Meet Raelynne Rose | Hair & Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raelynne Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raelynne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started doing makeup during high school on friends for school dances and such. The funny thing is, I never saw it as me starting a business. My parents just didn’t want to fund my makeup obsession anymore and told me I needed to find a way to buy my own makeup. Instead of getting a job like any regular person, I would ask my friends or “clients” at the time to buy their own foundation and I would do their makeup for free, but I would keep it. I ended building up a small kit that way, using my own eyeshadows. It definitely wasn’t ideal, but I guess it was my hustle to keep practicing something I loved. I didn’t consider it a business until years later. I went to makeup school and wanted to learn more about making money from this craft I was so passionate about. I was fortunate enough to meet wonderful people who would book me for photoshoots and other events, but I still didn’t feel like I was getting enough work, so I would get so nervous when people wanted to trust me to do their makeup for their weddings. Once I felt more comfortable with makeup, I was losing out on gigs because I couldn’t do hair. I taught myself hair by watching youtube videos, going to classes, and just saying yes to everything to challenge myself. I was determined to keep practicing so I got a job at a makeup counter and would just try to sit people down to do makeovers as much as possible. Once I left cosmetics in 2018, I decided I really needed to get serious about this business that was already 10 years in the making.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Southern California-based Hair and Makeup Artist. I would say that my style is understated makeup, with a focus on enhancing natural beauty. When I do a consultation, I try to get to know them as a person and their lifestyle. I also always ask what draws them to particular photos of hair & makeup so we can really get to the root of their vision to curate a look that highlights their favorite features. This sets realistic expectations, rather than trying to replicate the exact inspiration photos they send. In the middle of the service, I explain what Im doing and will throw in tips on how to modify the techniques for every day looks and I’ve been very fortunate to keep in touch with many of my clients for years after so I’m able to continue helping them whether in makeup lessons or other events.

I started this journey because of this passion I had for the art. It was never about transforming women into unrecognizable, glammed up versions of themselves, but to just see the glow on their faces when they finally see the beauty I and their loved-ones see without the makeup. I wouldn’t say that my path here was easy, I worked very hard. I used to do weddings early in the morning, then go to work by lunch until 10 or 11 pm at night. The longest stretch of work without a day off was 41 days between this and the two other jobs I had at the time. I didn’t know how to make contracts or set boundaries, so I would end up getting last-minute cancellations or added services the day of and not knowing how to charge or keep track of the total amount. It was a lot of trial and error before solidifying a process that worked for me.

I want to continue to build a community of artists. I genuinely love to be able to refer clients to other artists that I trust when I can’t take them myself. I also love to help new artists avoid the mistakes I made when I was younger and help them set guidelines for their contracts and teach them service time management. I l believe that when we work together, we continue to grow together. Everyone wins.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First I’d start with coffee at Verve or Aroma di Roma in Long Beach. We would go to Santa Monica Pier and do some shopping around the Promenade. I’d take her to the arts district and have lunch at Urth Caffe and walk around Belmont shore to hang out at the bars out there. I’d make sure to visit a few museums while she’s out here for the photo ops but also take her on some hikes so she can see the full city. I love that LA has so much versatility. My actual best friend would probably just want to get a massage and relax on the beach somewhere, but I enjoy the fact that if she wanted to actually explore, there are so many options

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out the wonderful people I’ve had the opportunity to work with early on in my journey. I have built my business primarily off of referrals and I am so grateful to you all for spreading the word! I also want to mention my friends in high school that let me practice different looks on your faces back then and then again years later, trusting me for your weddings and special events. Last but not least, I want to shout out my daughter, Chanel! Thank you for always being the best assistant and my biggest cheerleader for the last decade. The woman I continue to strive to be, she’s inspired by you.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raelynneroseartistry/

Image Credits
Photographers: Joe Kim, D. Chanel, Nick Lie, Sheri Angeles, Glenn Clancy