Starting a blog is such an interesting and strange sensation – what do I say? How do I come up with the right words to say? Who will read this? Well, I don’t have an answer to those questions so I’m just going to start with an introduction.
Hi, I’m Melissa. I have lived in Pretoria my whole life and up until 8 months ago, I didn’t even know I could become a makeup artist. Of course, I’ve always loved makeup – I was the teenager wearing deep red lipstick when everyone else was doing lightly coloured lip gloss. I helped out with makeup for our school plays and loved the experience but it was nothing more than that. Then my Matric Dance…oh what a d.i.s.a.s.t.e.r! We hired a makeup artist in training to do it and she made me porcelain white (which I’m really not) and where I perspired during the evening my true colours came shining through [Symbol] I looked sick. I then did my own makeup for my school’s Matric Dance Fashion Show and it looked a million times better, pretty even. Fast forward a few years and I didn’t trust anyone to do my makeup for my wedding. I had one makeup trial where the MUA argued with me because I wanted more makeup put on, the look was far too light and natural for my taste. Suffice it to say, I did my own makeup and helped with my sister’s makeup on my wedding day and I loved how I looked!
2 years ago a photographer friend asked me to assist her with a maternity shoot, I had some of my own makeup supplies with me and the client, not being someone who normally wore much makeup, was so pleased to have her makeup done. I shudder to think about the look that I did, it’s nothing like what I’m able to do today, but everyone must begin somewhere. Nonetheless, she was happy with it and I realised how much I loved making her feel special and confident in how she looked, it was an amazing feeling! Don’t think, though, that this was effortless or a walk in the park – changing careers after working so hard to make a name for myself in another industry (one that is as far removed from makeup as it can get) was and still is absolutely scary!
For months I tried to educate myself through the internet while saving up. I got my certificate in bridal makeup and have been working hard to build up experience and a portfolio. My knowledge about makeup has grown, as has my style of doing makeup – you can never know too much. However, what hasn’t changed is the true excitement and joy that bubbles up inside me every time someone asks me to do their makeup, I hope that never goes away.
So, that’s me.Please, tell me something about yourself – what made you first fall in love with makeup?