Nicole takes a brow!

THE OWNER of a cosmetic tattooing business with less than four years’ trading history is looking forward to the national industry awards after being nominated in two categories.

Brow Ability, the brainchild of founder Birminghambased Nicole Foster, has been named as a regional finalist in the air and Beauty Awards 2023 for Best in rows for S Semiermanent ake- p and ntrepreneur of the ear The two-day event will see cosmetic businesses of all sizes compete across two do en categories including best apprentice, barbers, salons shops, education, nails and waxing.

Nicole, 28, said: “It is an absolute honour to be recognised for my work. It has been an incredible journey so far and I’m looking forward to the national grand final red carpet event in pril

“I started Brow Ability because I wanted there to be a cosmetic business for Black women that was provided by a lack woman We operate in a white female-dominated industry in which it is difficult for Black women to access: treating darker skin is often seen as a risk and, as a result, customers are often blatantly refused service.

“Some in the trade aren’t willing to learn how to treat new customers, but it is important to say that some do I am providing teaching for other businesses that have Black customers, like in Scotland, and want to know how to serve them.”

Nicole’s journey to treating brows started from an interesting childhood e perience, via law and motherhood! The first brows she treated were her own when as a preteen she shaved one off! Her grandfather shaved the other off to match, before she pencilled both back on to get the attention of a boy she fancied! While she didn’t win the boy’s heart, a fascination with brows consumed hers and she hasn’t looked back.

Mother

fter being privately educated in the Sutton oldfield area, she proceeded to the niversity of eicester and returned to Birmingham with a law degree, mixing legal practice between the capital and Second City with treating brows part time, after becoming a mother and finding a little more freedom.

Slowly trading in the courtroom for the salon, icole gained qualifications in courses accredited by the Associated Beauty Therapists, and now holds a evel Semi ermanent ake p S iploma and a T evel ward in