We recently connected with Jade Parks-dixon and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jade thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

It’s crazy to think it’s been eight years since I had my first client. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was months away from my 30th birthday. I was a single mom of the most amazing five-year-old little girl. I was also approaching my eighth year of employment with Los Angeles County, where I had worked for an outpatient healthcare clinic. My mother was a nurse, and ironically, she passed away in 2002 from complications from diabetes. This disease plowed through my family, claiming the lives of my great-grandmother, grandmother, aunts, and uncles. It was our generational curse. I told myself that I hated healthcare facilities and that I would never work in one. Yet here I was, entering year eight. I knew I was called to do something different, something greater. I was afraid though. Afraid of rejection, failure, judgment, success, wealth. I cared so much about what people thought of me. I’m a creative and I’m very sensitive about the things I create.

Before working for LA County, I worked as a clerk in the parts department of an auto dealership. I was 18/19 years old and had only worked for a department store in the mall. I was attending our local community college trying to figure out who I wanted to be. I decided to take a screenwriting class. I’ve been a storyteller since I could remember so the idea of telling them on screen intrigued me. I knew I loved watching movies and plays but I guess I didn’t realize it could be a career. What’s more, I didn’t see anyone in this space that looked like me. I started writing scripts but I kept it hidden. I began secretly applying to screenwriting competitions and fellowships but I let fear stop me. I got discouraged after years of rejections so I closed my laptop. I started playing in makeup, watching YouTube tutorials to pick up tips and tricks. My sister and cousins took notice and they started to ask if I would do their makeup for birthdays, baby showers, and proms. I happily agreed. It gave me the opportunity to practice. I fell in love with makeup. It brought me so much joy to make others feel beautiful in the same way it made me feel fulfilled when crafting stories. When I picked up a brush, I felt creative, inspired, and empowered. I was taking a blank canvas and adding elements to make it more beautiful. It’s transformative and seeing the end result gave me a feeling I didn’t know I’d grow to love so much.

A woman was referred to me by an old high school mate. She was attending a wedding. It was a Saturday, May 14th, 2016. I had also planned a “content day” before we knew what that even meant. I had a few ladies coming to hang out, get their makeup done, and have their pictures taken. Today was the day I was officially launching my on-site makeup artistry! I booked a one-bedroom suite at Embassy Suites in Palmdale, California. I invested money from my paychecks to build my kit. I had a mixture of MAC, NYX, and Maybelline cosmetics. Most of my brushes were by Morphe, BH Cosmetics, and E.L.F. I was all about affordability and efficiency. I had no idea what prestige brands were (nor could I afford them) back then. I just knew I wanted to use quality products to service a variety of skin tones. My ultra-talented sister, Winter, showed up early to decorate. She was also posing as one of my models. My cousin, Temperance, loaned me her very expensive camera for the day. My sister from another mister, Shirkayla, was my shooter capturing before, after’s, and all the BTS footage. My auntie Dapheny referred a model, a work friend’s daughter, to have her makeup done. My daughter’s sitter, Lola, made a delicious fruit and cheese display for us to snack on. Her daughter, Asia, posed as one of my models. Winter’s best friend, Jasmine, stopped by to pose as a model as well. The ladies brought the vibes and we talked and laughed as soft music played in the background.

Before the event, I met a beautiful woman with caramel-colored skin at my apartment. I did a quick consult with her to get an idea of the makeup look she was going for. She told me that the wedding was black tie and that there would be a red-carpet theme so guests would be photographed as they arrived. She said that was the moment she knew she should hire a professional. A professional. It was the first time I had heard the term used when referring to me. It was surprising but oddly it didn’t feel foreign. I liked the sound of it. I sat with that thought for a moment and I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I tuned her out for a minute afterwards while I pondered on this. Jade, a professional makeup artist? But I had no formal training or education. I had no retail experience in beauty. I learned how to fold men’s shirts at Sears but that was about it. It took me years to realize how little these things mattered. In this moment, in the kitchen area of my tiny apartment, my first client thought of me as a professional. She came equipped with her own foundation (something I would see more often than not when I serviced deeper complexions) which she had just purchased before arriving. We engaged in great, organic conversation which is my favorite. To this day, I don’t force conversation. I worked as a call center representative for a couple of years and was told to “fill the dead air” when I was working on something and customers became quiet. It felt so awkward and I hated doing that. I could always tell when customers really didn’t want to engage in conversation with me. They wanted me to resolve their issue and were often times upset. They’d only grow more annoyed by my trying to chat with them. I always ask clients if they like music and if I can play something for them. 99.99% of them agree to it. As a singer-songwriter, I can appreciate listening to music while I work. It helps me stay relaxed and focused. We didn’t have any music playing at this appointment but that was okay because the conversation sufficed. It took me nearly two hours to do her makeup which is LONG. However, this was my first paying client that was not a relative or friend and it had to be perfect! I’m still a perfectionist and I still take my time when I can. Sometimes I have to work faster when I’m contracted out but the beauty of running your own business is that you set the terms on how you work. I let my clients know that I prefer 60-90 minutes for standard appointments and two hours for brides. My clients are amazing and agree to these terms with no issue. Thank God. When I finished her makeup, I felt a nervous feeling deep in my belly. It was a feeling of fear, anxiety, and stress. Just a momentary feeling that I still feel to this day. It comes just before I start an application and right after the last touch. It’s a feeling that reminds me that I get to do this for a living and that I’m extremely blessed to be chosen for this special moment in a person’s life. They could have chosen anyone else. There’s a LOT of makeup artists out there. Thoughts began flooding in but the main one always stands, “what if they hate it?” It’s actually kind of silly when I think about it. My clients choose me for a couple of reasons but one thing is for sure and that is my work. I’ve worked really hard to showcase my ability to provide natural-looking applications for any skin tone and any age range. Contrary to popular belief, it takes skill to create “no makeup” or minimal makeup looks. It’s not easier than full glam. With that being said, I know that my clients have looked at my portfolio and/or social media before booking with me. They trust my ability to make them look like the best version of themselves. However, this was my first client and she trusted me regardless of what was in my portfolio (or lack thereof). My hands were shaking as I handed her the mirror. “What do you think?” Her eyes were watering a little. She replied, “I’m sorry for my eyes watering. They’re sensitive. It’s not anything you did.” Even though she was trying to assure me of this, I felt insecure and worried that I poked her in the eye or used a liner she couldn’t tolerate. She looked into the mirror. I thought my knees would give out. “Oh my gosh! It looks great!” Huge sigh. In my mind I must’ve whispered, Thank you, Jesus so many times. “You like it?” She exclaimed, “Yes! It’s beautiful. You did such a good job, Jade!” I was ecstatic. I did it. I couldn’t believe it. She had to hurry because she had about a half hour drive to the wedding venue and she still had to throw her clothes on. I apologized for making her late. She was polite and assured me it was okay. I charged her $40 and she tipped me an additional $20. I made my first $60 as an entrepreneur and it felt great.

I packed my kit and chair up. My co-worker and friend, Vangie, gifted me a director’s chair inherited from her late father. She was a tall girl so she understood tall girl problems. Being hunched over from using a standard chair will kill your back so I thank God for my chair. I’m still rolling around with it to this very day. I always say, when you see me show up with that red chair, just know Jade Paints is in the building! My other co-worker and friend, Shica, offered to buy my first set of business cards. I had no idea what I would put on them but I let her be a blessing to my business and boy did it pay off. I went on to have many paying clients (relatives, friends, and strangers alike) and I have been blessed to join partnerships with Covergirl and Chanel makeup but I will never forget May 14th, 2016. That was the beginning of something beautiful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a natural makeup expert and entrepreneur with nearly a decade of experience in the beauty industry. I’ve been extremely blessed to work with renowned brands like Covergirl, Glossier, and Chanel Makeup. I specialize in providing luxury natural makeup services to unique clients, especially women of color, mature women, and those with textured skin and imperfections. My work caters to women who want to enhance their God-given beauty without feeling overdone. I offer services that emphasize the beauty of their skin, ensuring that every client feels like the best version of themselves every time they leave my chair.

I had dreams of storytelling for the screen and stage but God had other plans. My family and friends encouraged me to start a business when I lacked confidence in my artistry. I always saw makeup as a way to uplift, inspire, and empower women, I just wasn’t sure if I was capable of running a business. I had no educational background, no funding, and no network. I literally knew ONE other makeup artist. Stenisha was a friend from high school and I would look at her kit thinking, “she has SO many products and this is so time-consuming!” Stenisha was a MAC girl and back in the day, you weren’t THAT girl unless you were a MAC girl! Most of the MUA’s I met along the way were also MAC artists or they were technically trained. I struggled with confidence for a long while because some people made me feel inferior for being self-taught. Throughout my career, I’ve honed my skills and discovered that natural beauty is what resonates most with me and my clients. Once I figured out that this was my specialty, my niche, everything about my brand changed. I’m passionate about helping women feel comfortable and confident in their skin, no matter their age, skin tone, or background. What sets me apart is my focus on diversity and my ability to create stunning looks for women of all skin tones, with a special emphasis on dark-skinned women and those who have often felt overlooked by the mainstream beauty industry.

What I’m most proud of is how I’ve combined my love for beauty with my faith in Jesus Christ. My business, Jade Paints, is not just about makeup; it’s a ministry. I help women who have been through trauma or adversity to see their true identity in Christ. Often times, I meet women in a vulnerable state. No makeup on, just bare, beautiful skin. Blemishes and imperfections and all. Each of them trust me to make them feel even more beautiful so that’s my ultimate goal with each encounter. I just started a rebranding process that I’m extremely excited about. It focuses on natural beauty, inspiration, wellness, empowerment, and encouragement, all underpinned by faith. I want every woman I work with to leave feeling not only beautiful but also uplifted and empowered to overcome whatever challenges they face.

I want potential clients and followers to know that my brand is built on a foundation of love, faith, and authenticity. My makeup artistry is about enhancing natural beauty, not masking it, and I strive to provide an experience that is deeply personal and inspiring. I understand the challenges many women face with self-esteem, especially those of us who have been undervalued, marginalized, or told we weren’t good enough. My work aims to change that narrative by revealing the beauty that God has already placed within us.

Whether it’s through wedding and event makeup services, my personal blog, my podcast (Y’all heard it here first!), or my upcoming book, my goal is to inspire and uplift women to discover their Christ-given identity and transform into their most beautiful, confident selves. My YouTube channel, Underpaint with Jade, further connects me with Christian women seeking to overcome adversity through faith and beauty. The focus of my brand is on fostering a community of women who feel seen, valued, and encouraged to pursue their dreams with boldness, faith, and confidence.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In August of 2023 I was laid off from my last full-time job. I was working in a remote call center role for a major telecommunications company that shall remain nameless. I’ve mentioned their name so much over the last year that I think it’ll be fine if I omit it here. I worked for this company for two years and at the start, things were going well. It was fall of 2021 and I had an 8-month-old baby who was still being nursed. I also had an 11-year-old who is virtual school. She started school in August but it was difficult to manage so she ended up starting virtually in September. I knew she preferred to attend traditionally but she understood that this routine worked better for the family. It bothered me to watch her day in, day out staring at the computer wishing to be outside or in class with her peers. What broke my heart was watching her manage her little sister while listening to her teachers online. I didn’t have steady childcare. My sister had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy so I didn’t want to be a burden. My husband worked outdoors full time. He was already battling the elements daily; I couldn’t expect him to alter his schedule or miss work. We had just enough to cover essentials with both incomes. Rewind to the summer of 2020 when our family (and my business) relocated from California to Texas. I resigned from my clerical job in a healthcare facility and got a job offer to work as a court clerk in Texas. Shortly after relocating, I found out that I was pregnant. I panicked. I was in a new state, started a new job, moved into a new apartment, was a newlywed, and now having a new baby…during a global pandemic. I hid my pregnancy for the first 7 months. When my supervisor sent me a dm asking if I was hiding something or just had too many beers, I knew the jig was up. I was at the “waddle” stage. Luckily it was during winter so I got away with it for a few months. I hid it because I had been doing some research and in the State of Texas, I didn’t qualify for FMLA unless I had been employed by the company for 12 months or more. I was at 7 1/2 in January of 2021 when I was induced 4 weeks early. I had diabetes and a shortened cervix which made my doctors concerned about preterm labor. Three days after I gave birth, I received a call from my employer letting me know I was being let go. The woman congratulated me and assured me that I could reapply in the near future. I’ll never forget her ending the call with, “is that the new baby cooing in the background?” My stomach dropped. I felt overwhelmed by fear in this moment. I had never been terminated from a job before. I had no idea what I was going to do.

This was my moment to pivot. In everything. I had a newborn and a 6th grader at home. Now I was unemployed. This was our first winter in Texas and the state saw record-breaking freezing temperatures. I remember being snowed in on Valentine’s Day. Someone gifted us a snowsuit at our baby shower and I remember thinking how odd it was. It came in handy! I felt the subtle nudge of entrepreneurship and my mind began to dream again. I was working full time as a clerk and was a single mom when I launched Jade Paints in 2016 so I had never given myself solely to my business. I didn’t know what it felt like to hustle and work hard for MYSELF. I had no business bank account, EIN, LLC, Duns number, etc. I was completely ignorant when it came to these things. The most I had was a contract for bridal clients that I pretty much cut and pasted from Google. This was before the AI movement of course. It was very much giving ghetto. I had a rate sheet and in 2020, I was charging $50 for full faces of event makeup (including strip lashes) and $65 for brides. I didn’t know yet what it felt like to reinvest every dime I made into my kit to be sure I was able to continue servicing clients. One thing about me though, if I don’t know something, I will research and study it until I’m an expert. I thanked God for TIME. It’s priceless. I took advantage of it and I got to work. I was listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, reading books and blogs, practicing on myself and my sister. My brother’s girlfriend moved to town (bringing her gorgeous cheekbones with her) and I invited her over to do her makeup a couple of times. I was able to update my portfolio. I joined the Next-Door app and started attending expos to let my community know I was there. I revamped my site and social media to position myself as a Dallas beauty professional. I began to organically attract new clients and that made me so proud. I was blessed to be able to spend those first few months with my girls not having to worry about clocking in and out or wondering if my PTO would be approved. I collected unemployment for about 7 months and I delivered Uber Eats and Postmates to earn a little more cash to build my makeup kit. I’ve invested a lot of money in my business but I’ve invested even more time and it shows. Looking back over the last three years, I can’t believe how far I’ve come. God has really been good to me.

Being terminated a year ago was hard. I felt that same fear rise up many times since. I was afraid of going broke, afraid of not knowing who I was without a “good job,” afraid of being a financial burden on my husband, afraid of failing as an mompreneur, afraid of succeeding as a mompreneur. Just scared of everything, honey! However, I realized (and am still learning) that there will always come a time when pivoting is necessary. Change is inevitable and change is good. With every pivot, I’m discovering a better version of myself. I’ve accomplished so many things that I thought would never be possible and I love that for me. I plan to take every opportunity to tell people to embrace the pivot. You may hate rollercoasters but such is life. Grip the handles and ride that thang till the wheels fall off. It’s a scary but thrilling ride!

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Oh goodness. This is a topic I’ve been wanting to talk about on my YouTube channel but I was a bit hesitant because I was so embarrassed.

At the start of the year, I hired a team of subcontractors to work the 2024 wedding season. Business picked up and once I looked up, I realized that I had more clients booked than I had brushes available. It was exciting but I was very anxious throughout this process. I was making the switch from employee to entrepreneur so this was my first time hiring and managing a team. Also, did I mention that I decided to be bicoastal? Don’t dip your toe in, Jade, dive all the way in. That’s exactly what I did and the (hard) lessons I learned will never be forgotten.

I pride myself on being trustworthy. I work very hard to maintain my integrity. I’m also a woman of faith so I try my hardest to be righteous. My husband always tells the story of how the wind blew my car door open and it hit the car parked beside us in a mall parking lot. I got out and tucked a note with my name and number in the wiper blade. The owner did in fact contact me and I paid for the scratch to be repaired. Why? Because it was the right thing to do and I don’t want that bad karma coming back at me! I’m human so of course I don’t always get it right but I try.

I hired a total of 13 subcontractors. I know this was overambitious now but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I was doing way too much. I held interviews and live demonstrations (for lead artist positions) via Zoom. I took my time to formulate interview questions, meet with my team, and create a somewhat seamless recruiting and onboarding process. I was beyond exhausted but excited to get painting. I knew that building my team was essential to my business growth and success. I simply couldn’t be everywhere at once so I needed an extension of myself (and my brand) to go out among the nations…or the DFW and LA County areas at least. I formed a group of amazing women who were also working professionals and entrepreneurs and we got to work. We were off to a great start. I worked two weddings on the same day with two different artists from the team. Everything went well. Each subcontractor had completed my company’s agreement and were aware of payment terms. Because I lacked experience in this, of course there were loopholes and unexpected issues that I encountered over the next few months. One of them being payment terms. Our contract stated that Jade Paints had up to 14 business days to distribute payments. I created the agreement and I thoroughly reviewed it so I thought to myself, “this shouldn’t be a problem at all. I wouldn’t need more than 14 days!” Funny thing about life, it keeps happening as long as there’s breath in our lungs. In May of 2023, I was hired as a subcontractor for a local bridal makeup and hair agency. I completed two weddings servicing a total of 12 clients. I was never paid for the work I did. I filed a lawsuit against the agency and it was prolonged for a year. In May of 2024, I got off the plane, copped a squat on the filthy airport floor (my ride was running a little late which is completely normal if you know anything about LAX and the traffic is LA) so that I could join the virtual courtroom. The agency owner appeared. The judge asked me to present my case and requested to review the contract I had signed with the agency. He stops reading and says, “wait a minute. This contract says its enforceable in the State of California. That’s out of my jurisdiction. I can’t do anything with this.” I couldn’t believe it and by the look on the owner’s face neither could she. The judge asked me if I was aware that the contract listed California as the location where work would be performed. I replied, “No, Your Honor. It’s my understanding that the business operates out of Texas.” That’s where her salon is and certainly the only location the work was performed. I couldn’t help but to think how ironic it was that I was literally sitting on the floor…in CALIFORNIA. The owner remained quiet which was a smart move. She knew that as long as she stayed quiet it would work in her favor. And it did. The judge dismissed the case and advised me to either re-file in a California court or “have a talk” with the owner to resolve the issue. What was certain was that I had already tried to resolve it amicably and no payment was issued. There was no explanation for the delay throughout the process, just promises to pay me. The date kept changing. My texts, emails, and phone calls started to go unanswered. The owner sent me a “paystub” reflecting a payment amount of $600 less than what I invoiced her. I was told that the payment included deductions for “agency fees.” The contract had no clause indicating any agency fees would be deducted nor had she informed me of them at any point. The last time I spoke to the owner was the court date. She asked me to meet her at her salon to “discuss payment” to which I declined. What was there to discuss? I completed a job for your company and you never paid me. So pay me now. Simple. I reached out a couple of times to request payment but of course, I received no response.

Foolishly, I anticipated winning my case (because what defense could justify hiring a subcontractor and not paying them for jobs completed?) and thought I would be paid soon. I had never sued anyone or been in this position before so I didn’t know how it all worked. I wasn’t aware of the fact that even if I did win the case, I wouldn’t be paid immediately. Also, the judge could issue a judgement but the court doesn’t immediately collect funds either. Ironically, I was in a similar position as the owner of that agency. I hired 3 subcontractors to assist me on a wedding with a large bridal party. They arrived on site and completed the work. I didn’t have enough funds to cover payroll for everyone. I had just processed payroll for my California team but my Texas team started reaching out asking where their payments were. To make matters worse, I was struggling in my personal finances. Remember, I was terminated 9 months prior to this. I panicked. I was literally sick about it. I didn’t want them to think that I was ghosting them. I feared appearing to be the same kind of owner as the person I had to take to court. I made a choice. I may not know everything about entrepreneurship but I know how to communicate with people. I had done that professionally for 20 years. I utilized skills learned as an employee. I reached out to each subcontractor and I told them the truth. I apologized for the delay and explained how my actions caused it. I gave my word to pay in full and asked for grace if it takes a little longer than expected. By God’s grace alone, I was able to pay each person in full. One of them worked with me again shortly afterwards indicating her trust for me. I value that because it would’ve been easier for her to decline working with me again. It could’ve left a bad taste in her mouth. Needless to say, I learned a valuable lesson and that is to be sure to have: 1) an account specifically for payroll purposes only. No business expenses, just payroll. 2) Immediately communicate any potential payment delays with employees and subcontractors. It might even be best to switch to a net 30 schedule to give yourself time to navigate any unexpected expenses or fees that could affect payroll. I remember what it felt like when I was waiting to be paid after working hard. I needed that money and I expected to be paid on time. Thanks to that experience, I believe it made me a better business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jadepaints.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadepaints
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jadepaints
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVnGrr55nIPv-_Nw9KKTAA

Image Credits

Urlocalkae Photography
Wipe The Lenz
Brayden Parks-Dixon
Pixels Photo and Films
Cassel Dixon Jr