Meet Professional Hair & Makeup Artist Brittany Bailey, Owner of She Is Art Beauty
"This journey has made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I get to make people feel beautiful on their special days, and that’s priceless."
Portraying the essence of beauty as a true artist herself, Brittany authentically shares her journey where one courageous decision opened up the pathway to her dream job; a tale as colorful and dynamic as the palettes she loves. It is a place she never imagined she would ever be, yet, the place where she always belonged. Now completing up to 300 weddings a year as a professional hair and makeup artist, Brittany brought me back to the days when her passion for hair and makeup first sparked.
"I first started working as a makeup artist in college," she reminisces, her voice edging with excitement. "I was really into musical theater—that was my major, vocal performance. When you're performing on stage, you have to get ready and do all the glam beforehand!” she smiles. “That's where I found my love for makeup. I would do my own makeup, then slowly, I started doing everyone else's makeup and hair. It was just so fun!”
Brittany’s passion and love for all things beauty truly blossomed during her time at ULTA Beauty, where she worked as a manager during her senior year of college. "That’s when I got to know about certain products and brands. We had free makeup given to us, which was amazing as a broke college student!” she says, laughing. “It was a dream job at the time.”
Alongside college and working at ULTA, Brittany landed her first wedding makeup job. As she relates about the experience, she admits, "I was so nervous, I initially declined! But my friend really trusted me. I ended up loving it!" Shortly after graduation, Brittany began working with Estée Lauder, later becoming the Cosmetic Manager at Dillard's. During this time, Brittany had the opportunity to train and work with prestigious brands like MAC, Clinique, and Lancôme. “It’s just really cool because I feel like it kind of brought me full circle with what I currently do,” she says. Though she had already styled numerous brides, she hadn't yet transitioned to a full-time makeup career.
At the end of 2019, Brittany and her husband moved their life from Austin to Dallas, and she began working as the store manager for a family-owned boutique. "When COVID hit, the boutique I was managing shut down, and I was laid off,” she says. “A few months later, I went back, but it wasn't fulfilling... I told my husband I wanted to do makeup and hair full time because I’d already been doing that. I already knew, and I was really good at it. I worked there [the boutique] for as long as I could so I could save up enough money to start my own thing.”
In July 2020, the moment came, where with excitement and anticipation toward what lay ahead, Brittany took the leap of faith toward her vision which she had been patiently waiting and working for. She quit her job and went full-time as a hair and makeup artist. “It has been the best decision I’ve ever made,” she says happily. “I do what I love every single day, and it’s the best experience!”
For a bride on her wedding day, having an experienced and trustworthy hair and makeup artist is invaluable. Brittany's goal is for the bride to be stress-free. "Hair and makeup starts the [wedding] day on a positive note," she says. "It's special for the bride not to have to worry about a single thing." And since a bride's hair and makeup has to last for many hours, "we provide touch-up kits and even offer to stay through the wedding for additional touch ups," Brittany explains.
Brittany's voice brims with excitement as she recounts to me memorable moments from her career. "One of my most memorable experiences was a wedding in Cabo. The bride and groom were the coolest people I’ve ever met. It was in such a cool place, and I left there with friends! Of course, all of our brides are so special to us, but there are certain people you click with, and they were one of them that I'll never forget,” she shares. Another highlight she shares was working with the Texas Rangers during MLB All-Star week in Seattle. “I did one of the wives' hair and makeup for the red carpet... it was a surreal 'pinch me' moment being around players my husband has admired for years!"
I ask Brittany what her most challenging moments are as a pro artist. "Balancing everything is tough. I’m a mom, a wife, and a full-time makeup artist. It’s hard to find boundaries and take time off. I love what I do, so it’s difficult to turn off the makeup artist part of me. I’m still learning to balance it all, even three years into my business,” she says.
To upcoming artists and business owners in the professional hair and makeup industry, Brittany places importance on 3 key components. “Get your contract, website, and content strategy in order,” and continuing, she elaborates, “Say yes a lot at the beginning, and be willing to sacrifice your time! It takes a lot of hard work to get your name out there… be consistent, and don't give up. It just takes one person posting about you to blow up your business."
Brittany’s philosophy is centered on community over competition. "The wedding industry, especially in Dallas, is cutthroat,” she says, “But I believe in lifting other businesses up and working collaboratively. We can’t do our jobs without good planners, photographers, and other vendors! Reach out for help, ask questions, and form those priceless relationships."
Looking back at Brittany's career story, it is clear that her journey from a college student with a passion for makeup to a successful business owner was marked by hard work, dedication, and a genuine love for her craft. “When I started, I did not anticipate it turning into this big, booming business. Everything about the business has been so organic. We now do over 300 weddings a year and are still growing. We have teams in Austin, Dallas, Houston, California, and New York. I’m excited for where we’re headed. This is my most favorite job I've ever done. I don’t see myself retiring—I want to do this for the rest of my life," she says.
With each encounter and client experience, Brittany not only brings her incredible talent and skill with her but also her kind and genuine spirit. The love she has for people and her craft creates a beautiful space of trust, ease, and confidence for those who are in her chair, leaving an imprint on every person she meets. Her heart is to make the bride's day as stress-free as possible, and that is evident in the way she cares for each one of her clients.
Brittany adds, "This journey has made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I get to make people feel beautiful on their special days, and that’s priceless."
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She Is Art Beauty Website - www.sheisartbeauty.com
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