Alison’s mission to introduce aesthetics to Mayo clients
By Tom Gillespie
A CASTLEBAR therapist has been awarded the inaugural Service Excellence Awards for Aesthetics in Ireland, making her Aesthetics Practitioner of the Year Ireland for 2024.
Alison Hussein is also celebrating opening a studio at Mount Street, Claremorris, having operated from her mother’s home in Bohola for several years.
Seventeen years ago Alison went to Dubai to work for Emirates Airline where she also pursued her dream of becoming a cosmetic tattoo artist and reiki practitioner.
However, at the start of the Covid pandemic, along with 2,999 colleagues, she was made redundant and was forced to return to Ireland.
During her time in the Middle East she became a reiki master teacher and an expert in micro-pigmentation.
Now she has availed of a back-to-work scheme which has allowed her start her own business - Alicia von Browz Aesthetics and Permanent Make-Up.
“Aesthetics,” she explained, “is new in Ireland - it is anything to do with facial rejuvenation using needles or a machine.
“I can almost adjust the shape by enhancing and adding volume in different parts of the face. You can lift the face by adding volume in the cheek. I do facial threads and non-surgical facelifts. I do de-fat dissolving from the chin area.
“These things are for people at their ideal weight, not for somebody that is overweight and wanting to get thinner with injections."
Among the other services she offers customers are brow microblading, lip blush, permanent eyeliner, skin boosters, dermal fillers, thread lifting, Vampire facial, non-laser tattoo removal, fat dissolving, dermaplaning, chemical peels, and microneedling - a total of 52 services.
Says Alison: “My vision is very much about bringing awareness of the fact that aesthetics is for the regular Joe Soap. Aesthetics is for the people of County Mayo and the west of Ireland. Aesthetics is no longer something that people have to travel overseas to get.
“Now it is on their own front door where somebody suitably educated, knowledgeable and professional about it is going to provide you with an aftercare service.”
Allison grew up in Castlebar and people would know her best as Alison Ruane, her mother’s maiden name.
Six months ago she opened a premises in Claremorris - above the Family Resource Centre. The award she has received is the first of its kind in Ireland and it’s the first year of Service Excellence Awards for Aesthetics in Ireland.
She went on: “Since I started up in business in 2021 I received 82 five-star Google reviews. All were based on the time I spent with each client. I am not in this for money, I’m in this to make a difference. I’m in this to introduce to the west of Ireland a place where clients can come and receive excellent customer service, excellent from the perspective that every eight weeks I do advanced training.
“I give people time. I have got the type of clients that never in a million years would have thought aesthetics was for them. I have got clients who have spent half their lives looking after other people and something that I have said on a video has resonated with them and they booked in for a consultation and see what I have to say.
“Whatever it is about the way I presented to my potential clients there is not one of them that hasn’t left much happier than when they came in. I have met phenomenal people and I have the privilege to say they have come from Cork, Galway, Donegal and Westport.
“I have a lot of clients now who went to Dublin. Now they don’t have to.
“I see myself with a gift for people. I want to normalise ascetics and made it affordable in the west of Ireland.”
Creative Oceanic powered by Oceanic Awards announced Alison as the overall winner, stating: “These awards aim to showcase the extraordinary talented people who are dedicated and have an unwavering commitment to advancing the field of aesthetics in Ireland.
“Their contributions have not only raised the bar of excellence but have also inspired others to embrace creativity and innovation within the industry.”
* Alison can be contacted on (083) 0726435 or email vonbrowz@gmail.com.