An Interview with Layla Stephens, Founder of Luxe Brow Bar & Halal Brows Training
By Laura Robinson, Contributing Beauty Editor
I’ve heard so much about Halal Brows over the years in beauty circles, seen the striking before-and-afters on social media, and even tried a few Halal-certified products myself, but I wanted to understand more. What exactly is Halal Brows? And what’s the force behind this faith-led beauty movement making waves in the UK and beyond?
To find out, I went straight to the source: Layla Stephens, one of the UK’s leading Halal brow technicians and founder of Luxe Brow Bar and Halal Brows Training. What I found was more than a beauty business, it’s a story of conviction, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.
“I reverted to Islam around eight years ago,” Layla told me. “As I deepened my understanding of the religion, I came across the ruling that it’s haram – not permissible – to remove eyebrow hairs. I’d been threading mine for years, but once I heard that, I stopped immediately.”
What followed was an awkward, confidence-testing grow-out phase. “Brows really do frame the face, and after being used to a certain look for so long, it was tough. It took a while to adjust.”
Before finding Islam, Layla had always dreamed of working in beauty, but never felt confident enough to pursue it. She spent years in recruitment and admin roles she disliked. Then came married at age 20, followed by motherhood with a first baby, then twins two years later. It wasn’t until the twins turned two, with some gentle encouragement from her husband, that Layla finally took the leap and launched her business Luxe Brow Bar.
“At first, I didn’t expect much. I was just a housewife and mum of three trying something new,” she shared. “But before I knew it, I was fully booked. Clients were travelling hours to see me – some even flew in from Dubai and Qatar. It was surreal.”
As demand grew, Layla upgraded her setup from a corner of the living room to a dedicated beauty room in her new home. That’s when she launched Halal Brows Training to meet growing interest from Muslim women across the globe wanting to learn how to offer Halal-compliant brow treatments.
“Halal Brows is about so much more than just beauty,” Layla explains. “It’s about staying true to Islamic values in everything I do – from the products I use, to the techniques I teach, to the way I run my business. None of this would be possible without Allah.”
Layla’s journey wasn’t without hardship, like most small business owners she found the early days the hardest. She launched Luxe Brow Bar during an incredibly challenging time – her husband was recovering from surgery and unable to walk, their landlord had given notice, and money was tight: “It would’ve been easy to go back to a ‘safe’ 9-5, but I stuck it out and I’m so glad I did.”
Today, Layla’s online Halal brow courses have helped train hundreds of women, and her in-person ABT-accredited masterclasses are growing in popularity. Small group sessions are coming soon, and interest is building not just from the UK, but internationally.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, but Layla knows that education is key to the movement’s growth: “It’s still a fairly new concept in the beauty world,” she says. “A lot of people don’t realise that Halal-friendly brow options exist. But when clients see the results and realise they can align their beauty with their beliefs – it’s empowering.”
Layla’s advice for anyone thinking about launching a Halal beauty brand?
“Just go for it. There will always be reasons to hold back. But growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone.”
So what does success look like to Layla now?
“Five years ago, I probably would’ve said money. Now, it’s freedom. Freedom to be with my family, to travel, to work when I want, and to build something that aligns with my faith and my dreams.”
With passion, purpose, and prayer at the heart of her brand, Layla Stephens is not just shaping brows – she’s shaping an entire movement.
