Conversations with Carly Jo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Jo. 

Hi Carly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I never thought to be a makeup artist growing up. I had (and still have) an immense love for dogs and wanted to be a dog trainer. Fast forward to my sophomore year of high school, I discovered “Cute Polish” on YouTube and fell in love with nail art. I painted my nails multiple times a day and caused my parents’ house to reek of acetone. During this time, I found out my high school partnered with a trade school and offered a cosmetology program. I knew this would be a great step to being able to do nails, so I applied and got accepted. In my junior year, I chopped my hair into a pixie cut and, after making that big change, I felt bear with no hair to play with. So, makeup it was. It was then I knew makeup was my biggest passion. I would wake up at 4 AM to create colorful, glittery makeup looks before school. I would take on family and friends as clients to further improve my skills on applying makeup on others. I worked at a local salon as a receptionist and makeup artist during my schooling career. After high school graduation in May 2017 and earning my full cosmetology license less than a month after, I worked full time in salons. I knew that I still wanted to learn more, so I went out of my comfort zone and set off to Chicago in the fall of 2019 to attend Makeup First School of Makeup Artistry’s 3-month course. Following my completion in November 2019, I have been freelancing specializing in weddings since then along with gaining over 215k+ followers on TikTok since December 2020. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is no such thing as complete smooth sailing as a freelance makeup artist. Ask anyone who’s been in this industry and they’ll let you know! Common bumps in the road are things like taking on free work when you first begin to get your name out there (and working a part/full-time job to be able to pay your bills while doing so), imposter syndrome, difficult clients, and rejection. You just have to remember where and why you started. Building relationships with industry friends helps as they’ve been in your position before and give the best advice. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize mainly in luxury weddings and lifestyle makeup. I like to say I’m known for the way I communicate with my clients and creating a look that enhances my clients’ features, rather than overshadowing them. I’ve always believed that if you’re hiring me as a professional, you’ll get someone who is, but also someone who loves to converse, be laidback, and have fun. Creating personal relationships with my clients, them becoming friends in the process, and building a trust that lasts a lifetime is what inspires me to continue in this industry. I love to create looks for my clients that stay within their style and comfort zone while slowly inching out of the box with a strip lash or adding a little contour to enhance their already beautiful features. I’m the most proud of hitting that record button and starting a TikTok. Not only have I gained over 215k+ friends, but I’ve fallen in love with sharing my knowledge and passion for the industry which I think sets me apart. Getting into the makeup industry may feels impossible with how saturated it is currently, but I hope that the advice I provide in my videos helps those who want to succeed as a makeup artist feel confident enough to take the first steps. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Communication. It’s key in any relationship to ensure that both parties are understanding of one another. I’m not particularly a blunt person, but I do like to affirm my clients’ and followers’ realistic expectations when it comes to makeup. I like to keep it real but also empathetic in a way that rather than just saying how it is, I give a reasoning behind why and ways to fix it. 

Contact Info:

• Email: carlyjomakeup@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.carlyjomakeup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlyjomakeup/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069847908915
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_S1i-yQ8ZnQG2DPHSFlig
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlyjomakeup?lang=en

Image Credits
Elizabeth Joy
Frere Nick
Galilei Olivia
Doerfler Photo
Seedling Photography
Lindzy Nava
Weekend Project Studios
Periwinkle Photo