Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brazil Raine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brazil, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
Thanks for having me! My parents were amazing at teaching my siblings and I the value of hard work. My dad did manual labor since he was a young kid, which showed me to work hard for what I want. Because of this I started babysitting as early as I can remember and I got my first job at a catering company when I was 12. I actually lied about my age to get the job!
Brazil, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been a luxury makeup and hair artist for over a decade now and it’s my absolute dream job! I’ve also been an artist mentor and educator for 8 years.
The first time I expressed interest in makeup was at 4th grade career day when a local TV/film makeup artist came in and showed us how to do bullet wounds and scab makeup. It was super gross but SO cool to me! After that I desperately wanted to be a makeup artist. When I was 12 I asked for digital camera for my birthday so I could document my makeup looks. I’d spend whole days painting my face in cool colors and weird designs then I’d photos, wipe it off, and start all over again.
I got my real start working in cosmetic retail in management for ULTA Beauty when I was 19 and then I became a regional artist for Smashbox Cosmetics. Eventually I began traveling to New York and Miami to do collaborative test shoots and I fell in LOVE with everything about Miami. My husband and I sold our house in June 2019 and signed a lease for a place in Surfside in September 2019.
Most of my work days are now spent on production sets or photoshoots for different types of commercial clients. I also see luxury private clients all over South Florida.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Sure! Just like so many people across the globe, the COVID-19 Pandemic really crapped on work for me. I’m most proud of my resilience and ability to push through that difficult time so shortly after relocating to Miami. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to do makeup and hair on set again. Thankfully we had a little nest egg and my husband worked hard to keep us afloat during that time. As soon as I was able to I went right back at it and things have grown so much! I’m very proud to be a Miami makeup artist and grateful to do what I love in a city that makes me so happy.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
When it comes to makeup and hair artists I think business training is an essential resource we should all utilize. I have taken specialized business courses and had mentors through every part of my career and I know I wouldn’t be the business boss lady that I am if it weren’t for that. So many artists start off completely lost when it comes to creating client estimates, pricing services, establishing and enforcing booking policies, and most importantly, how to get paid and paid well. You can be the most technically talented artist on the planet but if you don’t know how to conduct business in a way that shows your value, you will always undercut yourself and the industry.
The most important thing I can suggest to makeup and hair artists is to get a great mentor, take business classes, and lean on the advice of the artists doing the work you want to do. If you’re an artist looking for mentorship and training, I offer specialty classes for every level of artist, including how to do makeup and hair, but also how to conduct yourself as a business person in the beauty world.
Contact Info:
- Website: brazilraine.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/brazil.raine/
- Facebook: facebook.com/brazilrainemakeupartist
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brazil-raine-makeup-artist-miami-beach-5
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brazil.raine?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Photo by Nicole Le Bris (my photo) Beauty shots by me, Brazil Raine Photo of Valentina Rueda (animal print) by Megane Claire