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

Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think it means putting 110% into your work! It means never getting stagnant and always continuing to learn and grow. As a makeup artist, I continue to be inspired by other artist’s work. I am constantly trying to uplevel! I do this by consistently taking makeup lessons from other artists I admire, I am constantly looking at ways to improve my systems when it comes to communicating with clients and the other artists on my team. I am always looking for ways to improve my website and social media. And I try to make sure I do the things I don’t especially love doing like writing a quarterly newsletter and making my makeup kit more efficient and compact.

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 am a San Diego based makeup artist specializing in enhancing women’s natural beauty, showcasing the client’s best features, and creating timeless looks that clients enjoy looking back on for years to come.

My passion for enhancing a woman’s beauty is the reason I became a makeup artist. I have spent the last decade helping my clients showcase their best features, making them feel confident and beautiful. I am known for creating classic looks that my clients will enjoy looking back on for years to come.

My background is in pharmaceutical sales. Prior to having my twin sons, I called on dermatologists for three years. This sparked my love of skincare and aesthetics. When I decided that I wanted to enter back into the workforce, I decided to follow my passion for makeup artistry. My first job in the field was working at a plastic surgeon’s office helping women cover up bruising and teaching them how to do makeup with their new features. I next moved onto working for a local brand running the retail store, managing the other makeup artists and continuing to cultivate my makeup clientele. I am currently a regional makeup artist for Trish McEvoy in addition to tending to my thriving freelance world in San Diego and the surrounding areas.

I am available for weddings, branding and family photo shoots and red carpet events. I provide light hair styling. For more intricate styles, I work with trusted hair stylists that I am confident recommending.

When I’m not doing makeup, I love working out! Bootcamp, swimming, running and pickleball with friends is how I spend my time away from the makeup chair.

Getting to know my clients is the icing on the cake, I love the friendships I have made along the way!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started my social media accounts,Instagram specifically, the summer of 2018 and I now have almost 1700 followers. I did not know the first thing about social media so I hired a social media consultant to teach me, she and I worked together for 2 years until she decided she did not want to be in that field. The two biggest takeaways; she taught me the importance of having an editorial calendar and that social media is a branding tool not necessarily a sales tool.

I ran my own social media from 2020 – 2023 and I just recently hired a social media manager to help me. I still feel it’s important to be involved in the copy, I really want my social media posts to have my voice. She helps me with planning and schedules the posts.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My google page! I was finding that my Yelp Reviews were being blocked so my business manager suggested I check out setting up a google page in which clients could post reviews and photos. Best decision ever! I now have 50 5 star reviews and consistently have clients tell me they found me from Google!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beautybyheatherarnold.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybyheatherarnold/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.arnold.733/
• Google Page: https://www.google.com/search?q=Beauty+By+Heather+Arnold&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAA_-NgU1I1qLAwSEk2ME9NTjUzSjM3NzC3MqgwMTBLM0g2T05JS7FIsjQ0XsQq4ZSaWFpSqeBUqeCRmliSkVqk4FiUl5-TAgCVcQyRRAAAAA&hl=en&mat=CSdFpwcUAgwmElcBl7_Ll05WI3oowE8R1mFfR4ACsP7ttYSuuJPL-hPiBQ6L4hUXn_0A9w83UdWUNmHWjf_1sVD-5UUldPxQzBWtZbAA0W4ntpzWGh9qhKS3feqTch9C-F4aCAcF_I27rzJV&authuser=0#ip=1

Image Credits
meg marie photography (Heather) Mandy Moore Photography (Last two images) Allie Lindsay Photography (Boudoir) Chasing Light TV (Bridal) Holly Ireland Photography (Girl in pink Dress) Michelle Lilly White (Woman in white with Pitcher)