We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Tran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

Some of the biggest trends that I’ve been seeing in the beauty industry that I’m in is showing more realism and transparency when it comes to the highs and lows of a being an owner of a business. I feel like with the help of social media and in the more recent years, being real with one’s audience and in turn showing a side of vulnerability with the new/old clients and peers will allow one to be more relatable and as a result bring more awareness and even respect to one’s name.

I feel like there are more benefits to this trend than there are some cons. However, with all ways of showcasing vulnerability and being transparent may bring an opportunity for backlash. Having tough skin and not being worried about being embarrassed or ashamed takes a certain type of person to be able to pursue this. And those that prefer to be more private and/or do not invest too much time on social media can hold one back. And I’m definitely an advocate for those that prefer privacy and less time on social media life in order to sustain one’s mental health, but have found myself feeling forced to find something to post to be relatable. Gone are the days of posting for fun everything on social media is a business strategy or preplanned tactic nowadays which can take a toll on one’s relationship with social media.

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

My first step in this industry was working in a salon as a receptionist. From there I began witnessing the relationships that stylists had with their clients and the joy that clients felt when they left after being styled (hair/makeup). I’ve always enjoyed playing with makeup on myself and quickly found that it was a passion of mine that I wanted to pursue part time while I was in college full time. I’ve done many things in this industry by now: hair stylist (styled brides, on-set for e-comm and photoshoots, and more), hair dresser (cut and color in a salon setting), sales associate at a makeup counter of department stores for a big time cosmetic brand. Being in all these different jobs have also taught me to work in different environments and under different pressures. Each job has a series of different problems, but my moral compass has always stayed the same in all. And with all the experiences and skills I’ve gained from working in all the variety of jobs, I’ve learned that the way a customer/client interacts with you and their personal experiences from that can go really far. I have observed and have come to realize that my repeating number of clients along with new clients (particularly and usually as word of mouth as I am not on Yelp or Google) is something I wear like a badge of honor. It tells me that how I treat others makes a huge difference in contributing to my successes over the years. I want people to know that no only are you hiring a makeup artist for your special event, but you are hiring someone who actually cares. Cares about how you feel when you see the end result in a mirror. I’m not just a makeup artist, I am a shoulder to lean on, a pair of ears to listen to your words, and a friend for that 2 hour appointment time.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

It’s hard when you first start off as a makeup artist building your kit from scratch. There is so many things to consider and think about: skin texture, skin color, drugstore vs high end, how to store your kit, how to transport your kit if you’re working mobile, and more. Also not to mention TO SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS AND TRACK YOUR MILES — I remember finding that out way later in the game one day and hating myself for not knowing sooner for taxes, etc. Funding my business was tough. What I worked part time I put all towards funding my new hobby turned side hustle which was not much, but I would take my earnings from my other job and buy supplies. I had to get smart and scrappy about it though, since I did not have any credentials, I was not able to apply for wholesale/pro mua discounts from beauty brands and beauty wholesaler stores. Therefore, I would take advantage of Ulta coupons and Sephora sales. This was still not enough though! Networking with other makeup artists and asking to join them on their store trips to the wholesaler stores was a tactic I used or asking if they could purchase something for me if I couldn’t make it to meet them there. Because there’s so much more to think about when it comes to building a makeup kit (it sure is expensive!!!) I had to also get scrappy with finding foundation and concealer shades that were the median shade of the shade group- that way I could mix and not have to buy every color that the brand offered.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish that there was a handbook for how to launch a creative pursuit into a profitable (or even manageable) business. I just wish that there were things that were taught in school that were absolute necessary things to do when it came to tracking expenses and legal actions to protect self and become official/legitimate. I’m sure it exists these days, but I wish there was a coach or person that could help set us up or teach a crash course to explain how to file away things correctly and inefficiently when it comes to filing taxes at the end of the year or how to reinvest for retirement, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beautybykellytran.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautybykellytran