Okay, so you dance like lame flamingo, sing like a cockatiel in a blender, and you couldn’t even “act” surprised if you woke up with your forehead sewn to your body pillow. There are no American Idol competitions in your future and Hollywood will not be calling anytime soon. How will you ever realize your dream of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous?
Thankfully, you’ve been born with a coveted gift–the ability to create great beauty by wielding scissors and a makeup brush. You are destined to be a stylist to the stars.
How do you go about establishing yourself as a sought-after stylist and win clientele from Tinseltown’s finest? No one knows better than today’s hottest stylists.
Pati Dubroff
Top celebrity makeup artist and Clarins spokesperson, Pati Dubroff, has worked with some of Hollywood’s hottest icons including Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian, Charlize Theron, and Kirsten Dunst. How did she become the go-to makeup guru among the silver screen’s most beautiful women?
According to Beautylish, Dubroff got her start by working at the Yves Saint Laurent makeup counter at Bergdorfs and by working backstage at fashion shows. These experiences enabled her to pick up application techniques and taught her how to work quickly.
M’chel Bauxal-Gleason
Successful makeup artist and hair stylist to the stars, M’chel Bauxal-Gleason, counts Alicia Silverstone, Dakota Fanning, the Obamas, and Dr. Oz among her many celeb clientele. How did she do it?
In the Art Career Project, Bauxal-Gleason states that she earned her Degree in Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and gained experience in special effects makeup while working at Six Flags’ Magic Mountain. Her advice to prospective stylists is to seek formal training.
Sally Hershberger
The celebrity hairstylist responsible for Meg Ryan’s famous tresses, Sally Hershberger, has also coiffed the likes of Kate Moss, Jane Fonda, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Hillary Clinton. Her first step in the biz was studying with famous hairdresser, Arthur Johns, at beauty school. She met Olivia Newton-John, joined her on the “Let’s Get Physical” tour and the rest simply fell into place.
In Forbes, Hershberger offers the following advice–“Don’t listen when people say ‘you can’t.’ When I wanted to go work for the most famous hair salon, people said to me, ‘Oh you can’t do that…’ Then I ‘out-famoused’ them.”
Mia “Mimi J” Johnson
Having worked on popular programs including VH1’s Love and Hip Hop Atlanta and Style Network’s Big Rich Atlanta, celebrity makeup artist, Mimi Johnson, has no trouble building up her impressive list of celebrity clientele.
After studying Fashion and Marketing, she also worked at cosmetic counters and taught herself the art of makeup application. In an interview with blogger, Rana Campbell, Johnson recommends looking at the credits in your favorite magazines, networking with other makeup artists, and joining the conversations on social media.
Jet Set Salon & Belle Femme Salon
It is also important to keep in mind that it is not only Hollywood Celebrities that can afford to fly their favorite stylists to far-off places.
According to “Up, Up, and Away: Celebrities Fly Their Stylists In for the Perfect Cut,” the rich and famous in Dubai have started flying in stylists from L.A.’s top salons such as Jet Set Salon and Belle Femme Salon, paying for flights, accommodations, and meals.
If you’ve got two left feet and a face made for radio, don’t give up on your Hollywood dream. Hone those hair styling skills, master the art of make-up, and, if you play your cards right, you could be the next big celebrity stylist.
What celebrity would you like to create a new look for?
