We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alysha Wehunt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alysha below.

Alright, Alysha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I first decided makeup was my passion (back in 2011) it wasn’t as popular because Instagram was fairly new. There were only a handful of known makeup artists and it didn’t matter how many followers you had. It mattered how much you worked at your craft and the genuine relationships you built. So I made the decision to drop out of college in Orlando and move to New York to pursue my dream of being a celebrity makeup artist. I came from a really small town where a lot of people Thought my dream was crazy and far fetched, and maybe it was! But I was determined and hungry. I have always been the kind of person where if plan A, B, C doesn’t work, there a whole alphabet to work through. Eventually hard work and consistency pays off. So I worked my butt of, I took any makeup job I could Get, I assisted, I took makeup classes, paid and free, I soaked up all the experience I could and eventually great jobs happened for me. Moving from a small town with two stop lights to one of the busiest and most difficult cities to make it in is not for the weak. It will chew you up and spit you out if you aren’t ready to give it everything you got.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always been very artsy, since I was in elementary school. I picked up makeup when I was in high school to help learn how to hide my acne. I had such awful acne in my teen years and I was very self conscious about it. From there I just fell in love with it! As I got older my friends and family would always comment on how good I did my own makeup and ask me to do theirs. After doing makeup on others It clicked for me…. This made me the happiest I had been, I wanted to do this the rest of my life.
Once I moved to New York and started getting experience working for paid clients, the opportunities were abundant! I started branching into different forms
of makeup, I wanted to know as much as I could in the industry, and as of 2022 I have 10 years experience in event, print, runway, Sfx, Theatrical, & TV/film makeup. I’ve worked for New York fashion week, magazines, celebrities, movies, commercial work, worldwide events, and more!
I moved back to Florida, my home state, when covid hit in 2020. It shut down New York as many know and my move home was suppose to be temporary just until everything opened back up in New York, but that took longer than expected. Shortly after moving back here my business and clientele blossomed. I registered my business, “Alysha Desiree Artistry LLC” and I am working everyday to keep building it up the right way. I am SO grateful to all my
Supporters and clients. 90% of my business comes from Referrals and I am so proud of that. I am also a 5star rated business with over 40+ Authentic reviews.
Because of the success I’ve had in large part to my clients I have been able to branch off into other services, I also offer light hair styling, lash lift and tint, shopping consultations, lessons for regular clients and aspiring artists, and i have a small team of other makeup artist and hair stylists who assist me on big bookings such as weddings. I plan to continue to grow my business as much as I can.

There are so many talented amazing artists out there, as beauty has become so popular in the last 10 years, but
I will say, I do feel like I set myself apart by my extensive resume, experiences,
Consistency and investments both in myself and my business. I pride
Myself on my dedication and morals. I will always do my best to do right by my clients. I just want to make everyone feel like the best version of themselves.

Any advice for managing a team?

There is a fine line between being a likeable boss and being a good boss. I like to think I’m both and do well balancing that. I have conducted handling a team mostly by using my own experiences working under someone else. What they did that I didn’t agree with, or I thought was unfair, what they did that I felt didn’t work well or maybe I thought there was as easier way. Every decision I make for my business and my team I think back to those things. I weigh the pros and cons of each decision I make for them. One thing I was forsure on when I started building my team was I wanted to make it understood that I was the boss, but at the same time handle situations and conversations where they understood I make these calls with their best interest in mind. I also knew it was extremely important to me to make sure I paid them very fairly, as when I worked for others back before I started my business I always felt underpaid and in turn undervalued which made me not care to do my best and definitely not go out of my way for the employer.
So I make it known to my team that their valued, they will always be respected and heard, and compensated comfortably for the work they do. It’s always stressed to them how much I appreciate them after every service they work with for me, and I always give credit where credit is due.
When an employee feels valued, they don’t want to leave. They are loyal.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Picking up and moving from FlorIda to New York is the best most intriguing part of my journey. There is so many amazing experiences I’ve had along the way but a whollleeee lot of bumps in the road also. Shoot, New York it’s self is a big bump in the road! Lol For the first couple years I was there I could barely afford to eat. I would eat crackers and ramen noodles for days straight because that’s all I could afford, All my money went to paying to commute on the trains, and rent. It was so hard to get use to the much higher costs for everything, and being alone. I was only 21 at this point. I had to pound the pavement to get every opportunity I got up there in the beginning. Eventually I got situated and jobs started happening for me but it most certainly didn’t happen over night! There were so many times I’d think maybe I made the wrong decision leaving my comfortable life, my family and friends in florida and coming to literally one of the hardest cities to make it in, but At the end of the day i always convinced myself to stay because I knew there could
Be brighter days, that my dream was at my fingertips if I just kept pushing. I am so grateful I followed through and moved away from my home town. Yes it was definitely hard, but it made me look at life and the world so differently. So many lessons, good and bad. I definitely don’t think I’d be as determined and as hard working if I had never moved there. It helped make me who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alyshadesireeartistry.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/ad.artistry
• Facebook: Facebook.com/alyshadesireeartistry

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