At Blink & Ink Body LLC, friendship is the foundation and artistry is the legacy. Founded by lifelong best friends Andrea Valverde and Kristina Ambler, this dynamic duo has quite literally grown up side by side. Their parents were close, they attended school together, and from toddlers to entrepreneurs, their bond has always resembled sisterhood more than friendship.

In 2014, they enrolled in a Bella Lash training course, simply looking to try something new. What started as a class quickly ignited a calling. “We realized almost instantly that lashing wasn’t just a skill, it was an art form,” they shared. That spark evolved into a business rooted in passion, precision, and purpose.

What makes Blink & Ink Body truly special is its balance. Andrea and Kristina understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing creativity and operations to flow seamlessly. “Having your best friend as your business partner has allowed us to build something on trust, respect, and a shared vision,” they tell me, and you feel that energy the moment you step inside.

Specializing in luxury lash services and in-person training for both beginner and advanced artists, they emphasize customization over cookie cutter beauty. “Lashes are not one size fits all,” they explain. Beyond lash artistry, their boutique studio offers laser hair removal, permanent makeup, facials, body sculpting, massage therapy, and professional rental opportunities for licensed beauty professionals.

Blink & Ink Body isn’t just a studio, it’s a sister built sanctuary for confidence and craft.

Two Best Friends From Blink & Ink Who Built A Beauty Business To Help Others

Watch Andrea's & Kristina's on The Beauty Vault Podcast

March 30th on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Insight

with Marie Matteucci

What has been the biggest lesson in navigating friendship and entrepreneurship at the same time?

Balancing friendship and entrepreneurship requires clear boundaries, communication, and a very intentional mindset shift. We consciously are ‘putting on the right hat,’ knowing when to step into your role as a friend and when to step into your role as a business partner. Which involves candid conversations, like, ‘This is business, please don’t take it personally,’ or, ‘This is friendship, let’s focus on our personal connection. Maintaining that distinction keeps both the integrity of the business and the trust in the personal relationship intact. Because we genuinely love, care for and respect each other, our friendship and business thrive simultaneously. We truly couldn’t do this with anyone else. We are so blessed.

With a focus on customization over “cookie cutter” sets, how do you educate clients and students on the importance of lash design and individualized styling?

We emphasize customization and individuality by teaching students to see each client as unique. Every eye shape, bone structure, natural lash pattern, and lifestyle is different, so a one size fits all approach doesn’t work. Our training guides students to assess each client’s facial features, eye shape, preferences, and lifestyle before designing a set. By mastering lash mapping, curl selection, and volume distribution, students learn to create looks that enhance individuality rather than replicate cookie cutter styles. The goal is for every client to leave with a set that feels personalized, flattering, and entirely their own, while giving the artist confidence and creative freedom.

Andrea Valverde’s

Custom Lashes

@andrea.blinkandinklv

Kristina Ambler’s

Lip Blush

@kriss.blinkandinklv

As artists offering in person trainings, what separates a good lash artist from a truly exceptional one in today’s evolving beauty industry?

An exceptional lash artist combines technical skills with intention and genuinely cares for the client. It’s more than applying lashes; it’s understanding the client's unique needs, preferences, and lifestyle, and creating a look that enhances their individuality, paying attention to details and going the extra mile. What truly sets an artist apart is the connection they build, how they make the client FEEL. Over time, clients become like family, so you get to know their stories, their lives and sometimes the appointment even becomes like a little therapy session. A great artist has ambition, a strong work ethic, stays consistent and builds trust by genuinely caring and being intentional with what they’re doing. These qualities are what elevate a lash artist above the rest.

“It’s understanding the client’s needs, preferences, and lifestyle and creating a look that enhances them.”

Blink and Ink Body

Lash Studio + Training Academy

10+ Years of Experience

Las Vegas, NV

Specialties: Lashes | Body Contouring | PMU

Brands: Veyes | Perma Blend | Senseslashes

Connect

✓ Scan to watch
✓ Book
✓ Advance Your Skills

Sisterhood in Business: The Artistry and Vision Behind Blink & Ink Body LLC

Related articles