Today we’d like to introduce you to Danecha’ McKisset.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure, My name is Danecha’ and I’m a licensed Esthetician & owner of Kiss Me Pretty. I loved the freedom of expression makeup gave me. The beauty industry never crossed my mind as a career. I became a certified threader while pregnant with my daughter. College wasn’t for me, so I began to explore other avenues. I joined a makeup group and started shadowing artists to enhance my skills. Then I started getting gigs doing makeup for Morgan State fashion shows, Western High School Fashionettes, Proms & Baltimore Fashion Week. In 2015 I enrolled in Esthetics school and graduated the following year with two jobs in my field. While employed, I was a SPONGE and studied everything from services to business operations. I had finally found my independence & truly felt fulfilled. 12/7/17 changed my life forever, I lost EVERYTHING when my apartment burned down. This was such a pivotal time for me because in the midst of tragedy, something in me said “Go Harder, what else do you have to lose?” I took a CRAZY leap of faith and quit my job to pursue my business full-time. No consistent clients, no nothing, just a wing, and a prayer.
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?
Absolutely not! I started and stopped this journey several times before I realized the power of my gift. I was a teen mom, I lost very important people along the way, and being in the beauty industry back then wasn’t taken seriously. More than anything I think the toughest part is remaining consistent when you don’t see the results you’d like right away. Entrepreneurship is a slow grind, meaning it takes time to build.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in “BombBrowsOnly™️” and soft glam makeup. My brand was built on eyebrow threading and tinting services. When I started, there wasn’t any African American women offering threading services so that alone made me stand out. I’m proud of the way I’ve set my own path and have been able to reach back and help other women get started in the brow industry. So now I’m really in a space of scaling my business while continuing to find new ways to educate others about my area of expertise.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Always be a student. Be teachable. It’s okay not to know everything. Be confident and willing to have conversations with people in your industry who are in the spaces you aspire to be in. I literally just start conversations whether it be online or in person! Just in doing that, I’ve made business relationships and eventually friendships with some amazing bosses that have poured into and uplifted me. You need community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kiss-me-pretty.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kissmepretty_mua
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kissmepretty_mua
Image Credits
Austin Hill
