Nashville

         When you hear "Nashville, Tennessee" two words, country music, come to mind.  Yes in the last year the television show Nashville has taken off as well, so maybe that was your first thought?  Growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio and spending my entire life in North East Ohio, Nashville is the city I dream of living in someday.  My Mom was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee and some of her family still live there.  As kids, we traveled extensively to the South.  I was country before it was cool.  My Uncle Wayne had a small ranch home which sat in front of his barn.  He owned a horse and many other farm animals.  We really got to see the countryside.  My Grandparents moved the family to Ohio in 1957 as it was a state with huge job growth.

                 I now live in the suburbs of Cleveland in the snow belt of Ohio.  The city sits near the lake and we can get clobbered with bad weather.  As an adult, I don’t partake in winter activities and HATE winters since we get five months of it here.  In the last few years, Cleveland is on the comeback but the economy has taken a HUGE hit.  As a makeup artist I could make three times more what I do now in Chicago or NYC, but I don’t want to live there.  WHY?  I want to live in Nashville.  There is more work for me there, it is the hub of country music, and has an energy that can’t be described.  An added bonus is the kind people of Tennessee; it has a family friendly atmosphere, and NO snow!  In the last few years, I have been networking in Nashville to set the stage for my future move.

                

I am a firm believer in sending  positive thoughts out into the universe with the hope they will come true.  My family knows I want to move and my friends keep asking when I am moving.  So why haven’t I?  Timing!  I am not twenty anymore and my life isn’t just about me.  Last year, my partner and I did travel there so I could sell him on the city.  A few years back, I took my kids and they loved it.  This year I will visit again with leisure in mind, but I might schedule a small photo shoot while in town.

                I think the television show Nashville has pushed me to have a greater desire to be part of the country industry. Would I miss Cleveland? Maybe, but I would be following my dream. This dream has been there for many years. In addition, our friends could always come and escape the gloom of Cleveland  winters and visit us.  One thing I have learned in my past is we can set goals and make all the plans we want, but then God laughs and we realize he is still in charge.  For now I will continue to work in the Buckeye state taking my coat and boots along to all of my shoots waiting for the right time to move on.

So cold in March, with singer Erica Lane

Summertime! I am  in a hoodie at the beach...No lie!
Eric Mull photo

Mascara Mania

 On February 12, 2013 I was on Live On Lakeside WKYC/NBC  to talk about mascara. Below are my tips  about the product  and the link to the segment for  the show.

Do:
1. Curl your lashes, make sure they are free of mascara. Use the curler three times on each eye lash. First the root then  shaft and end ten seconds for each motion.
2. Apply mascara at the root, wiggle product as close to lid as you can. Pull product through to the ends.
3. Apply only two coats on the lash,don't let the first coat dry do both coats on the  eye at once.
4. Separate lashes before they dry. 
5. Clean up marks on your eyelids and under the eye if they smear.


Don't:

1. Don't pump your wand in the tube it will cause air and deposit too much color on the wand causing clumps.
2. Don't hang onto your mascara if you had an eye infection, it will harbor bacteria for another infection. 
3. Don't keep your mascara for longer than three months, it starts to dry out and you also risk eye infections. 
4. Don't pull at lashes while removing. Instead use a saturated cotton pad with remover or makeup remover wipes and hold on the lash for ten seconds, then wipe down and out. 
5.Don't  wear waterproof makeup everyday. It is too harsh and will damage your lashes. Water resistant is a great alternative. 


Another great tip is to wear two different colors of mascara, black on the top lashes three quarters out then  brown on the tips. This will give the illusion of thick and long lashes. 
 Also If your lashes are sparse consider a eyelash growth product. 

http://archive.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=283258

Live on Lakeside WKYC/NBC

On January 15, 2013 I was asked to be on Live On Lakeside, it's our local morning show in Cleveland. Below  is a link to see my segment on must have beauty products. Please contact me to purchase the Z Pallet or any  Image skincare. 


http://www.wkyc.com/video/2096127336001/1/Karen-Siat-Must-Have-Beauty-Buys1513

Makeup Vs. No Makeup

Photo credit: Bouncing Light

   I was watching an episode of Katie Couric's show a few weeks back and she had author Phoebe Baker Hyde on the show discussing her book, The Beauty Experiment: How I Skipped Lipstick, Ditched Fashion, Faced the World Without Concealer, and Learned to Love the Real Me. Phoebe swore off all beauty for a year to outgrow the fantasy of feminine perfection and find a spot where she felt comfortable. This meant she gave up makeup, jewelry, salon visits, and new clothes. She also cut her hair short in a men’s style.

   On the show that day, Katie wore no makeup and asked audience members not to as well. Katie wasn't comfortable being on the show without the makeup at all. Katie discussed how society has influenced our belief system on makeup. The show demonstrated the results of an experiment. It filmed an actress, dressed well and in makeup, as she stood outside of a store and asked people for directions or to borrow their phone. Many stopped to hear the actress’ request and most let her use the phone and even made small talk with her. Later the show recreated the scenario using the same girl, this time without the nice clothes and makeup. Almost all walked by ignoring her. One man dialed the phone for her and many just said, “No!” when asked to borrow their phone.


   This prompted me to ask my female friends on Facebook if they wear makeup and, if so, why. Also I asked the men if they think women should wear a little makeup or none at all. Since the statistics say women spend $12,000.00 a year on beauty products and services, I wanted to ask around. My friends are pretty diverse and many said they wear a little makeup. Most said mascara and lip color are a must. Many said they like to cover their skin imperfections and like how they feel wearing it. One friend said she looks like crap without it and that made me laugh. The men replied saying a little is good. They like lip gloss. One male friend said, “It should complement women’s features much like a tie does to a suit.”

   In my career I have had female clients say, “My other half doesn’t like it when I wear makeup.” Is it that or are they scared I will make them look like a clown? Could it be when they put on makeup, they look like a clown? Or is it that their other half is just a clown? All joking aside, I think as women we do need to find our HAPPY spot. No makeup can cover internal scars. No makeup can hide unhappiness. We have to find that center, as Phoebe did, then use makeup to enhance our features.

   In society, many prejudge a person before they know them. Perhaps a gal has on too much makeup just because the lighting is bad in her bathroom. Limited makeup may be because the inexperienced girl doesn’t know how to apply it, so she opts out on any. In my profession, you wouldn’t want to see me looking like a hot mess and then trust that I can make you look amazing. This is no different than going to an interview in dirty jeans and t-shirt and expecting to be taken seriously. So I guess we are influenced by looks. If you find you dislike makeup, it is OK! I am sure your personality will compliment your look. If you do love makeup, set aside a budget and have fun wearing it.

Photo credit: Doug Treiber

MIP Cleveland 2013

         

    Cleveland Magazine has its 2013 Most Interesting People issue on newsstands now. This cover was shot at Eric Mull’s studio where I have been working at for the last eight years. Being on home turf has its advantages, especially for the GREAT natural light. The cover features five of Cleveland's Most Interesting People. Those faces include: Elisa Amigo News Anchor from FOX 8 Cleveland, Julie Foucher runner up in the 2012 Reebok Cross Fit Games, Russ Mitchell News Anchor for WKYC Channel 3, Vanni Wang a fashion designer, and Chef Rocco Whalen restaurant owner.



      I asked my talented cousin Stephanie Johnson to once again assist me on hair duties, so I could focus on makeup. As the art director Kristen Miller showed us the posing of the celebrities, Eric l fine tuned the back drop. Once everyone filed in, we directed them to a place to park and hang up their belongings. As I worked on Alicia, Rocco arrived with many pizzas from his restaurant in hand. After smelling the aroma, I was very disappointed that I have Celiac's Disease and can't eat pizza carry out anymore. Everyone was eager to get started and then lunch followed.



   In the past I met Rocco in our studio, although, he is actually from Mentor, OH where I also reside. I chatted with him about mutual friends as I applied his makeup. Russ Mitchell and I met back in the spring when he first moved to Cleveland. I was on set of WKYC/NBC’s show Good Company and he was a guest that day. He is a real leader in the news business and a true asset to the station. I had never met any of the women before, but found them to be a breath of fresh air.



   Vanni arrived in an AMAZING red dress, which she designed, and wore some very hot shoes for this cover shot. As I worked, Elisa and Russ chatted about recent news stories and Julie was a real sport to try on multiple dresses until one was chosen. As they all began getting into their wardrobes, Rocco’s bow tie started to get a lot of attention as did Vanni’s coat. We wanted to make sure everything is just right.



    I popped in and out of the photo to fix Julie’s hair a few times and then posed as if I was the sixth person in the photo. Eric caught on and I laughed telling Kristen, “I just wanted another cover girl moment for 2013.” The process of getting one to pose seems easy, but it took about an hour before the pizza could be eaten. Attached are some photos from the day. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of Cleveland Magazine and read in detail why these five people are some of Cleveland’s Most Interesting.

2013 MIP Cleveland Magazine

Me and Russ Mitchell 

Rocco with lunch

It's a Wrap!

So it is the end of 2012 already.  When I started writing this blog 23 months ago, I didn’t realize how much fun it would become for me.  I wanted it to be different than a blog full of beauty advice and tons of boring product photos.  Instead, I wanted to reveal the behind the scenes look at my life as a working makeup artist in a smaller market.  I hoped to help aspiring artists reach for their dreams.  This year I started out with a list I wanted to accomplish and, to be honest, my list turned out boring compared to what actually happened!

I was hired to be Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs’ makeup artist while she was hot off of the reality show Celebrity Apprentice.  I was part of Cleveland Fashion Week.   Then I was asked to be a feature career on The Career Zoo.com.  I had my own “Cover Girl” moment on the June cover of Cleveland Magazine.  I was also was part of a music video production in Hudson, Ohio.   Along the way, I was able to meet and apply makeup on many local celebrities, brides, and models to make their shoot or day picture perfect.

I am looking forward to this coming year.  I am currently looking for an assistant to work side by side with me on projects and have some other ideas in the works.  If you are thinking about becoming a makeup artist, I encourage you to do so.  It truly is a fun career.  Sometimes I even forget I am working!  I love addressing a client’s beauty challenges and then educating him or her about products that work best.  Seeing someone smile after I apply their makeup is very fulfilling.  I am proud of my little blog.  Finally, I do want to thank my friend and editor Christina Soltesz Peterson for her time in helping me with Sparkle and Shine. You’re the best!  For this year, it’s a wrap.  I can’t wait to see what next year brings for me and what I will share with you.

My June cover girl moment on Cleveland Magazine.

Me and Christina

Cleveland Fashion Week

thecareerzoo.com

Beauty Shows

I can follow trends in magazines or on the web, but the best way to experience what is happening in the beauty field is by taking part in it. On Columbus Day I was in Columbus, Ohio at the Premiere Beauty Classic. It is a two day beauty show, in which vendors and educators attend to tell participants what to expect in the coming season.I haven’t been to this show in almost eight years, but know it is always a good one to attend. Many stylists go to shows to get their CE (Continuing Educating) hours for the Ohio State Cosmetology Board.  About ten years ago, the Ohio State Board enacted a ruling that hair stylists needed to keep up their skills by going to classes but, to be honest, I feel it is a ploy to showcase the manufactures and sell their line of products. Some of the classes are not informative and are cut short.  Many are not hands on either.

I hold an Ohio State Barber License as well. When the new law about CE hours started, I put my cosmetology license in escrow. When I went to the beauty supply store, the clerk said, “If you have a license in escrow, I can’t allow you to purchase products.” I laughed and said, “Well I have a barber license I maintain, which doesn’t require CE hours to be completed for the State Board. Why is that? Is it because the barbers (mostly men) don’t want to gather at a hair show on a Sunday when sports are on?” She laughed and said, “You just might be right.”  I now keep my cosmetology license up because I do makeup in salons and need it.

While there, I did take a class on eyelash extensions and I think before long I will be providing this service. I am asked many times a week if I can do this for my clients and think it is time to add it to my resume. The results are AMAZING! An hour class just wasn’t enough for my curiosity.  I have tried lash growth products in the past.  I love the results, but extensions are fast to do and one gets immediate results. During the day, I walked around for hours checking out products, services, and trends. I went alone, so I didn’t have to have a schedule and was able to get in what I wanted to see. The public is not allowed to attend these hair shows.

It is nothing but fun times while people watching at this event. Adults wearing tutus, many tattoos, and bright colored Mohawks around. Loud music was playing at Michael O’Rourke’s booth called Rock your Hair. Michael is an iconic figure in the beauty business.  With his associates in tow, they made haircutting look really cool on stage. Paul Mitchell had an amazing stage where they, too, brought their best talent out to educate stylists. Hair extensions, self-tanning products, teeth whitening products, and henna art proved to be hot booths to visit as well. I’ve attached some photos from the day for you to enjoy because it was a closed door event. I wish I had more, but I didn’t want to invade anyone’s space for the sake of my blog. Just take my word on this… if you decide to go with blue or pink hair this fall, try the fake color removable extensions first because you may not want to look like Katy Perry full time.

Rock your Hair

Blue Mohawk

Paul Mitchell

Moroccanoil