discovered she had an eye for aesthetics and a natural talent for application. Soon, she learned new techniques as a makeup artist for Clinique and Lancome, where she joined the makeup team at Lancome Studio 59, the only Bloomingdale’s-supported, free-standing makeup store. Mentored by famed national makeup artist and Oprah Winfrey’s go-to makeup man, Courtney quickly became the top makeup artist at Lancome Studio 59.
Courtney then enrolled in the Joe Blasco Makeup Academy; next stop was working with Bobbi Brown and notable modeling agencies, including Click, Wilhemina and Elite, where her expertise became widely recognized. Courtney worked on several high-profile fashion shows, as well as broadcast outlets such as Business Week’s weekly broadcast, ABC and FOX networks, Discovery Channel and Spike
Always on the cutting edge of beauty trends, Courtney entered the lash extension arena earning her advanced certification in lash extensions. One of the few early lash technicians practicing the craft in New York City, in 2006 she co-founded and opened Uptown Girl, a Manhattan salon specializing in lash extensions before creating the Courtney Akai Lash Boutique in 2009.
Kate Walsh – Master Lash Specialist. A licensed medical esthetician since 2004, Kate started her career in Boston, Ma, honing her medical training at a Cosmetic & Laser Clinic before moving on to renowned Boston spa, Grettacole, where she started her journey in eyelash extensions with a certification from Xtreme Lashes. Her career in NY began 4 years ago, working for Robert DeNiro’s 5 star Shibui Spa at The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca where she not only gained experience working with celebrity clientele, but also notoriety, being featured in Vogue, Allure, Instyle & Style.com. Kate’s love for eyelash extensions brought her to seek out lash pioneer Courtney Akai, where she is currently available for lash extension application upon request.
Holly Veronica Graham – Senior Lash specialist. Born in Denver, Colorado and a graduate of the College of International Esthetics under Arlene Malay, Holly has 10yrs of experience in the beauty industry specializing in skincare, laser rejuvenation, body and waxing treatments. She studied under Dr. Andre Reed MD for 4yrs at BioAesthetics Skin Enhancement and Rejuvenation in Lonetree, Colorado were she was certified by Cutera Laser. Based on Holly’s past experience working with dermatological and medical spas, she has a scientific and analytic approach to skincare. She has worked with Cynosure Elite MPX, Cynosure Affirm Multiplex, Medlite Q Switch, Zerona, Microdermabrasion and Silk Peels. She is also well versed in many Cosmetic Fillers. Holly’s love for skincare and drive to progress in the Esthetics world has brought her to the Courtney Akai Lash Boutique. She is a certified lash specialist, and continued her apprenticeship under Courtney Akai in advance training. Holly is available for lash extensions and waxing on request.
Andra Ciulei – Master Lash Specialist. Andra is an expert eyelash stylist with many years of experience and a diverse background which includes work with well known celebrities, extensive training and certifications. Andra first entered the industry as a professional makeup artist in media makeup, and that was when she realized her passion for all things beauty. In 2007 she successfully completed training and obtained the most advanced eyelash extension technician certification from Xtreme Lashes in New York. It was during this time that Andra found her niche and love for the art of eyelash extensions. But she didn’t stop there; in the following years she took her expertise across the ocean and went on to become a trainer with a prestigious company in Europe, traveling across the old continent training women in the industry, enabling them to become successful and certified eyelash technicians. After perfecting her skills in Europe, Andra returned to NYC and teamed up with Courtney Akai Lash Boutique, where she can be booked on request.
Liuba Gasanova – Senior lash and brow specialist. Liuba has over half a decade of experience with lash extensions and natural brow shaping and coloring. Originally from Moscow, Russia, where she obtained her excellent training in the Russian Volume technique of applying eyelash extensions and brow shaping, Liuba moved to New York City with her family in 2016. Here she continued to work in the beauty industry and acquired an esthetician license as well. Honing her skills and educating herself further on the latest and greatest in methods and brands, in NYC Liuba cultivated the career of her dreams – helping to transform, educate, and all-round *beautify* women, who deserve to look and feel their very best. Liuba is always in search of the most innovative products and methodologies, which is why she prides herself in offering her clients the best. She is available for appointments at our salon.
