Gympie’s best brow tech 2024 is Jessica O’Brien of Hous of Brows

A beauty specialist who has spent eight years building her business has been voted Gympie’s best brow technician of 2024. Read her story as we reveal the top five techs as voted by our readers.

Beauty specialist and makeup artist Jessica O'Brien has been voted Gympie best nail tech.

Beauty specialist and make-up artist Jessica O’Brien has been voted Gympie’s best brow technician 2024, taking out 23 per cent of the vote by Gympie Times’ readers.

Ms O’Brien said she felt grateful to have so much support from all her clients, friends and family.

“It makes me feel like I’m successful in my career and it’s really humbling to feel like I probably have more support than I thought and it makes me appreciate what I do,” she said after hearing of the result.

“I definitely feel really lucky to have all the clients, friends and family in my life who have supported me through the journey from the start to now and continue to support me.”

Beauty specialist and make-up artist Jessica O'Brien has been voted Gympie’s best brow tech of 2024 by our readers.

Ms O’Brien runs her Hous of Brows and Aesthetics business from her home at The Palms, just west of Gympie.

“I have always wanted to do something of my own, being very passionate about the beauty industry, and I actually had my daughter then I thought that I would just bite the bullet and just go for it, pursue it, and it’s been the best decision I have ever made.”

Among the other contenders on the huge list, Whitney Turner came in second with 18 per cent of the votes, Jess Boothby, Killa Arch, and Tiana Ollier were all tied on third with 9 per cent, Sam Longmore came fourth with 8 per cent of the vote and Jassey, Steph and Millie Stanton all shared fifth place.

Whitney Turner, second place - La Mode Hair and Beauty in Gympie

Ms O’Brien, 30, said she was born in Mackay but pretty much grew up in Gympie.

“My business goal is to keep growing and learning and being better, and finding the balance and being able to open my shop more often,” she said.

“It’s definitely a long term goal, this is something I want to be doing essentially for the rest of my life.”

The mother of one completed her 12-month Certificate 4 in Beauty Therapy and is a qualified beauty specialist and make-up artist.

The Haus of Brows and Aesthetics caters for everything including brows, lashes, lifts, makeup, waxing and other personal care.

Ms O’Brien said she started off just by doing her friends and family brows, and developed a bigger circle.

Jassy, fifth place, of Bent and Brows in Gympie.

“I did just my friends and family while I worked full time and I just did that for many years; then I have personally just been well-groomed, browed, make-up and when I had my daughter I just jumped in and took the risk and did it full time,” she said.

“It’s one of those things the more you do the more you learn, there’s a lot of things you can do to keep working on your skills and over time you sort of get better, even from when I started to now I’m really proud of my achievements and skills building.

“I just pride myself on being myself and making sure they feel comfortable and having the comfort so we have a conversation, and asking questions about how they like their brows, what they would expect and working with the clients one on one.”

Ms O’Brien has been juggling working as a pharmacy assistant with Good Price Pharmacy in town while establishing her business since 2012.

She said being a beauty therapist was more than just providing a service.

“It’s more than just doing brows, or beauty treatment, so I’m actually connecting with other women, and sharing stories, talking about things that are personal or helping someone through something or just being that space where someone can come and relax and take 10 minutes of their day to do nothing,” Ms O'Brien added.

“I’m creating more than just coming here and getting something done and then leaving, I want more.”

Originally published as Gympie’s best brow tech 2024 is Jessica O’Brien of Hous of Brows