BEAUTY ACE WINS AFTER ILLNESS WOE
AMY HOWELL has always wanted to go above and beyond in life and has just been recognised for her thriving beauty business which has now been named the best in Wales.
The 21-year-old, who has endometriosis, says she has done whatever she could to ensure her business is successful.
She has now won the Wales Beautician of the Year award at the Welsh Hair and Beauty Awards. The keen businesswoman is the owner of Sylver Nails and Beauty in Port Talbot, which is found inside the salon Seven Hair & Body.
She told Wales on Sunday: “I’ve never been so overwhelmed and emotional like I was during the awards having my business name be called with an event of 600 people clapping and cheering for me. Going up on stage to receive an award and speaking on stage was a very surreal moment for me.”
Originally from Pyle, Bridgend, Amy’s passion for all things beauty began in 2017 after she had finished school. She enrolled onto Beauty Therapy Level 2 course and that was where here ambition began. She completed her course in July 2018 and was offered a part-time position at a salon where she had initially started working on Saturdays. Amy spent three years there, until Covid hit and it had to close temporarily.
She said: “We were finally able to work again in July 2020 with high restrictions for the salon. We pushed through it and I found I was losing my joy and passion at the salon feeling I couldn’t get much further in my position.”
In September that year, she was given the opportunity to “rent a room” at a new salon in Port Talbot.
Amy said: “Leanne, who is a member of the family, gave me the chance to look around her salon that was still being refurbished. I was led to what is now my beauty room and it was a blank canvas. I was very nervous but excited at what this could be for my new yet unofficial business. I had also been given access to have a nail bar section within the hair section of the salon. And in November 2020 I had officially started my small business.”
Amy has been affected by endometriosis for several years but it wasn’t until this year that she received an official diagnosis. The long-term condition causes symptoms like heavy or irregular periods, pain with urination or bowel movements during a menstrual period as well as spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods.
Amy said: “I’ve been noticing more recently that I’ve been struggling with exhaustion. But running my own business means that I can manage my own time better and work based on how I am feeling. Sometimes it does mean because of the pain I can’t work. But I never like to cancel my appointments. The one thing I never want to do is let clients down.”
On her award success, Amy said: “A few of the beauticians had also made finalist previous years, so I had my doubts about the possibility of winning overall. I had the lovely support around me during the night of the awards. It was filled with a big positive atmosphere and definitely an experience I’ll never forget.
“I am beyond proud of myself with what I’ve achieved over a five-year period. It hasn’t all been easy but I got through it and proved all my doubts wrong.
“My advice to any other women who are affected by chronic illnesses is that you shouldn’t be afraid to go for it and still try and achieve your dreams. And just know you can do it.”