Rising Stars: Meet Andrea Duvall of Ohio

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

Hi Andrea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Absolutely! I graduated from Fairfield Career Center in 2010 with both my degree and cosmetology license. I initially started my career doing hair, but while working for Benefit Cosmetics and attending The Ohio State University, I discovered my passion for esthetics.

In 2015, I decided I wanted to take a leap of faith and start my own business, working independently. Over the next seven years, I focused on building my business and growing a loyal clientele. Then, in the summer of 2022, I had what felt like a wild idea at the time: opening my own salon. Just a few months later, in November, I officially had the keys to my own space.

One thing that makes me laugh when I look back at my last interview with VoyageOhio in March 2023, just a few months after opening my salon. The question about the challenges of owning a business and whether the journey had been a smooth road. At the time, I had one answer, but looking back now, my answer would be completely different.

The past few years have taught me so much about what it truly takes to run a business. There have been challenges, life changes, unexpected lessons, and plenty of moments that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone. But those experiences have also helped me grow tremendously, both personally and professionally.

Looking back at where I started in 2010 and where I am today, I’m incredibly proud of the journey. What started with a cosmetology license and a passion for beauty has grown into something I never could have imagined, and I’m excited to continue building on it.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ahh, yes, this one! Haha. To remind you, the last time I answered this question, I said, and I quote, “For the most part, everything was pretty smooth, I’d say.” And honestly, at that point, I think that was a pretty accurate answer.

Now that we’ve put a few more years into this, though, I feel like I’m off-roading. We somehow lost the road, and we might not even be in a car anymore! Haha. Just kidding—but in all seriousness, it is definitely no longer the smooth road it was three years ago.

A lot can change in a few years, and my life certainly did. In 2023, I started the process of my divorce, and at the beginning of 2024, I moved out and had to figure out what this new chapter of my life looked like—and, in a lot of ways, figure out who I was again.

At the same time, I was learning very quickly what my strengths and weaknesses were as a business owner. I was learning how to navigate a rollercoaster of emotions while still showing up for the people who depended on me. I had my two kids, who were in elementary school at the time, and I also had these incredible women who had trusted me enough to follow me into a brand-new salon, with a brand-new owner who was still trying to figure everything out herself.

Trying to run a business while navigating such major personal changes was incredibly difficult. There were times when I felt like I couldn’t show up as fully as the business owner I wanted and needed to be. I questioned myself and my ability to run a business more times than I can count. At one point, I was even seriously considering selling the salon.

To say I was struggling would be an understatement. I was struggling physically, emotionally, and financially, and there were plenty of moments when I wondered if I had made the right decision.

But I’m so glad I stuck it out.

Because this experience has taught me so much about myself. It has shown me that I am far more resilient than I ever realized. I’ve learned how to keep going even when things feel incredibly hard, how to give myself grace, and how to continue showing up even when I don’t feel like I have everything figured out.

It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’m proud of myself for staying on it—even when I felt like I had completely lost the road altogether. And honestly, I think that’s one of the most valuable things owning this business has taught me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an esthetician, makeup artist, and permanent makeup artist, so I get to work in a few different areas of the beauty industry. As an esthetician, my specialties are brows, lash lifts, and dermaplane facials. I love services that enhance someone’s natural features while still keeping their overall look effortless.

As a makeup artist, I specialize in soft-glam bridal makeup. I’ve always had the mindset that less is more, especially on your wedding day. I want my brides to look and feel like the best version of themselves, not like they’re wearing a completely different face. My goal is for them to look back at their wedding photos years from now and still feel like themselves, just a little more glammed up.

With permanent makeup, I have a very similar philosophy. I’m passionate about creating natural-looking results where people might even question whether it’s permanent makeup at all. I want my work to enhance someone’s features rather than overpower them.

I think that philosophy really ties all of my services together. I cater to the natural girlies; the women who aren’t trying to look like someone else, but simply want to enhance what they already have. Whether I’m doing brows, a facial, bridal makeup, or permanent makeup, my goal is always the same: to help people feel confident, beautiful, and still completely like themselves.
I think what I’m most proud of also ties directly into what sets me apart as a service provider. As much as I take pride in the work I do, the biggest thing for me has always been the connections I make with my clients.

I take so much pride in the relationships I’ve built with my clients over the years. I want every person who walks through my door to feel seen, welcomed, and genuinely cared for. For me, it’s about creating an experience where people feel comfortable being themselves and know that they’re more than just an appointment on my schedule.

I have clients who have been with me for more than 10 years, and I’ve gotten to be part of so many different chapters of their lives. It started with them coming to see me at the Benefit Brow Bar, then following me to my first studio. I’ve had the privilege of waxing their daughter’s eyebrows for the first time, doing her prom makeup, having them come in together for some mom-and-daughter time, and eventually being trusted to do her makeup for her wedding day.

Those are the moments that mean the most to me. Being able to grow alongside my clients and be trusted with so many special moments in their lives is something I don’t take for granted.

The work itself is incredibly rewarding, but those connections are priceless. I think that’s what truly sets me apart. I’m not just interested in providing a service and sending someone on their way. I want to build relationships, make people feel comfortable and valued, and hopefully become someone they trust for years to come.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I 100000000% believe that everyone needs a mentor or some kind of support system. If you can find someone who has already done what you’re trying to do and is willing to share their experiences, their struggles, and even the mistakes they’ve made so you can learn from them—DO IT!

And once you’re in it, finding a support system of other people who are going through it alongside you will make you feel so much more sane. The emotions, the stress, the uncertainty, and all of the things you’re experiencing—just know that you are never alone in those feelings.

One thing I really dislike about social media is that it can create this false idea that starting and running a business is easy. You see the beautiful spaces, the exciting milestones, the success stories, and the highlight reel, but people don’t always share the hard parts behind the scenes.

I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built through networking over the years. Some of those people have become friends and a real support system for me—people I can call, text, or grab coffee with when I need to vent, talk through a problem, or simply hear, “Yep, I’ve been there too.”

Having people who understand what you’re going through is invaluable. You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself, and I think having the courage to ask for help, learn from others, and surround yourself with people who genuinely understand the journey can make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aduvallco614.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.duvallco_columbussalon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/a.duvallco614
• Other: https://www.vagaro.com/aduvallco614