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

Heather, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

That is a deep question, and honestly, every single entrepreneur I know thinks about it—myself included. Am I happier as a business owner? Unequivocally, yes. But that “yes” comes with the knowledge that it is a hell of a lot harder. I wouldn’t trade the flexibility or the power to set my own standards for anything. I love being able to choose my hours, my clients, and the direction of my business and work. That said, having a team – right now I have a team of 7 other stylists and artists – can feel like running a small circus, and there are days when the simplicity of a “regular job” feels like a spa day.

The Last Time the Thought Hit
The last time that thought truly came to me was about two weeks ago. It was a Tuesday in Autumn – the peak of event season. October – so many weddings and other events occur in October – October 18th is just a few weeks away, our busiest day of the month – but it will be here before you know it.

The Picture
I text one of my stylists to see if she is available October 19th for another client, the Sunday – I always double check even though I know their schedules, things always pop up. Thinking she will respond right away – yes – and then I would book the client. Nope. Not this time. I get a “I am away, I thought I told you. That is the week I am in California.”
Excuse me, what? She is booked the day before, October 18th. Going to Manhattan to do Helen’s hair and makeup – the Helen we had spoke about in August that requested her – she will be in from Illinois. I probably turned white, but no one was with me.
1. Logistics: How to get another artist (who’s probably already booked) – everyone I have on my team is booked and at a location not close enough to travel to Manhattan and back. Not an option.
2. Helen: I needed to reach out to her immediately as I knew we were not going to be able to accommodate, and I wanted her to have time to find a suitable replacement.
3. My Job: I need to be the boss. I need to rectify the situation at hand. The contract states if we cannot get a proper replacement, the client gets a refund. I have NEVER had to enforce that – but I did that day.
In that singular moment, dealing with a clerical mistake that my stylist made, but never does, but happened this time, while she had already received the email from me in August with all the information for October 18th for Helen, the thought flashed: “I could just clock in somewhere, do my five makeup applications, clock out, and not have a single care about what goes on behind the scenes or someone else’s booking error.”

The Insight
That brief, alluring fantasy of simplicity was just that—a fantasy. It was the desire to shed the weight of responsibility. But as quickly as it came, my deeper, truer feelings kicked in.
I realized what I was fighting was not the work of makeup application; it was the solitude of decision-making. When I worked alone, all I had to worry about was my brush and my time. Now, I worry about seven others and their schedules.

Here is the conclusion I came to:
I don’t actually want a regular job. I should get a Chief Operations Officer.
The thought wasn’t a desire to stop being an entrepreneur; it was a plea for more structure and support within my business. The struggle is not with being the boss; it is with being the sole manager, scheduler, accountant, therapist, and conflict resolution specialist for an entire team.
The reason I keep going back to loving my life is that control I have over my art, by business and my income. I love having built something that provides a fantastic experience for clients and provides reliable, creative work for seven other talented artists & stylists.
The solution wasn’t walking away; it was delegation and process refinement.
The pressure is still immense, but the trade-off—the freedom and the legacy I’m building—is worth the occasional meltdown. It just reminded me that having a team means I need a business infrastructure to match, not a one-person-show mentality.

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.

New York-based celebrity makeup artist Heather Spadaro, CEO, founder, and lead makeup artist of the Makeup + Hair Co. & The Beauty Circle, began her career 20 years ago behind a department store makeup counter. Now, many years later, her clients and work has been seen by millions on shows like NBC’s The Today Show, Bravo-TV, E! News and Dr. Oz. Besides her past TV and celebrity clientele, Heather is one of the top called-upon wedding makeup artists in suburban NYC and the local ‘bible’ to all things Westchester County, Westchester Magazine, crowned her (2012) & her former salon Glo Beauty Bar (2013, 2014, 2015) “Best of Westchester” by Reader’s Votes. As a professional makeup artist, she has shared many of her tips and tricks with blogs across the country, national magazines like Good Housekeeping, television shows and, of course, her clients.
Heather quickly determined that her calling was in the skincare and cosmetics world where she could create personalized makeup looks, as well as educate her clients with a personalized focus. Glo Beauty Bar was open in Mamaroneck, NY from June 2013 – January 2020 as a full service makeup & hair salon where she could bring her signature services to life! Heather’s unbelievable passion for the profession has provided her and her business with a great deal of accolades. After 6 and a half amazing years, she decided she wanted more. Her larger-than-life personality, eye for color and simple yet classic style has helped her get to where she is today. The Makeup & Hair Co. has brought Heather right back where she loves to be, bringing her services to her clients, in person, and The Beauty Circle brings her services to her clients virtually.

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

My biggest test of resilience came when I had to close my physical salon space. The overhead costs, combined with shifts in client and employee behavior, made the brick-and-mortar model unsustainable for me. I don’t consider it a failure, but a necessary realization that the traditional structure was holding me back. It was a tough moment to lock the doors and let go of the beautiful space I had built. However, instead of quitting, I viewed it as an opportunity to streamline and evolve. I pivoted to an on-location-only business. I invested in portable equipment, optimized my booking system, and doubled down on building relationships with clients who appreciated the convenience of services in their homes or at events.
This shift—this pivot—was the ultimate demonstration of resilience. It required letting go of an old vision to embrace a more flexible, profitable one. It not only allowed me to survive but actually thrive, proving that success isn’t about where you operate, but about the quality of the service and the ability to adapt. The new model required less stress and gave me greater control, ultimately making the business stronger.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

To keep in touch with my clients and foster brand loyalty – I use a two-pronged approach. First, I implement weekly beauty and skincare newsletters to provide consistent value and keep my brand top-of-mind. They go beyond simple sales pitches, they offer exclusive content like beauty tips, ingredient deep-dives, quick beauty hacks, and subscriber-only discounts.
Second, I prioritize staying real on social media by maintaining authenticity and transparency. This means I engage directly with comments and DMs as much as I can, and being in front of camera whenever I can. I also love to show behind-the-scenes content, and being honest about my brand’s values. I feel this builds a relatable and trustworthy community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://makeupandhair.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themakeuphairco/ and https://www.instagram.com/_thebeautycircle_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569575278655
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-spadaro-6200071a/