Black Beauty Pros Profile of the Week: Georgenie Lundi (Mrs. Fingaz) of Glam Dollz Studio
This year, we're honoring and recognizing Black History Month by highlighting a few of the most insightful, successful, and ambitious members of the EBS community. Each week, we're sharing an exclusive interview with talented Black beauty pros from the industry–they span industries, have extensive knowledge, and are here to offer invaluable insight and advice to all our readers.
In these features, we interview, chat with, and learn from four incredible Black beauty pros. And guess what? You get a front-row seat for it all right here, right now.
Join us as we chat with beauty pro extraordinaire, Georgenie Lundi (Mrs. Fingaz) in this week's feature.
These members of the EBS community have taken their careers and their success to new and incredible levels, and now, they're sharing their insight, passion, and talent with us (and you!)
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Black beauty pro Georgenie Lundi (Mrs. Fingaz) shares her experience on how she's grown her hair care and beauty business while offering career-boosting advice for fellow Black beauty professionals.
Meet Georgenie Lundi (Mrs. Fingaz): Hair Care Beauty Boss
Georgenie has been a lifelong learner in the world of hair and beauty. From the time she was a small child, she'd watch beauty pros braiding, styling, and doing hair and then learn how to replicate it on her own. Anything that could be braided, she was going to braid it. From watching stylists down the street from her New York City apartment as a young child to learning by doing from her Aunt in Orlando, Fl, she's been in the business of hair for as long as she can remember.
Now, she runs Glam Dollz Studio, a one-of-a-kind beauty pro biz in Altamonte Springs, FL. She offers services like extensions, chemical services, braids, silk press, and so much more. Her main goal? Creating lasting experiences for her clients in and out of the salon.
She provides her clients with crucial tips and advice for healthy hair, not just in-salon styling. Her mantra is healthy hair is a must–not only does it help clients look and feel better, but healthy hair and a commitment to hair care ensures styles last longer (and look better).
Readers can check out Georgenie's business, Glam Dollz Studio, and follow along with her salon on Instagram, too.
Our Exclusive Q&A With Georgenie Lundi (Mrs. Fingaz)
How'd you get started in the beauty industry?
I always used to braid things–everything. Hair, strings, and any stuff I could get my hands on. When I moved from New York to Orlando, my aunt used to do hair all the time, and I would watch her. I never used to say a word–I'd just watch. I looked at her hands and watched what she was doing, and one day, I brought my cousin over and just, you know, started braiding. So, eventually, I stopped watching and just started braiding. And it was weird, because when I went to sleep, I would think about how my aunt braided, but it would all be in slow motion–so that's pretty much how I taught myself. By 12th grade, I knew I wanted to go to cosmetology school, and I loved it. I went to school in 2012, did the state board to get my license, and jumped right into the salon.
What's something you love about being in the hair care industry?
I love being able to be creative–changing styles by adding little things here and there, like jewelry, hair accessories, curls and braids. I hear people say they get bored with their career and feel stuck doing just one thing, but with hair, you can never get bored because there's always a way to switch it up. I could be doing braids today, and relaxers tomorrow–it just keeps me going.
How do you feel that the representation of Black beauty pros in the world today has impacted you?
I feel like we're able to express "us" through hair–our beauty, the differences that we have, the looks we enjoy. It's just being in control of that [representation], and it's motivating.
Where do you personally believe you've seen the most growth and progress in the industry that's directly inspired you?
In braids. We've always done braids, but back in the day, it used to be just traditional, regular corn rows. Now, it's like we can add in things and make changes and be creative–and that's been a big thing for the [industry]. Because now, we don't just do braids, we get a chance to teach about braids–the history behind them, how to do them, and everything. So, it's good for [clients], but good for [black beauty pros] as well because we're able to teach it and spread that knowledge.
What do you think are some ways the beauty industry can do better to encourage Black beauty professionals and education?
I think, from what I see on social media, a lot of black girls and men are joining the beauty industry. Personally, I think social media has helped out quite a lot–but I do think we need more schools and hair shows with an [emphasis] on black hair and black beauty services. It'd be helpful to have hands-on experience available, too, to see if beauty pros are interested in learning more about working with black hair.
What advice would you offer new Black beauty pros?
Continue to keep your head high and be positive about your dream. People will try to tell you being a stylist isn't a career. And to learn the difference between a customer and a loyal client. Continue to do classes to keep up with your skills and new trends.
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