A mother and daughter have followed their dream and have launched a hair and make-up academy in Stretford.

Farah Ariya, 25 and her mum Hamieda have combined their brains and beauty skills to establish Glam Academy at Stretford Mall to provide hair, beauty and make-up services.

The duo is also offering industry recognised skills enhancement courses for those who want to improve their make-over routines or get into the beauty business themselves.

The academy is a natural step for the pair as Farah has spent her career inspired by her mother, teaching beauty skills and taking young apprentices with her on bridal make up sessions around the UK and Hamieda as a hair-stylist for 10 years.

The salon launched on November 16 and after only two months in business have seen huge success.

Farah said: “Mum’s been a majorly in-demand hair stylist for ten years and I’ve learned my art working for big name cosmetics brands such as Mac, as well as with professional make up experts in Holland.

“We’ve both built up loyal client lists and long dreamed of opening our own businesses, so we thought why not do it together?

“It was a case of now or never, so we took the leap and here we are, open Monday through to Sunday and constantly busy, with both mum and I working flat out.

“Although I’m a qualified nail technician, we’re so busy that we’re now looking to employ a nail art specialist to help us out.

“We chose Stretford Mall as a base as it’s central for many of our south Manchester clients, easily accessible and the management here have been hugely supportive.”

Stretford Mall manager, Gareth Wilkins, said he was thrilled to have such an exciting new venture join the Mall.

He said: “This is a real boon for us as it is guaranteed to widen our customer base as well as providing a brilliant new quality hair and make-up service for our existing loyal shoppers.

“What better time for the Glam Academy to open than at the most glamorous time of the year – Christmas and New Year. We wish Farah and Hamieda the best of luck with the venture and can’t wait to see some very stylish new looks coming out of those doors.”

Fuelled by the success, Farah is now hoping to take the Internet by storm on launching a YouTube channel to complement the academy to demonstrate her cosmetics.

Their big ambition for the future is to expand, to open other Glam Academy outlets in Manchester and maybe even further afield and Farah would like to own her own cosmetics brand.

You can find the Glam Academy video demonstrations on YouTube: farah_ariya_makeupacademy