For the Love of Beauty

By Louise May

Julia McLachlan grew up in an entrepreneurial family in Germany. All her life growing up she watched her mum build something out of nothing, which for that time stood out a lot in their country town.

When Julia completed her studies, it was set in stone to follow in her mum's footsteps and step into a corporate career. Whilst it came easy to Julia, it was anything but fulfilling. Julia was always drawn to the beauty industry; she envied her hairdresser and her beauty therapist for always getting to work with the tools that she found fascinating. However, her parents made it clear that it wasn’t a “real job”

After 10 years in the corporate world, and feeling unfulfilled, Julia moved to Australia with her family to start anew. Starting from scratch again was scary, but she knew she had to. She took various courses and discovered her love for cosmetic tattooing.

Julia set up a room in her house and worked from home, just meaning to earning a little bit extra. But here is the thing… when Julia does something its usually all or nothing. Julia developed an obsession with learning more so every bit she earned went into more training.

Women came to her with all sorts of different problems and skin types. She couldn’t just offer cookie-cutter brows. So, she focused on working with difficult skin, mature, sun-damaged skin or old tattoos that needed correcting. With that, she had found what really sparked happiness – in her clients and herself! Opening Highlight Brows & Beauty only 2 years later was a natural step…

Beauty Biz Editor Louise May recently caught up with Julia to find out more about her Industry journey and what else she has been up to!

You also created a wholesale business, ‘Beauty Stuff Australia’ can you tell us about this?

Beauty Stuff Australia was born from a lightbulb moment. As a new cosmetic tattoo artist, I had many questions about the best pigments and tools. The big suppliers were unhelpful and often lacked the knowledge themselves. After a disappointing trip to a supplier, I expressed my frustration to a friend, and we decided to create a better solution.

Our mission is to raise industry standards by supporting artist no matter the stage of their business they are in, by lending a helping hand when it comes to learning about the products they use and accessing great training. We are now focusing on BROVI pigments which there has been a big demand for in Australia. The brand aligns with perfectly with our values of top quality and education!

Can you tell us about your distribution and your education & training platforms that are on offer?

We’ve created a beautiful training space where we host national and international trainers, providing top-tier PMU training. As artists ourselves, we ensure that our trainees have a comfortable and supportive learning environment. We provide all necessary products and assist with course promotion and logistics. Additionally, we have an extensive online platform that offers further training and resources.

You also opened ‘Highlight Brows and Beauty, When did you open the business and what inspired you to create the business?

Highlight Brows & Beauty was created in 2021, initially as a home salon. My inspiration came from a desire to create beautiful brows – that was it. The positive feedback and results from my early clients motivated me to keep learning and eventually establish a formal business.

Can you tell us about the business, do you have a team? What services do you offer?

We currently have a team of five, and we’re continuing to grow. Our team places a high value on education and training, ensuring we stay at the forefront of the industry. We pride ourselves on having the best-trained artists who continually hone their skills through ongoing professional development.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including cosmetic tattooing for brows, lips, eyeliner, and areola, as well as brow and lash artistry and body sculpting. Our commitment to training and excellence ensures we can provide the highest quality services to our clients.

What sets Highlight Brows and Beauty apart from other Salons in the area, what makes you unique and what are you known for?

What sets us apart is our focus on individuality. Unlike many artists who can only do one or two styles, our clients have the freedom to choose the style that best suits them. We specialise in all styles of brow tattooing, including nano, combination, powder, and ombre brows. This versatility allows us to adapt to different skin types, ages, and personal preferences, offering truly personalised services.

Additionally, we excel in corrective work, which requires a deep understanding of the art and science of cosmetic tattooing. It’s incredibly rewarding to improve something that a client has been unhappy with for years, providing them with results they love.

Who is your target audience? And what are your most popular services?

Our target audience is clients who seek natural, low-maintenance beauty solutions. Nano Brows have been in high demand, reflecting the trend towards more natural, fuller brows. Lip Blushing is another popular service, with clients preferring a subtle, natural look over bold colours. Our approach attracts clients who value quality and expertise, seeking results that enhance their natural beauty without the need for daily maintenance.

What trends are you noticing are on the rise in the industry?

There’s a clear trend towards low-maintenance beauty and less makeup, which cosmetic tattooing perfectly caters to. Clients are becoming more aware of the risks of going to untrained, inexpensive places and are opting for higher-quality services. There’s also a growing need for industry regulation to ensure client safety and maintain high standards. As clients become more educated about the benefits and risks, they’re increasingly seeking out reputable practitioners who can deliver safe, professional results.

What is on the agenda for the next 12 months for you and both businesses?

We have an exciting year ahead, participating in numerous conferences across Australia and New Zealand. This involves a lot of travel and opportunities to share our knowledge and learn from others. We’re also focused on continuously improving our offerings and staying at the forefront of the industry. Without revealing too much, we have a significant development planned for 2025 that Australian PMU artists can look forward to. It’s an exciting time for us and the industry, and we’re eager to continue raising the bar for quality and education.

@highlight_brows_and_beauty @beautystuffaustralia