Andrea Collins Takes Coastal Beauty Industry by Storm

With more than eight years of experience, Collins is the founder of Beauty & Brows at Walvis Bay.

She opened the salon after completing her beauty and make-up studies through Intec College.

The studio is becoming more popular every day, and is attracting different beauties and fashionistas who love to look gorgeous from across the country.

Collins, who considers herself an outgoing person who likes to see people shine and looking pretty, says she thrives under pressure and lives for the fast pace of the make-up industry.

Her passion for beauty started when she was growing up at Bloubergstrand and Table View in Cape Town.

“We had a good upbringing, my sister and myself. My mother studied beauty in her younger days in Paris, so it was always something that was around me growing up.

“Although she never pursued it as a job, she inspired me,” Collins says.

She says during the first year after establishing the Beauty & Brows studio, she encountered various challenges.

Among them was convincing customers to trust her as an artist and getting bookings.

But she managed to believe in herself, and later “it was all business”, she says.

“Once you have your foot in the door, you have to stay consistent and keep working hard to make sure your name stays relevant,” she says.

Collins says so far she has done make-up for local personalities including Lize Ehlers, Kaupu Pohamba, as well as Polish actress Patricia Kazadi.

“Even though I don”;t keep up with who is relevant in the country when it comes to make-up, everyone gets the same treatment.”

She says getting more clients interested in her business every day is already an achievement.

“Not everyone gets to wake up every day and do what they love. I am fortunate enough to be able to do that with an awesome support system,” she says.

Beauty & Brows offers brow shaping, tinting, lamination, microblading, powder brows and ombre brows.

“You name it, I can do it when it comes to brows. I have also just finished a permanent make-up course, so that will be the next thing I add to the studio this week,” she says.

Collins says her kit now consists of various brands, including Juvias Place, Estée Lauder, and Catrice.

“I find what works the best and use it. There is never one brand that fits all with make-up.”

Last month, Collins announced she would be considering using the Fenty Beauty cosmetic range by singer and entrepreneur Rihanna, which was recently launched in Namibia and eight other African countries.

“I think it”;s fantastic having Fenty Beauty come to Namibia.

“The range that Rihanna has created not only caters for all skin tones, but skin types as well. Up until now it has been quite costly to get your hands on her products with shipping and imports,” says Collins.

She says she will definitely be buying some of the Fenty Beauty products.

This year, apart from doing make-up for weddings and matric farewells, she plans on making lots of new brows for her clients, and continuing to grow and expand her knowledge.

She says she will also be travelling to clients on request from now on.

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