Conversations with Andrea McCollough

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea McCollough. 

Hi Andrea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
All throughout life, I knew I wanted to help others someway somehow. As I got into high school, I really took a liking to beauty and skincare. After having my first facial to help treat my typical teen skin, I was set I wanted to be an esthetician. It’s not that college wasn’t an option for me, but ready to graduate and be done with high school, another four years in a classroom just wasn’t for me. My mother being a cosmetologist, turned optician for 30+ years (two great careers that also don’t require a 4-year degree) was nothing but supportive. 

I went to school for laser cosmetics less than a month after graduating high school, and shortly after I completed my esthetics schooling, I was a licensed esthetician and laser technician by 20. While most of my peers were entering their junior years into college, I was buying my first business dress outfits, having headshots taken, and getting my name printed on business cards for my first position as an esthetician in a medispa. 

Fast forward to 2021, and I’ve now been in the field for 11 years, never skipping a beat. 8 of those years I worked for a doctor’s office managing the cosmetic/medispa side of the business. As we all know, COVID and the year of 2020 was a rough time for all of us in more ways than one. In the state of CO, we had to shut down for 7 weeks, and I had a lot of time to think. I thought about where I was going, what my next step in life was going to be, and with my 30th birthday coming up, I knew my 30s deserved a new chapter. After returning to work, unfortunately, and well, fortunately, some of my colleagues and boss who I’d known for 8 years suddenly left a bad taste in my mouth with their very vocal political views and shameless comments about us: humans. 

Being a minority woman, I knew it was time to go. Back in 2017, I had gotten my permanent makeup license in Colorado and really took a liking to this new journey. The immediate satisfaction with tattooing new brows on someone is amazing. I had started doing permanent makeup on the side, and through 2019 and the beginning of 2020, I had really started keeping track of my finances and income from that alone. I had gotten a little 8×10 suite within a small beauty salon/suite space in Englewood, CO and worked seeing clients on the weekends. After COVID, I never returned full-time to the doctor’s office/medispa. 

With the election approaching and my mental health quickly declining, I gave notice and got the heck out of my 8-year medispa gig. The amount of tension released from shoulders my first day as my own boss was one of the best feelings ever. It was like I could finally breathe. 

Andrea Monique Aesthetics is a permanent makeup and skincare business- one that’s all-inclusive of all humans. Although it’s just myself working for myself, I know as I grow, I’ll be excited to start the hiring process and not discriminate against age, sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc., something I often witnessed throughout the years of being employed by others. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is a road truly ever smooth? There’s always ups and downs throughout, but I think I experienced the most downs transitioning from being employed to self-employed. Of course, there were moments of transitioning out of the office I wondered if I was making the right move. Ultimately, I knew I had to go, and luckily with the support of family and friends, I knew I was making the best choice. After becoming self-employed, I struggled at times (and truthfully still do) showing up for myself on the days that I blocked out as admin days. I don’t have anyone telling me I have to be at work. I don’t have a time clock I have to punch into. I also didn’t have anyone else that was experiencing what I was going through. I soon invested into business coaching and it was one of the best things I’ve done for myself during my first year of having my own business. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an esthetician and permanent makeup artist in Colorado. For many years, I specialized in laser cosmetic treatments being employed by others, and now being self-employed, I offer skincare and specialize in permanent makeup. I tattoo many many eyebrows, but one of my goals this year is to specialize in areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors. 

I’m most proud of putting my foot down, and knowing when enough is enough, and to take the high road, honestly, had 2020 and all of its pitfalls and realizations not happened, I’m not quite sure I’d have my own business at this point in time. 

What sets me apart from others is my background and knowledge. Working 11 years in the esthetics field, I’ve had a lot of education from many doctors and other pros in the industry. I know how skin works and heals, and now with tattooing, I feel like I grasp it easily. I also have a pretty compassionate heart and am always seeking to help others in different ways. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Of course! 

Podcasts: 

Pretty Rich Podcast 

PMU School Podcast 

The Michelle Obama Podcast 

Super Soul 

Trust & Believe with Shaun T 

Books: 

The Secret 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck 

Expert Secrets 

You Are a Badass 

I meditate with the Calm App almost every day and take time to fill out my 5 Minute Journal (gratitude journal- you can purchase it on Amazon) 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amaestheticspmu.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreamonique_aesthetics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amaestheticsCO