Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquita Chambers
Hi Marquita, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I would say truly got my start in makeup as a child when I would play in my mother’s makeup and of course get in trouble for it. Back in the day, there was really only one brand for black woman, Fashion Fair, and I remember there was this bright red rouge (blush) that my mom wore and I was actually fascinated by it since red has always been my favorite color. I truly have always had a creative eye and in my childhood years, I naturally gravitated to the arts, especially drawing, painting and sketching. It was only natural for me to navigate to the world of makeup artistry, after pursuing a career as a paralegal. I needed a creative outlet and after much contemplation, I decided a career change was needed in order to express my creativity.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say my road to becoming a makeup artist and business owner was tough in the beginning, but has become easier. I attribute this to my experience in the corporate sector, mainly the legal industry, which helps me to navigate the pitfalls of operating a business. I had lots of experience working in accounting, marketing and managing businesses, which made it easier to learn how to manage my own. Most of the struggles I had in the beginning were due to having little to no experience working with clients one-on-one, therefore in order to build a clientele, I had to obtain experience working with people. I was able to do so by obtaining a management position at Sephora where I was able to and imperfect my client services skills while also meeting new people who would eventually become clients.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am Lead Artist of a luxury hair and makeup company where we specialize in creating soft glam makeup and modern hair looks for clients of all ethnicities. The best thing about my company is that we bring the salon experience to you in the comfort of your location of choice. I created this business model for those who have what I call “salon anxiety”. When I was a child and, I was often turned away from stylists, or they complained about how difficult it was to manipulate my hair because of its texture and density. I wanted my clients to feel comfortable in a more initiate setting while still giving them that salon experience. It was important for me to learn how to do both hair and makeup for clients with varying hair textures and skin tones so that no one who would feel left out. So many times during my early makeup days, I’d encounter clients and/or models who were apprehensive because of their own unpleasant encounters with artists who couldn’t match their skin tone or style their hair according to their texture or density. I always reassured them that it would not be a problem for me and handled each person with care to give them their desired look. I pride myself on listening to my clients to make sure I achieve the look they want. I am known for making my clients feel comfortable during the process and feeling confident once finished. What sets me apart from others is that I am truly passionate about this industry. I am currently a beauty educator at a local cosmetology school where I teach students the beauty essentials and trends to create a flawless look based on my knowledge and skills. Because of this, I have a deep knowledge of makeup theory. I love teaching my clients as I work with them. The overall experience is always both educational and fun! Most of my clients are like family after 8 years in business. I am also proud it have developed a team of creative and talented artists who I work with where we have developed a tight-knit community founded on support. We have the best times when we are able to work on large bridal parties as we specialize in wedding-day hair and makeup!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I would say my favorite podcast that I’m currently listening to is, “The First Mind Podcast with Monica Wallace, M.Ed.” I believe I have a gift for connecting with people through my artistry and in my encounters with people, I find them to be extremely therapeutic. I have had created so many deep connections with my clients, so this podcast helps me to develop my interpersonal skills because it taps into the journey of being a human and the experiences we have along the way. I’m educating myself in my own way when I listen to this podcast because the topics range from healing trauma to mental health—-topics that comes up frequently when working clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artistrybymarquita.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistrybymarquita
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistrybymarquita
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?client=safar&sca_esv=988dfbd5561fba57&hl=en&cs=1&output=search&kgmid=%2Fg%2F11g0s9dx02&q=Artistry%20by%20Marquita%20Hair%20%26%20Makeup&shndl=30&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3
