Face and Mane - Uber Talented Hair and Makeup Artist Warren B.

This week’s Image Maker Warren B. is fiercely talented and equally passionate about his work. I’ve been following his Blog for quite some time now so, without a doubt I was absolutely delighted to find him on Twitter. Other than the fact that his work is BEAUTIFUL I love the range of Warren’s work, what can’t he do? Warren's going to tell you why donning head-to-toe black doesn't make you a makeup artist... Get to know Warren B…




BEAUTYSCHOOLED! How long have you been in the industry?

Warren B. I have been training since my cosmetology days back at Jefferson High School back in Tampa FL so that has been 10 plus years ago…

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! When did you know you wanted to become a hairstylist and makeup artist?

Warren B. I have known that I was interested in HAIR since I was a child. My grandmother had super long wavy hair that I was allowed to comb and brush on a regular. I remember a braiding contest I had with my little cousin I had to have to be 8 or 9 at the time. We were trying to see who could braid the smallest braid. Of Yes I WON!





BEAUTYSCHOOLED! LOL! That's a great story! So you're a licensed cosmetologist, other than cosmetology school did you receive any formal education prior to launching your career?

Warren B. I have trained with Vidal Sassoon in Miami Beach. MAC Cosmetics, and several salons which I think is the best training ground.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! What’s your favorite hair or makeup?

Warren B. Hair is less involved with less product and steps. Makeup takes more time and you gotta be detail oriented to really do a good job. HONESTLY I really don’t have a favorite… People ask me that all the time.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Most big jobs unless it’s male grooming you’re usually either hair or makeup. Can you explain to our readers why that and why it's still important to be strong in both?

Warren B. Well on BIG jobs time is of the essence waiting on one person to do both can take more time. It can be cost effective to have someone like me who does both, which is why some clients go that route. Generally it will depend on the project and the people involved. Johnny often does both on set and he is just as good at both. If you are going to do both I would suggest your skill be strong in both departments so that YOU shine!!!



BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Great tip Warren! You work with a lot of big names in the industry, including Mr. Billy B. and Johnny LaVoy, when was your first big break?


Warren B. I have not actually worked with Billy B. unless you consider packing his kit working. We are pretty cool friends and I admire him dearly. Johnny and I have done some work together recently. He too is a true friend and mentor. I will say that these guys have reached out to help make my life and career a success and for that I am eternally grateful. ALSO we cant forget AJ Crimson and I have worked together as well and that was a REAL honor.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Do you work in the salon at all or are you strictly freelance?

Warren B. STRICTLY FREELANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank THE LORD!!!

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! What’s a typical working day like for you, if there is such thing as typical for you?

Warren B. No day is “typical” I do shoots with local talent here in DC recently more in NYC. Still getting new hair clients everyday which keeps me busy as well. Weddings from time to time… A show every once in a while. Anything I can do related to my dream is what I do to make a life for myself.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! What would you say are the biggest misconceptions about the industry about hairstylists and makeup artists specifically?

Warren B. Just because you can afford a lovely kit with the most fabulous products does not mean that you are a stylist. Just because you dress in all black don’t mean you are a makeup artist. JUST BECAUSE you worked with 1 or 2 celebrities ONCE don’t make you a celebrity makeup artist. In order to be a success you MUST hone your craft!!!! You must own it and be confident about what it is you’re doing. People/clients since fear so you MUST get the job done with a level of confidence that only comes with knowledge and education!!!


BEAUTYSCHOOLED! It seems that every up and coming makeup and hairstylists wants to work with celebrities. What advice do you have for someone new who is trying to break into the industry and wanting to work with celebrities?

Warren B. Well I am not a “celebrity” stylist yet so to speak. But in my mind every client I do is MY celebrity so I guess I can answer this question. FIRST step back and try not to be so consumed with the word “celebrity”… At the end of the day we are ALL PEOPLE and that’s 1st. If you focus on becoming the BEST that you can be the “celebrity” will come. Just ALWAYS be and do your BEST!!! Surround yourself with like minded people and they will help to guide you. Stay true to yourself people LOVE IT when you KEEP IT REAL!!!!





BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Do you hire assistants, do any mentoring for young artists or provide any workshops or training?

Warren B. Yes I do occasionally hire assistants. Yes I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO MENTOR ANYONE I CAN!! That to me is how you make the difference by sharing what has been given to you!

I will also be hosting a makeup gathering in DC in mid October!

Thank you so much for the interview Warren, great information! Can't wait to see what you're up to next please keep in touch... for more information on Warren B., visit his website or follow his twitter.


Ciao for now... Class is dismissed!

Classified Beauty - Uber Talented Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Kathy Aragon

You can’t help but envy this week’s Multi-talented Image Maker Kathy Aragon’s twitter, she’s always bustling from one place to another applying makeup to some pretty important people, yet she still has the time to dole out friendly advice to other fellow artists and stylists. Incredibly nice friendly and engaging, I was simply fascinated by all that she does I just had to find out what fuels this dynamo. Read the interview to find out why like in real-estate -- location location location has been one of Kathy’s biggest advantages as well as why there aren’t any shortcuts. The love she has for her work spills over into her every word.



BEAUTYSCHOOLED! I had some time to comb through your website, In a word you ROCK! How long have you been in the industry?

Kathy Aragon: Thanks! As of this month I have been doing makeup for exactly 10 years. I have spent the last 4 years completely freelance and away from my salon roots.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! When did you know you wanted to become a hair and makeup artist?

Kathy Aragon: My mom has been a hairstylist for over 25 years so this industry has always been present in my family but I really knew it from a management side due to my father's entrepreneurial background. I took esthetics and cosmetology courses to learn more about the service side and that is when the bug hit me.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! What was your first "big" break?

Kathy Aragon: Good question. I've always been a "baby steps" kind of girl so I don't think one particular incident stands out in my mind as a break out sort of moment. I mean all my milestones (first tear, first agency, first show, etc) are all still very special moments to me.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Kathy, I see that you do many different things as a hair and makeup artist, but tell us what is it like working for a network television show like CNN?

Kathy Aragon: Working at CNN has been a great experience and has taught me so much! I thought I knew the stresses of makeup and hair but it wasn't until I started doing it for live TV that I realized I had it pretty easy. I've had to learn how to do hair and makeup in 5-15 minutes time (if that) on a consistent basis, and it had to presentable enough for the whole world to see! These extreme time limits have helped me tremendously on other jobs where time is money. I am proud to be able to provide my clients both hair and makeup in a time that it might take two people to work in.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Five to Fifteen minutes wow! Kathy, you also have a pretty impressive Grooming portfolio how does male grooming differ from the other work that you do and did it require any specific training or education?

Kathy Aragon: I love doing men's grooming, if not just for the fact that it offers such great variety and keeps my job interesting. I didn't have any more specific training for men's grooming per se, but my airbrush is what I use 90% of the time on grooming jobs, and I did take specific lessons for that through a mentor of mine, Suzanne Patterson.

As for learning men's hairstyling, my husband actually had a big part in teaching me. I do many shoots with him since he is a photographer and when we started working with men he would go in and do hair for my unconfident self. He would have a specific vision that I wasn't sure about achieving. My husband showed me the techniques he used through his many hair phases and from that I started feeling a lot more comfortable in styling men's hair. He's going to crack up that I told you that. I no longer allow him to touch the hair when we work together. :D




BEAUTYSCHOOLED! That’s too funny; it’s awesome that you had him around for that I’m sure you learned some things right away that it’ll have taken other men’s groomers years to learn. Kudos to you guys! So, is there a big difference in working with male and female clients?

Kathy Aragon: Men's grooming definitely takes me a lot less time to do (most of the time) but it's just as important to keep up with during the shoot. The biggest difference between working with men and women is the amount of talking and comforting I have to do when working with men who are not used to putting on makeup. I am more talkative with men through the makeup process when they are obviously uncomfortable before sitting in the chair. I want the guys just as comfortable when they leave my chair to go on set as the girls feel. Usually that means I let them crack jokes about me putting them in "hot pink" or "cherry lip-gloss" looks. I think every male, not in the modeling or acting industry feels they have to make that joke :D

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Kathy, some artist chose to specialize, however you pretty much do it all. Why did you choose to remain "multi-faceted"?

Kathy Aragon: Being based in Washington D.C. has given me no choice but to "do it all". Working with men, women, and children came naturally for me having grown up in the salon industry. Also, there wasn't enough work in the area to only specialize in print vs. TV vs. events so I just did any type of job that called for a makeup artist in the area.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! That has obviously paid off for you in a good way. Can you give the readers an idea of what a typical working day is like for you? Do you even have a “typical” day?

Kathy Aragon: It's hard to predict a day for me. I kind of have to look at a week to figure out a typical pattern. Actually the more random the work week is, the more typical it is! It's now pretty normal for me to go from doing makeup for CNN, to doing a glamorous look for a red carpet event, to working on children for a hospital photo shoot. Then the next week I can pick up to go to the Cayman Islands for a swimsuit shoot, then fly off to work on a bunch of NFL makeup phobia football players, and finish the week powdering heads for a government video. :D It is so completely and utterly random and I really don't think I'd have it any other way.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Looks like the variation keeps it interesting for you. What would you say are the biggest misconceptions about the industry and makeup artists specifically?

Kathy Aragon: I feel that many newer artists think that in this industry you can easily skip past the harder work and find the shortcuts to get to the top, and it just isn't that way. I have talked to many artists who have started just a few short years ago and are already very frustrated over things like not being signed by a top NY agency. Many of these artists look past the benefits of the baby steps in between. Like I said earlier, I am a "baby steps" kind of girl. If it weren't for doing tests with local photographers, doing local work, getting signed to a local agency, and making a local name, there is no way I would have gotten the consistent work that I have been able to get to have even attracted a NY agencies attention. Taking baby steps will go a longer way in building a more stable foundation for your future career.

As for a public misconception of makeup artists, I feel like everyone wants to throw me in the category of selling Mary Kay or working at MAC when I say I do makeup for a living. I find my answer changes all the time as I'm still searching for that perfect description to explain what it is I really do.

BEAUTYSCHOOLED! It seems that every up and coming makeup and hairstylists wants to work with celebrities or in fashion or television. What advice do you have for someone new who is trying to break into the industry and wanting to work in these arenas?

Kathy Aragon: Other than really practicing your clean hair and makeup skills, networking goes a long way. The only thing is you need to make sure your connections are genuine and not just another business card to add to the pile. Some of my most amazing moments have been presented to me through the friends I have made in this industry. You never know who will be asked if they know any makeup artists and if you took that time to make that connection genuine you may just be thought of when they are asked.

Oh, and to break it down to the very basics, keep your eyes open for opportunities! I can not tell you how many times CNN has put an ad out for makeup/hair artists to the public with hardly a response. They want people to read the job description and decide if this is really for them, not to get a lot of inquiries because people are fixated on the name of the company -so you don't actually see the name "CNN" on their ads. So many people have passed up on applying for what could be a dream job because they didn't take the time to read the description. Remember that some of the best opportunities out there may not come in the fanciest of packages.



BEAUTYSCHOOLED! Okay I just feel like you just spilled some classified secret. I hope the readers picked up on that. So lastly Kathy because every aspiring or new artist would love to learn from someone as talented and devoted to the craft as you are... do you hire assistants, mentor young artists, hold any workshops or provide training?

Kathy Aragon: I do hire assistants when I can. Some of the jobs I do for government figures or a celebrity personality may require more privacy and don't allow for assistants on set. Other jobs may require one, like when I have to get 30 men ready for a group shoot in a matter of minutes! I definitely try to use them when I can and I find myself saying I need one more and more lately. The unfortunate thing is that I always find out a need an assistant last minute, many times the day before and then no one is usually available. If you tend have a really flexible schedule, give me a call! :D

As for workshops and training, I have started to work closely with The Powder Group in providing hands on workshops in different subjects. Michael and James of The Powder Group are two of my favorite mentors and so it means so much to me that they've entrusted me to give back some of the knowledge I have gained through my time as an artist to their attendees. I will be at the next two Artist Summits in Miami and Chicago teaching workshops. More information to be announced soon!

That’s awesome, Thank you Kathy for that uber informative interview for more information on Kathy Aragon, please visit her website and for more information on the Artist Summit visit the Powder Group’s website and of course be sure to follow Kathy’s Twitter.

Ciao for now…Class is dismissed!

Getting Noticed! - Interview with Sandy James of Stilista Agency Part I

How do I get noticed? How do I land a gig with a big cosmetic or fashion house? How do I get signed with an agency? If you have ever asked yourself any or all of these questions, grab a pen because I have some answers for you!

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sandy James, founder of Stilista Agency, Baltimore and D.C.'s newest agency representing talented and experienced Hair Stylists, Makeup Artists, and Fashion/Wardrobe Stylists in the Baltimore/D.C. Metropolitan area and in New York. In part one of this interview Sandy dishes on what it would take to make the cut at her agency and in part two she scoops on this incredible portfolio building workshop she created for makeup artists.





Beauty Schooled! What do you look for in an artist or stylist (hair and fashion) looking to sign with your agency?

Sandy James: As an agency keeping a small roster, I look for versatility, experience, drive, attitude, and a great portfolio. Without a great portfolio, I can't sell the artist/stylist to the clients.

Beauty Schooled! Other than talent what attributes would you say are important for makeup artists and hair and fashion stylists to have in order to obtain longevity in the fashion and entertainment industry?

Sandy James: Attitude, professionalism, and drive are very important to obtain longevity in this industry. Face it, no one wants to hire a diva. I've been in contact with many artists and stylists who were bigger than their britches. We are here to serve our clients, not the other way around. Professionalism is also a must. Celebrities spend enough time dealing with the paparazzi. They don't need an artist or stylist asking for autographs or inviting themselves to the after party. Drive. If you don't have the drive to educate yourself and learn new techniques, technology, and trends, then you won't be able to keep up with up and coming artists and stylists.

Beauty Schooled: What would you say are some of the greatest misconceptions about the industry?

Sandy James: I think the biggest misconception is that it's all glamour. You go in, pop some color on some lips, tease some hair, or throw and outfit together and you walk out making thousands of dollars. That is not true. It's long hours in places where you may not have proper lighting or set up and have 10 minutes to beat a face that actually needs plastic surgery to make it look good. Artist and stylist that make thousands of dollars a day are rare, but they have put their time, blood, sweat, and tears in the industry and deserve to be there.

Next session: Part II Get the scoop on Sandy’s portfolio building workshop.

Ciao for now… Class dismissed!

First Lady Locks - The Race Is On

A slew of D.C. area stylist are tossing their name into the hat to become Michelle Obama's preferred stylist in the White House. Though rumor has it that Mr. Prez is taking his barber Zariff of 14 years to the White House with him, little has been said about who will be responsible for coiffing the First Lady's do. Will Michael Flowers tag along with the Obamas to Washington as well? (It is said that he's been styling her hair since she was 18.) Or, will she opt for one of the D.C. stylist jockeying for that position? Including one who even sent in a 17 minute DVD of himself.

This ought to be interesting, can't wait to see who she chooses. Are there makeup artists and manicurists in the running as well?

What do you think? Would you like the position as First Lady Coiffure-in-Chief? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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