Sahara Lotti

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Sahara Lotti is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Lashify, a beauty brand famous for DIY eyelash extensions. Born on June 3, 1977, she patented cosmetic technology, including a wand that helps place lashes under the lashline for a natural look.

She grew up in Atherton, California, attended Menlo-Atherton High School, and then studied at the University of Southern California. In addition to her studies, she trained with acting coach Ivana Chubbuck and pursued music. Early in her career she acted in independent films and wrote several scripts.

In the 2010s, Lotti developed patented DIY eyelash extensions and a wand to apply them more naturally. She started Lashify in 2016 with her own money. The brand is known for the Gossamer lash and the Fuse Control Wand, which use vegan silk lashes and are cruelty-free. Lashify products are often demonstrated on social media to attract customers.

By 2023 Lashify reached about $80 million in annual sales, and the first Lashify store opened on Melrose Place in Los Angeles in 2024. The brand is widely used by makeup artists in film, television, modeling, and by influencers. It has been used for Charlize Theron’s makeup in Bombshell (2019) and for Charli XCX’s Brat video.

Lashify holds more than 750 patents and 1,000 trademarks. The company has pursued IP protections through lawsuits and an International Trade Commission case against Qingdao Hollyren Cosmetics for infringing patent technology. A Federal Circuit ruling in 2020 expanded eligibility for ITC protection in such cases. In 2020, Lotti filed a lawsuit in China against Qingdao Lashbeauty for patent misuse. In August 2024, a Texas court awarded Lashify $30.5 million in damages plus 30% royalties from Qingdao.

Beyond Lashify, Lotti started a startup incubator in 2020 to support Black-owned beauty businesses and founded a nonprofit, Bobzilla, in 2010 to support animal welfare. She says Lashify helps fund animal-welfare research. She has three dogs named Roberto, Bob, and Mack.