Today we’d like to introduce you to Davee Latoya.
Hi Davee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for beauty started unnoticeably during my junior year of high school when my older cousin surprised me on my 18th birthday with a makeover at the MAC counter. I absolutely loved my experience and the environment at the MAC counter, but most of all I loved how they enhanced my natural beauty and how amazing I felt wearing makeup. I still felt like myself but a better and even more beautiful version. After that experience I started wearing makeup more often, watching youtube videos on the daily, and then practicing makeup applications on my older sisters. I soon learned that I loved makeup so much that it was a stress reliever for me, so when I got overwhelmed with school work, I would lean on makeup to ease my mind. After graduating in 2014 as a high school student from the International Baccalaureate Program, and then attending Wesley College for a brief amount of time. I soon left Wesley because I was so mentally drained from taking accelerated courses in high school. So, my mom encouraged me to take a short mental break to decide what I really wanted to do with my life. During that time, I would watch different beauty influencers on youtube and I would buy makeup products to try on myself and sisters. I then started researching how to become a professional makeup artist: what skills and qualifications I needed in order to work for my favorite makeup brands, at the time was MAC Cosmetics, NARS, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Urban Decay. After researching and deciding that makeup artistry was the path I wanted to take, I enrolled in the makeup artistry course at Bennett Career in Washington, DC which is one of the best cosmetology schools in the area, and in August 2015 I became a certified makeup artist.
My passion was to become a beauty expert not only to apply makeup professionally but to educate people about makeup and aid them in feeling better about their appearances by developing self-confidence. Initiating my career as a professional makeup artist in 2015, my focus was to build skills and clientele with women and men of various backgrounds. I achieved this focus by working for multiple cosmetic companies such as MAC, NYX, Bobbi Brown, and Kevyn Aucoin by developing personal relationships with clients to create a space of comfortability. My end goal was not just to educate people about makeup but to create a euphoric and therapeutic environment so that individuals would have an enhanced social confidence.
Ultimately, as you can see, I became infatuated by the beauty industry and strived to become a beauty expert. To become an expert, with motivation from clients, I began providing additional services that were inside of the beauty industry. I strived to receive the Lash stylist, brow tint and threading, and laser technician certification so that I could offer more services. These certifications allowed me to comfortably inform my clients of the services and properly answer any questions or concerns.
Being an entrepreneur comes with great opportunities and challenges. One of many opportunities that I have experienced while being a professional makeup artist is knowing that I can provide my services for multiple occasions. Bridal makeup has been my most popular and booked service that I offer, and I enjoy every moment of it. I am beyond ecstatic to know that I have been chosen to make important chapters in my clients’ lives memorable. Another great opportunity I’ve had is working alongside one of my mentors, celebrity makeup artist Melanie Mills, representing her makeup brand at multiple tradeshows and becoming a part of her team. Working the tradeshows and being able to be in the presence of other great makeup artists such as Melanie Mills, Daness Myricks, AJ Crimson, James Vincent and more was beyond amazing and memorable.
My name is Davee Latoya the owner of DVL Glam & Aesthetics™, LLC. I am now a published makeup artist, offering makeup services primarily in the DMV area. I am so proud of my beginning stages that led me to where I am today. I’m looking forward to working with my existing clients, new clients, and my 2022 wedding experiences!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, my makeup career has been quite smooth so far. The struggle just like most experts I have is wanting every experience to be perfect.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional makeup artist that specializes in bridal and soft glam makeup applications. I am known for my soft glam technique, even though it’s a makeup application, it still allows you to feel and look like yourself. I’m most proud of my bridal glam services because it allows me to create and have memorable experiences with my clients. My passion for helping people enhance their natual beauty sets me apart from others because I strive to learn my clients’ concerns and frustrations, and in that learning, I aim to help create comfortability so that my clients would have an enhanced social confidence.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love everything about the DMV area. Baltimore is very unique and diverse in many ways. I think I more so love the old architecture of Baltimore, so beautiful.
I have no dislikes about Baltimore or the rest of the DMV area.
Pricing:
- (Bridal Makeup Services, Bride-$200)
- (Bridal Makeup Services, Bridesmaids- $125
- Travel Makeup Services- $200, starting
- Soft Glam-$100
- Bold Glam-$125
Contact Info:
- Email: dvl.glam@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvl.glam/
Image Credits
@dommiecole
@chipdizard
@stunningsoirees
@heyal_belllee
@thomaskirk
