We were lucky to catch up with Desiree Hawkins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Desiree, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

This is actually a great question. Recently, I can say I’ve had my doubts. I have questioned if this is really for me and if I’m just chasing this impossible dream. I let the thought linger in my mind for about a week. I even talked to my boyfriend about it. One thing that stuck with me and kept me going was, how hard I worked to get here. Having your own business isn’t easy. Especially me being the only one in my family that is a beauty entrepreneur. If this is truly something that was not for me, everything else would have worked out the way it should have. Beauty is my passion and even on the worse day I have to remember to keep going. It’s a bad day not a bad life of career. I don’t see myself giving up because despite what people may think, I do have a real job.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Well my name is Desiree but I go by Desi. I’ve always been into art. I used to paint a lot in school and I went to school for audio engineering because I love music as well. But after college I wanted to get into makeup and here I am 5 years later and I still love it. It’s a craft and beautiful art to me.

I’ve been in the business 5 years now and 2 years full time. I offer everyday makeup and lash extensions to my clients while doing SFX makeup on myself and for productions.

Getting myself disciplined with my business was probably the hard part. I have ADD and anxiety so my bad days can be really bad especially if my mental health is not where it should be. I started doing things like making a schedule, making sure to post my work at least twice a day and made a routine for myself that was easy to get into.

My clients at this point are like family. I would say the biggest problems I solve for them would be simply helping them know what look is best for them. I take the time to explain and break everything down to them and how I will make it fit to work for them and by the end of it they love it. I always pride myself on educating my clients. No matter what they ask me I will tell them and if I don’t have an answer, I can do the research and get back to them. Each time a client leaves my chair, they also feel a confidence within themselves. I always tell my Belles; “You’re already beautiful, the makeup is just used to enhance what is there.” I want to help eliminate that negativity around makeup that need it to be beautiful. You’re already beautiful. You just have to see it in yourself.

The thing that I’m most proud of is that I kept going. This is a very cut throat industry. People will be your friend one day and suddenly your blocked the next day. You raise your prices and now some of your regulars go elsewhere not because they care about quality but the prices. You spent a lot of time wondering what to do and how to do it when you just have to do it.

The thing I want my potential clients to do is that, I love my craft and what I do. Also the moment they book they are in good hands. I play music during the appointments because some people don’t like talking and that’s ok. By the time you leave my chair I’m confident you’ll want to book again. But the biggest thing is that your appointments are a safe space. I’ve had clients that go through things and just need a hug or listening ear and I’m here for that as well.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Something I had to learn was that this is business and your feelings don’t need to be too involved.

I had this regular client and she was coming to see me maybe three times a week for her make up. We would laugh and talk and it was like service. Seeing a friend. We were very comfortable with each other and I would even squeeze her in if I could, I remember going up on my prices and of course majority of my clients they didn’t care about my prices being raised if anything, they even tell me now that they feel as though my prices are too low for my skill set. She being one of them so after a while , I noticed that she was coming less and less. I got on Facebook and I saw her and I saw someone else was doing her makeup. My first reaction was shock. Kinda hurt my feelings not going to lie. But then I talked to a couple of people that have been in the industry longer then me and they let me vent and once they let me vent, they gave me a reality check. I’m only a makeup artist to her and it won’t be the first or last time someone did that to me and they were right. I just take it as is and keep going.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started building my business with my own content actually. People loved the makeup I did on myself and it’s not the same makeup I offer. I do body paint, SFX and cosplay makeup. Before my Instagram was hacked I had 13k followers and that’s how people knew me. If you’re starting out you have to remember that you are the face of your brand. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and promote yourself if it’s something you really want to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://desiibelleartistry.as.me/
• Instagram: colorwithsenpaii / desibelle.artistry
• Facebook: Desibelle Artistry
• Twitter: desisenpaii
• Other: I have two instagrams. One for my content and the other for client content