We were lucky to catch up with Kara Dafnis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I do wish I would of started my creative career sooner. I didn’t start my path as a makeup artist and hair stylist till my mid 30’s, due to financial restraints. I always had a passion for makeup and hair, as a teen I would buy magazines and try and learn how they did a specific makeup look or a cool hairstyle that I really liked. There was no instagram or youtube in the 90’s when I was growing up or Sephora to go get cool makeup. You went to your local drug store haha. When I graduated I wanted to become a hairstylist and go to school, but I married young, moved out and had to make a living and couldn’t afford to go to school, but I kept on practicing and when youtube came around it was a game changer, since I had more access to more learning.

Kara, 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?

7 or so years ago I was laid off of my full time management job, which I had never experienced in my life and had a choice of continuing doing what I was doing and hating it, or finally being in a good position to follow my dreams, and that is what I did I went to school to become a makeup artist and hairstylist.

I offer many services to my clients. I offer 1-1 teaching sessions if they want to learn how to do their own makeup with the products that they have, and I will also suggest other products to add to their routine. I also provide makeup and hairstyling for photography, whether it be boudoir, pin-up ( which is my specialty ), headshots for business, special occasions such as bridal, graduation or just a fun night out. I am pretty multi purpose haha, I also dabble in wig styling too.

I do have a extensive background in makeup , I also have a lot of knowledge of products as I also am a services specialist at Sephora. With working at Sephora I have learned a lot when it comes of products, skin and skin prep. I think having knowledge in products can set you apart from other artist, I love chatting with my clients whether it be during a photoshoot, or a regular client just in my chair and really understanding what they are looking for, and asking key questions. I feel that really sets me apart from other artist as they don’t seem to ask questions, they have a specific style they do and that’s it. I like to know what exactly my client is looking for. It’s so important! I having them trust me fully on what I am doing. I will always be honest if I feel something won’t work, I will always provide a reason and a solution. I just want them to leave happy and come back to me for their next special event.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is my clients, and making that connection with them. I love hearing their stories, sometimes you find someone that may be struggling with illness or condition and you get inspired by their stories and you want to make them feel the best they have felt in awhile, or you having a new mom and they just want to feel beautiful and special, cause you tend to forget about yourself, that’s where I come in to make them feel special even if it’s just for that short time.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Obviously the pandemic changed a lot of things for many people, it definitely changed things for me. My freelance career was just starting to take off before the pandemic hit, I had a lot of weddings booked for the summer, I had grad season starting and at that time I also did commercials too. That all changed and getting it back afterwards has been a challenge, since I was also diagnosis with a chronic illness Fibromyalgia, among some other chronic illnesses as well, so pivoting and trying to make adjustments to my business side of things as well as my personal side of things.

So I had to start to become a bit more creative on how I did my business, I offered zoom classes to people wanting to learn while not being in person, which I still offer. I started jumping in front of the camera to promote more photoshoot’s since it’s easier than getting a model sometimes haha. I think with any career or life you pivot constantly, because things are forever changing , so you have to be diverse and open to change.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: karadafnismua
• Facebook: kara dafnis makeup artist
• Linkedin: kara dafnis
• Other: I am mainly on my instagram, I also have my person instagram karalee_vixen which I also so my personal side which is cats, vintage inspired things and sewing ( which is something I started during the pandemic haha)

Image Credits
Drew Fronda Photography https://www.instagram.com/drewfrondaphotography/ Erika Mckitrick https://www.instagram.com/erikamckitrick/ ( first Model ) Pin-up Perfection Photography https://www.instagram.com/pinupperfectionphotography/ Karalee_Vixen https://www.instagram.com/karalee_vixen/ makeup and hair all done by me. Kara Dafnis https://www.instagram.com/karadafnismua/