BRANDON — Kim Kardashian was at the forefront of the trend.
Katy Perry has her own do-it- yourself line.
And Taylor Swift has graced magazine covers with them on.
Local ladies looking to elongate their lashes like celebrities, or simply skip mascara, soon will have another option.
Amazing Lash Studio is slated to open six studios in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, with the first coming to Brandon in July. Longtime bay area resident Jeff Tolrud, a seasoned owner of several franchise concepts including GNC, Color Me Mine and Massage Envy, is behind the push for eyelash extensions.
"It's somewhat of a new concept that is gaining interest," Tolrud said. "Women love it because they don't have to wear any mascara and a lot don't even wear makeup."
Tolrud said most customers are women ages 20 to 50 who choose from four main proprietary Amazing Lash Studio styles — natural, sexy, cute or gorgeous. The eyelash extensions take 90 minutes to two hours to apply since they are added to each individual lash and they last three to four weeks before they need to be refilled due to the natural growth of eyelashes.
First-timers can try the concept for $79.99, and anyone who signs up for a membership will receive discounts on services and refills that can be applied at any of the 193 franchises across 27 states.
Tolrud said the Brandon location at 2090 Badlands Drive will open for business July 8 and hold a grand opening celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. July 15. The first 100 customers to attend the grand opening event with a friend and book an appointment will receive 50 percent off the introductory price.
"It's unbelievable, it's fantastic," Tolrud said. "Celebrities made it popular and Amazing Lash Studio has made it convenient, affordable and in professional settings."
Amazing Lash Studio professionals are trained to individually apply the lashes through a patented application technique one by one to client's own natural eyelashes, he said.
For more information and to book an appointment, visit amazinglashestampa.com.
Topper's looks to be tops in SouthShore
The 12th Topper's Creamery location in Central Florida officially opened last month in Riverview at 13149 U.S. 301 in Summerfield Square. Chairman and co-founder Wade Oney said he hopes the location will reach residents in all of SouthShore.
With its own proprietary recipe for its brand of soft serve ice cream, Topper's Creamery currently has free-standing locations as well as nontraditional locations in hotels and colleges spanning Central Florida from coast to coast. The full list of locations is available on the company's website: topperscreamery.com.
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