Some people have a way of making you feel comfortable almost instantly, and Kushi is definitely one of them. She’s kind, warm, and has an effortless ability to connect with people. I think a lot of that comes from the empathy she brings into every situation — she listens, she understands, and perhaps that’s exactly why people naturally gravitate towards her.

That same warmth has found its way into Petals by Kushi, which recently celebrated its first anniversary. In just one year, she has managed to build an impressive and loyal clientele in an industry that is certainly not short of competition. What makes Petals work is the balance, good service, a personal touch, quality treatments and a price point that keeps beauty accessible without compromising the experience.

From becoming known for her lashes to now expanding Petals into a more complete beauty destination, Kushi is quietly building something that has her personality written all over it. So this week on Buzz with Danu, we talk beauty, business, the lessons behind the journey, and why sometimes the best businesses bloom one petal at a time.

1. Kushi, you’ve done quite a few things before arriving at Petals. Take me back — how did your journey eventually lead you into the beauty industry?

My journey into beauty wasn’t something that happened overnight. I’ve always been someone who enjoys creating, working with people and making people feel good about themselves. Before Petals, I explored different things and had my own experiences—both good and bad—which really taught me a lot about business and about myself.

Beauty eventually felt different. It was something I genuinely enjoyed, and I realised that I could combine my passion with my experience and create something of my own. That’s really how Petals started.

2. Why “Petals by Kushi”? I’m assuming there’s a story behind the name — what does Petals represent to you?

There is definitely a meaning behind it. I’ve always associated a petal with something delicate, beautiful and unique.

Every woman is different, and I wanted the name to represent that idea—that beauty doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. “Petals by Kushi” is about enhancing what is already beautiful rather than changing who you are.

And, of course, having my name in it makes it very personal. It represents something that I’ve built with my own hands and my own heart.

3. You started becoming known especially for lash extensions. What made lashes your thing, and what do you think makes a really good set of lashes?

When I started working with lashes, I realised how much of a difference they could make without someone needing to completely change their appearance.

For me, a good set of lashes isn’t just about making them long or dramatic. It’s about understanding the person’s eyes, face, lifestyle and personality, and choosing something that actually suits them.

Sometimes the most beautiful lashes are the ones where people say, “You look so good today,” but they can’t immediately figure out what changed.

4. Beauty businesses are everywhere today. What did you want Petals to do differently from the hundreds of other salons and beauty spaces out there?

I didn’t want Petals to feel like just another salon where you come in, get a treatment and leave.

I wanted people to feel cared for. From the moment they walk in, I want them to feel comfortable, respected and special.

Quality is also extremely important to me. I’m very particular about the products we use, hygiene, technique and the experience we give our clients.

Petals is not just about the treatment. It’s about the feeling you get when you’re here.

5. You’ve now expanded into dermabrasion, facials, cleanups, mani-pedis and more. Was that always the plan, or did Petals grow because your clients started asking for more?

It was a little bit of both.

As Petals grew, I started understanding what my clients actually wanted. Many of them would come for lashes and then ask, “What can I do for my skin?” or “Do you do nails?” So naturally, we started expanding.

But I also wanted to make sure we didn’t expand just for the sake of having more services. Every treatment we introduce has to meet the same standard and fit into the Petals experience.

6. Let’s talk about the woman behind the business. What has entrepreneurship taught you about yourself that you didn’t know before?

It has taught me that I’m much stronger and more patient than I thought I was.

Running a business is not just about the beautiful Instagram pictures or having happy clients. There are difficult days, difficult decisions, staff challenges, financial decisions and moments where you question yourself.

But every difficult situation has taught me something. I’ve learned to trust myself more, to be patient and, most importantly, to keep going even when things don’t go according to plan.

7. You’ve tried different ventures in the past. Were there any failures or wrong turns that actually helped you build Petals better?

Absolutely. I think every entrepreneur has things they wish they had done differently.

I don’t really look at those experiences as failures anymore. They were lessons.

Those experiences taught me what kind of business I wanted to build, what mistakes I didn’t want to repeat and how important it is to understand your customers.

Sometimes you need to make a few wrong turns before you find the road that’s actually meant for you.

8. Beauty trends change every five minutes thanks to Instagram and TikTok. How do you decide what’s actually good for a client versus what’s simply trending online?

I think this is where experience matters.

Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it is suitable for everyone. I always look at the individual client first.

For example, with lashes, the style that looks amazing on one person’s eyes might not suit another person’s eye shape at all.

So I’m happy to follow trends, but I don’t blindly follow them. The client comes first.

9. Let’s settle something: what is the biggest beauty mistake you see women making when it comes to lashes, skin or general maintenance?

I think one of the biggest mistakes is trying to do too much.

Sometimes people see a trend online and immediately want to try everything—different treatments, products, heavy makeup, extensions—and forget that their skin or natural features might actually need something much simpler.

Consistency is much more important than constantly changing things.

And please, please don’t ignore aftercare! Especially with lashes and skin. The treatment is only half the job; what you do at home matters too.

10. When someone walks into Petals feeling tired, stressed or not particularly confident, how do you want them to feel when they walk back out?

I want them to feel like they’ve had a little reset.

Sometimes women are constantly taking care of everyone else and forget to take care of themselves. Even if they spend just an hour at Petals, I want them to have that time where they can relax, switch off and feel looked after.

And when they leave, I want them to look in the mirror and think, “Okay… I feel good again.”

11. Now that Petals is growing beyond lashes, what’s the bigger dream? Do you see more branches, a bigger beauty brand, your own products — where does Kushi want to take this?

Definitely bigger.

I would love for Petals to become more than just one beauty space. I see it becoming a proper beauty brand with multiple locations and eventually our own range of products.

But I don’t want to grow too quickly and lose what made Petals special in the first place.

The dream is to build something that people trust—not just for the service, but for the quality, the experience and the name.

12. And finally, this is Buzz, so we need a little honesty: if you could give me only ONE Petals treatment and tell me, “Danu, darling, you desperately need this,” what would it be — and please be kind with your answer?