We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Elise Velez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Andrea Elise thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
What do I want my legacy to be?
As deep of a question that is, I would like my legacy to be: Figure out what brings you joy and then find a way to make a living from it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Andrea Elise Velez, a San Diego native, who grew up in Ramona, CA. I found the beauty industry 8 years ago through Volunteering todo makeup for Alzheimer, Dementia and Hospice women.
At age 28, I thought I wanted to be a family marriage therapist and I was waiting for my 3rd attempt to reapply at SDSU after being denied twice.
Volunteering, I discovered the power of makeup. I saw the joy that came from women, some on their death bed, admiring themselves with makeup. In that moment, these women felt happy and I learned that I had the power to make that happen. Learning this, I built up the courage to apply at MAC cosmetics and as I got the job I realize that I no longer wanted to be a therapist but makeup was going to be my therapy.
Fast forward, I am the founder of LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD (LGFG) volunteer/ mentor program. LGFG is a group of aspiring makeup artist’ and hair stylist’ that give back to the community by doing makeup and hair. I wanted to create an environment for aspiring make up artists and hair stylists to learn and play. Our most recent event was at the Foster Youth Teen Center.
I also, received my cosmetology license 4 1/2 years ago at Paul Mitchell. In school I specialized in Bridal styling and special occasion hair styles. It was also at Paul Mitchell that I received my lash training education in Classic and Volume Lashing.
Today, I have been a lashing for 5 years and started my traveling wedding business, Bloom Glam Squad, 4 years ago.
I am also, very excited to announce that I will be opening my first storefront building in January. Bloom Beauty & Lash Bar will be the home of Bloom Glam Squad, Lashes Extensions, Lash Lifts, Makeup, Special Occassion Hair Styling, and Hair Extensions. We are also looking forward to teaching Lash Extension Certification Classes along with Makeup and Hair Styling Classes for aspiring makeup/hair artists and technique classes for anyone wanting to learn how todo makeup and hair styling.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Since finding this industry I absolutely believe that everything happens for a reason. One of the lessons I’ve learned is when a door is not opening or there isn’t is a sense of ease in a situation, to trust that your door is still out there and to continue to look for it. For most of my 20’s I was a hamster on a wheel. I was working hard, knocking on all the wrong doors, and frustrated that life was so hard. After being denied 2x to SDSU, the defeat of another rejection was deflating. Little did I know that checking a prerequisite off my graduation list, working as a caregiver, was lining me up to find my passion.
Another pivotal lesson was in the first 3 years as a MAC artist, I was no longer freelancing and I was finally a permanent artist, but after 7 months I was laid off. I was completely devastated. After I left my last shift that day, I pulled out a piece of paper and asked myself 2 questions: If I could have any job, what did I want? I wrote, a wedding business doing makeup & hair and I wanted todo lash extensions. Second question, What do I need to make that happen? I answered going to school for a cosmetology license. I enrolled in Paul Mitchell 2 weeks later. Three months later, I was re-hired by MAC Fashion Valley. What I thought was the worst possible scenario turned out to be the absolute best for me. 5 years later COVID had its way with the world and no one was wearing makeup and there was no work and no weddings. Lashes on the other hand, pandemic or not, were in high demand due to wearing masks, all women could see were their eyes and lashes became the new makeup. A year after that, every couple that didn’t get divorced, got married and the wedding industry exploded in business.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and one of my weaknesses is to take on more than I can handle with grace. Running 2 businesses over the past 4 1/2 years has been very difficult to balance in personal life yet I am looking forward to having more help once Bloom Beauty and Lash Bar opens. I am learning to delegate and grow the Bloom team so I can make more time for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bloombeautyandlashbar
.com - Instagram: Bloomglamsquad / Bloombeautyandlashbar
- Facebook: Bloomglamsquad