Los Angeles, CA–Narissa Matheney entered Simply Wholesome on Slauson Avenue one Tuesday morning dressed in a fly two-piece set, and a pair of yellow-tinted shades.
She has the height and look of a model but the 28-year-old runs The Lash Trap with her business partner, and is working on her music as an independent artist.
A graduate of St. Johns University (where J.Cole graduated summa cum laude 2009), Narissa majored in Communications and Business. She was introduced to the lash business during her last year of college, when her favorite cousin came to visit her in New York.
“He was so happy and I was so miserable working at that law firm. I was tired of the office life. A 9-5 is just not for me. So I had to get it on my own,” Narissa details.
Going into the business of doing eyebrows and eyelashes is a very lucrative and popular business.
Not only did it upgrade Narissa from what she recalls as a “civic to a range rover,” The Lash Trap allows her the liberty to be her own boss and the time to work and travel for her music pursuits.
After college, Narissa wanted to work on her music back in her hometown of Los Angeles, so she parted ways with her management in New York and came back to the city that raised her.
Upon her arrival back home, Narissa operated a lash and brow business out her mother’s back house. Soon, business began to flourish and Narissa saw an increase in her clientele and revenue.
Clients which now include models, actresses, as well artist such as Kehlani and Brooke Valentine.
“I went full-fledged with the lashes and just started going ham. I hired another girl, we had to get another spot, and it just went up from there.”
The college graduate and business owner says that despite her educational and business pursuits, she always had aspirations of becoming an artist and performer since grade school.
“In third grade we had a little group, it was me and my three homegirls. I used to write all kinds of songs and we used to literally practice everyday. Then we got to high school and just stopped. When I went to college, I was like, I’m going to stick with the music.”
In 2017, Narissa (who formerly released music under the name Freddy Hefner) released her EP ‘Long Story Short.’ The EP plays as an inside look into the mind of a girl from Los Angeles who is sensual and sexy, but motivated and driven on the road to achieving her dreams.
This year Narissa released creative visuals to various songs from her EP, as well as singles that she dropped in 2018, such as her remix to Pharrell’s Frontin’.
Narissa notes some of her musical inspirations as Destiny’s Child, Ty Dolla $ign, Nipsey Hussle and Tory Lanez. Trippy Red and Jay 305 are some of the people she is currently listening to.
In terms of style and fashion, Narissa loves the vibes of Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, Solange and The West’s.
“I have a lot of friends who are also my style icons. One of my friends Iconica, she is a style icon for sure, and my friend Anthony X-rated.”
“Don’t let other people take you off your course and make you feel like your true self is not the way. Know that is the way, because that is what’s going to lead you to happiness.”
A lot of Narissa’s drive can be accredited to seeing her parents secure the bag. Her dad is a former NFL player and firefighter. Her parents currently run a real estate company together.
“They just inspire me on a daily. They are always doing something new, something cool. “
When asked how she manages to maintain a balance of sexy and sensual, without revealing too much of herself, Narissa says that it all comes down to the vibe of your art.
“I feel like when you do your art, you just go off your natural vibe and that’s just my natural vibe. I can be real sexy but you have to make sure to tame it, so that you are not sending the wrong message. Maybe having an education also helps me. I know that I am a sexy, sensual-being, so I just let it translate naturally.”
Check out some of Narissa’s music at: https://soundcloud.com/narissamatheney
Check out some of Narissa’s visuals: https://www.youtube.com/user/FreddyHefnerTV/videos
To book for services and/or micro-blading classes: https://www.thelashtrap.com
