We recently connected with Marina Castiglione and have shared our conversation below.

Marina , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I am very grateful that my parents always supported and encouraged me on my life journey. They guided me, provided advice, and assisted me in any way they could, yet they never attempted to influence me in any specific direction or dissuade me. They allowed me to chart my own career path.

When I was 15 years old, I used to come down for breakfast with my makeup elaborately done, with colors adorning my eyes. My mother, who rarely wore makeup, consistently praised and admired my talent and interest in makeup. When I asked her what she thought I would become when I grew up, she confessed that she hadn’t pondered it extensively but always believed I would pursue something creative and desired my happiness.

A friend of my older brother attended our local vocational high school for part of her school day, majoring in cosmetology. Learning about this program intrigued me, and I desired to enroll. I attended a school tour with a few classmates, one of whom was keen on joining the program with me. However, her mother discouraged it, preferring she attend traditional high school full-time with aspirations of her attending a four-year college.

I found myself puzzled as to why her mother perceived vocational school negatively. Upon returning home from the tour and expressing my desire to attend, my parents were pleased that I had found something I enjoyed, which could also prove profitable for me. My father, in particular, was exceptionally supportive. He visited the school to have his hair and nails done so I could practice, and my parents were the first individuals I ever performed haircuts on, transitioning from mannequin heads.

Upon high school graduation, I sought to further my makeup education. My father accompanied me on every school tour, even attending orientation to learn more. He purchased my first makeup case and inquired about the best local salons for me to work in.

Though I always appreciated their encouragement, I became acutely aware of it when I myself became a cosmetology instructor. Many of my students were initially enrolled in four-year colleges, with some even holding master’s degrees in unrelated subjects. What many of them shared in common was an early interest in cosmetology. However, when they expressed this interest to their families, they encountered discouragement. Despite this, these students pursued their passion, through a longer and costlier journey.

Unfortunately, societal stigma still exists towards trades and creative fields. While most families mean well in wanting their children to succeed and secure a prosperous livelihood, they may be misinformed about the avenues to success and the potential profitability of trades and creative pursuits.

To achieve success in something, one must have a genuine passion for it. One will not invest countless hours practicing something they are not deeply passionate about. My parents may not have possessed the formal education of some of my classmates, but they possessed the wisdom to recognize that passion equates to success. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for their allowing me to be the author of my own narrative, and I am thankful for their unwavering encouragement. One of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is the freedom to discover themselves.

Marina , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Marina Castiglione, and I am a makeup artist, hairstylist, business owner, and cosmetology instructor residing in New York.

My journey in the beauty industry commenced at the age of 16 when I began attending my local vocational high school, majoring in cosmetology.
Driven by a desire to help others discover their inner beauty, I dedicated around 10 years to working in salons before transitioning into teaching cosmetology and establishing my own small business.

Hair and Makeup by Marina offers on-location beauty services, with Marelle Hair and Beauty specializing in bridal primping. Through my small businesses, I provide opportunities for former students to gain industry experience, completing the circle of my journey as I now teach at the same vocational school I attended. I am passionate about instilling confidence in my students and equipping them with the skills necessary for success and happiness, fostering a culture of positivity and teamwork within the industry.

Outside of my business and teaching, I find joy in collaborating with other creatives, particularly in the realm of makeup, which has been a lifelong passion. Through imaginative character transformations and collaborations with talented photographers, I continue to explore and develop my skills. I take great pride in my artistic growth over the years and cherish the opportunity to share my knowledge with others.

In the future, I aspire to expand the reach of my artwork and collaborate with even more talented individuals, viewing each collaboration as a chance to further explore my own talents and deepen my understanding of myself as an artist.

From childhood to the present day, art has been both a source of enjoyment and a means of self-expression for me, reflecting my two greatest interests: art and helping others. Looking back on my journey, I am proud of what I have accomplished and eagerly anticipate continuing to build upon that momentum in the future.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Both my beauty business and teaching career serve as platforms through which I aim to empower individuals, instill confidence, and enhance their sense of beauty. I believe that unlocking confidence in an individual unlocks greatness.

During my formative years, I grappled with low self-esteem due to dyslexia. Witnessing my peers effortlessly completing tasks while I struggled to keep pace left me questioning my intelligence. A lack of belief in my own ability caused me to shut down and not want to try anymore.

Artistic expression became my refuge during this time. I found solace in activities such as sewing, jewelry making, and other hands-on endeavors. In high school, I stumbled upon the art of makeup, experimenting with techniques learned from online tutorials. The positive feedback from my peers sparked newfound confidence that transcended into various aspects of my life. Enrolling in beauty school during my junior year of high school marked a pivotal moment for me. Finally feeling a sense of belonging and excelling in my program, I received validation from instructors, boosting my self-assurance during a formidable age. This experience taught me the power of believing in yourself.

Through my beauty business, I use my skills to enhance the beauty of others, whether it be through routine haircuts or for significant life events. Recognizing the profound impact of confidence, I prioritize attentive listening to my clients, understanding its transformative effects on their daily lives. It’s not really about the haircut; it’s about the way the haircut makes you feel.
Transitioning into teaching, I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of nurturing students’ talents and fostering their confidence. Believing that confidence is paramount to success, I ensure to acknowledge and commend both their skills and efforts, guiding them on a journey towards personal and financial growth.

Before greatness can be achieved, one must first believe in their own potential. Empowering others to believe in themselves nurtures my own self-esteem, driving my passion to positively impact lives, one confidence boost at a time.

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

I started working in a salon when I was 18 years old. I worked long hours and was very devoted to perfecting my craft as a hairdresser and building a clientele in my area. I worked six, sometimes seven days a week. I was constantly praised by those around me for my work ethic. The result of all of my hard work was that after eight years of working in the salon, I finally was in a place that people would envy. I had a very expansive clientele and was making a great living.

Shortly after I felt that I had finally reached near the top of the mountain, I began experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness. I had a constant cough and irritation of my eyes, ears, throat, and nose. My cough was quite scary sounding and prompted people in my life to encourage me to go see a physician. It took a few visits, but I was eventually diagnosed with occupationally induced asthma. This devastated me because I worked so hard to be in the position I was in. The thought of it being taken away by an illness scared me. My doctor advised me that the best thing for my health would be to change my career path. I needed a career that involved me being significantly less exposed to chemicals.

As disappointed as I was, I looked at this as an opportunity to try something that I always wanted to. I had been volunteering in local beauty schools and doing demonstrations for students since shortly after I had graduated from beauty school myself. I really enjoyed teaching and always thought that might be something I would like to pursue in the future.

Call it fate or maybe just a coincidence, but right around this time I had gotten an offer from a local beauty school director to be an instructor. She was so kind; she even walked me through the process of becoming a licensed and certified cosmetology instructor. I was excited and nervous to start a new journey. Once I began teaching, I absolutely loved it.

I now use my voice and position as a teacher to educate cosmetologists in training on how to protect themselves and their future employees from developing occupationally induced illnesses.

Now that my weekends were free, because I was no longer working in the salon, this also gave me the opportunity to pursue other things that I previously did not have time for. This included starting my own bridal primping business and doing editorial work. I started collaborating with local hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, and building a network of other creatives, many of whom include former students of mine. I try to be a person that my students can look up to and admire.

Sometimes either God, the universe, or whatever you believe in has another path you’re destined for.

That unfortunate experience made me who I am today and ended up leading me to a path that was even more fulfilling than the original one that I thought I wanted more than anything. My advice to other creatives and really anyone facing a challenge is to take care of your mind and body and not look at closed doors as the end; just relax and go through the window instead.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @marinasbodyofart is my art page
• Other: Other business instagrams @marinasbeauties is my beauty business instagram @marelle_hair_beauty is my bridal primping business instagram

Image Credits
All photos by Sam Derosa-Farag