Cosmetic Artist Bridging the Gap for Black Entrepreneurs in the Beauty Industry
Owner of the Academy of Advanced Cosmetics and the app, CozTat, Feleshia Sams. (Photo courtesy of the Brittany Miller Brand)
Feleshia Sams is a seasoned cosmetic tattoo artist opening the door for future artists to break into the beauty industry.
Sams is a serial entrepreneur living in Atlanta, Georgia. She owns the cosmetic training academy Academy of Advanced Cosmetics (AAC) and the mobile app CozTat.
The academy started for beauty technicians to learn about cosmetic tattooing. The courses offered to the students include machine ombre, hyaluronic filler, microblading, and paramedical.
Being in the cosmetic and beauty world for over 16 years, Sams wanted to share her knowledge with others.
“I’ve seen the impact that cosmetic tattoos have on clients,” she said. “I want to share my knowledge of the art world to my audience and talk about how cosmetic tattooing can restore people’s confidence.”
A student at AAC learning how to microblade. (Photo courtesy of the Brittany Miller Brand)
Through her cosmetic tattooing business, Sams invests in her clients feeling beautiful and strong. One way that the entrepreneur helps her clients build confidence is by tattooing her breast cancer survivor clients.
“I want all my clients to feel whole, complete, and healed. Especially my clients who endured breast cancer,” she said. “I truly believe that cosmetic tattoos serve a purpose greater than that of permanent makeup.”
Through AAC, Sams guides miseducated technicians to prevent practices that ruin the cosmetic industry and trains them properly. She also encourages her technicians to start their businesses and flourish in the cosmetic industry, but she noticed that they need help managing their businesses. As a wife and mother, Sams understands the struggle of juggling a business while maintaining a household.
“I wanted to create a platform where people can discover cosmetic tattoo artists,” Sams said. “I wanted the platform to fuel entrepreneurs to manage their businesses in an efficient and productive way.”
One of the students at AAC learning at the academy. (Photo courtesy of the Brittany Miller Brand)
In the fall of 2020, she launched the app CozTat. The app boasts features for both tattoo artists and clients, where the artists can list all their services and prices for their audience. Within the app, artists can share their hours on their portfolios, showcase their certifications and book their clients.
“Think of CozTat as a one-stop-shop for cosmetic tattoo needs and cosmetic tattoo businesses,” Sams said.
Sams is the first Black woman to launch an app dedicated to cosmetic tattoo artists. She wants to inspire other Black women entrepreneurs to start their businesses.
“I want to talk about what it means to be a trailblazer in the tech industry,” she said. “There’s a greater purpose bigger than myself. As a Black woman, I want to bring awareness to my audience in the beauty industry. Primarily dealing with cosmetic tattooing."
CozTat is available for download on any device. For more information about AAC and to apply for payment assistance, check out the academy’s website.