EJ Cosmetics in Waterlooville celebrates five year anniversary as it offers free brow treatments to cancer sufferers
Business celebrates ‘incredible achievement’
A Waterlooville business is celebrating its five year anniversary as the owner looks to give back to the community with free treatment for cancer sufferers.
Ella Dunn set up EJ Cosmetics after realising while working for the ambulance service during COVID that she wanted to run her own business. Starting a permanent make-up business may have seemed a big leap for a woman that says that she is “not very girly” and does not wear a lot of make-up but it has proven the perfect decision for Ella.
She said: “I have never been very girly or interested in make-up. I always had horses and being outside is what I wanted to do which is quite a bit different. But I kept seeing the courses online for permanent makeup online and on social media.
“As I am not very girly and don’t wear a lot of make up I thank that is the best thing about it, a lot of the women that do come to me are the same, they don’t want to be putting make-up on everyday. The permanent make-up lasts up to five years so you can get up and go in the morning.”
Five years on, Ella’s business is thriving having opened a salon in Wellington Way, Waterlooville in 2024 with EJ Cosmetics winning numerous awards along the way. She offers a number of services including lip blush and brows which she describes as a form of “cosmetic tattooing”.
She also offers free brow treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer.
Ella said: “We try to do as much possible. People going through chemotherapy are worrying about losing hair so being able to give them something that means they don’t have to worry about that side of it. It's just a small way of helping people feel like themselves again during a difficult time.”
While many women have taken up the offer, Ella is looking to spread the word so more people know the service is open to them, with the five year anniversary celebration event used to promote it. The Mayor of Havant Councillor Paul Tansom was on hand to attend on Saturday, June 27 and celebrate Ella’s achievement.
Following the event, Ella posted: “Wow what a special day. Five years in business is such an incredible achievement, when I first started EJ Cosmetics, I had no idea where it would go or what the future looked like. Over the last five years this business has given me so many opportunities to create my dream life. Quitting my full time job, being financially secure and being able to work my own hours. It’s truly a dream.”
Despite being turned down by Havant Borough Council for a grant as part of the Waterlooville Regeneration scheme, Ella believes the improvement of Wellington Way has benefitted her business with the footfall increasing.
As well as offering permanent make-up services at EJ Cosmetics, Ella also runs courses to help train new people to the industry as they aim to start their own businesses.
More details on EJ Cosmetics can be found at https://www.ejcosmetics.com/