In the ever-evolving world of beauty, Cait Magnotta, Aleyah Cannon, Jillian Brennan, and Dorothy Ceglauskas found themselves at a pivotal moment that would change their lives forever. What began as a chance opportunity quickly turned into a bold leap toward entrepreneurship. Seemingly overnight, the team behind The Beauty Loft, an eyelash salon in downtown Denville, transitioned from four franchise salon employees to empowered business owners—redefining luxury beauty on their own terms.
“It was a spur of the moment decision,” Magnotta, one of the four owners, explained.
When the salon they worked at closed, the women seized the opportunity to start their own business, turning a job loss into a bold new venture.
“We had a clientele with nowhere to go. It just seemed like the stars aligned, but it happened in a matter of weeks! It wasn’t a long, planned out thing that we thought about— it just fell in our laps,” Magnotta said.
The women swiftly secured a lease and got to work, ripping up floorboards and reshaping the space entirely on their own. In just two weeks, after a hands-on renovation with no outside help, they proudly opened their salon in October 2023.
“It’s really cool to be able to create a space that feels authentic to you and what you want to bring to the table instead of having to adapt to someone else’s vision,” Magnotta revealed.
As former salon employees, their creativity was restricted by decisions beyond their control as someone else dictated what was possible and what wasn’t.
Now, the team creates looks on a client-by-client basis, particularly when it comes to eyelashes. “We can mess around with colors – even eyelashes that match hair color. Other salons are very by the book. We create something that the client is looking for,” Magnotta explained.
Unlike other eyelash salons, The Beauty Loft offers a flat rate for refills and full sets regardless of style.
“We even do makeup for special events and prom. We’re getting into bridal – and we’re hoping with this new wedding season we’ll get more inquiries.”
The Beauty Loft also offers a training program designed to equip aspiring lash techs with the skills and support needed to launch their own careers.
Beyond beauty, this Denville business fosters a space where lasting connections are made and a welcoming atmosphere thrives.
“I have a lot of clients who have confided in me, so I get to be somebody that they talk to about what’s going on in their lives, whether it’s good or bad. It’s something that’s really rewarding,” she added.
Magnotta genuinely loves seeing her clients gain confidence and embrace their true selves. “When someone hasn’t gotten lashes in a while and they come back, they’re always super excited and say, ‘Oh, I feel like me again.’ That’s one of the most rewarding parts of it.”
As for being business owners, the ladies enjoy continuing to watch The Beauty Loft grow.
Magnotta’s personal advice to other women considering entrepreneurship is simple: believe in yourself.
“Just put your first foot forward and trust your gut. If you think you can do it, you can. Don’t listen to people around you. Don’t let people scare you into thinking that you can’t do it. You’ll figure it out once you believe in yourself. If you just start, you’ll get to where you want to be eventually.”