Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Luxe.
Jesse, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My business is Hair and Makeup Artistry for photographers, models, brands and other media-based clients. How I started in this field was first being into artistry such as painting, drawing, etc when I was in middle school. This artistry and passion slowly developed into a love for specifically Hair Artistry. I dabbled in SFX and conceptual makeup before and during cosmetology school but I truly found my love for Makeup Artistry during my time at cosmetology school chasing after my first passion, Hairstyling. While chasing my passion, of course, directionless at the time, I met my mentor and makeup teacher Daryl Churchman that worked as the makeup artist teacher at my school. That’s when I truly stepped into the makeup world. Daryl was a true legend, not only did he inspire and teach me the fundamentals of makeup and being an artist, but he also inspired me to chase my dream as a hair and makeup artist small business. He gifted me more than just simply skills but how to step into my own and have confidence in myself and work.
Shortly before graduating from cosmetology school, I had started participating in shows to showcase my skills. At one of these shows, I had worked with a model that a local photographer also worked alongside. This photographer known as Christa Dickson of Christa Dickson Photography had contacted me based upon my work and thus started an incredible and life-long partnership. Together I had begun working with Christa Dickson doing conceptual and high fashion style hair and makeup for her clients. There I had found my passion to start my small business “Jesse Luxe LLC.” However, things were not so cut and dry. Before I went full-time in my current business, I had immediately started working for a chain hair salon directly after graduation. Here I worked full-time whilst trying to do photoshoots and sessions on the side.
As much as I loved my salon mates, the more I worked here and with photoshoots in addition, the more I realized my true calling as being my own boss and having my own business. As the number of sessions grew, I began reducing my hours at the salon and then eventually saying my goodbyes to begin my own journey. From here I began a beautiful but long journey to being a self-sustainable business. I began working alongside other photographers, models, brands and creating what I now call my own business. I still have much more of my journey planned and ahead of me in regards to my brand and business but I am incredibly proud of where I am at and how far I’ve come to get here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes and No. I am grateful to have been blessed with many of the privileges I’ve had along the way. I’ve been incredibly lucky in regards to having both an incredible best friend and business partner to give me the opportunity to grow my business alongside theirs. I’ve had at both times good and bad support systems but I am so grateful for the good ones that stuck it out and believed in me especially my business partners, close friends and my dad. Some of my biggest struggles along the way were mainly at the beginning, mostly those struggles came from my poor relationships and attempting to get away from those situations whilst trying to turn my life around.
I basically did a 180 in my life from my not too great relationship at the beginning of my journey and truly began to turn everything around when I started to surround myself with good people and choose things for ME instead of others. It’s never easy starting and sustaining a business by any means, I’ve had a lot of doubts and dark moments where I wanted to give up completely and just quit. Even now from time to time I still struggle with the doubt and negative thoughts. However, being a small business and entrepreneur takes more than just knowing how to make a business function and sustain itself, it takes a lot of self-reflection and inner work as well. I would definitely say a lot of my “rough” parts of the road came from my own self-discovery and working towards a better and more authentic me overall. I’m by no means finished on this journey, I’ve got a lot more to go in regards to my inner work within myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do Hair and Makeup Artistry for photographers, models, brands, media-based clients and everyday people that have a love for conceptual photography and art. Additionally, I teach everyday people, hobbyists and other artists how to do makeup or how to expand or enhance their current skills! Alongside of these parts of my business, I am moving towards creating things such as my own brand of brushes, products and education options to help my audience expand their skills and passions even further!
My specialties in my artistry include but are not limited to High Fashion, Conceptual, Underwater and Boudoir styled hair and makeup artistry. Based upon what my clients and supporters tell me, I’m known for my specific detail and exaggerated looks within my conceptual hair and makeup looks. I do not limit my artistry to just the face, I like to also do makeup on the shoulder, neck, hands, arms, so that I can provide an overtop look for our clients. It’s hard to say what I’m most proud of. I am extremely proud of being my own business in general but one of my biggest achievements was being able to travel within and out of the country multiple times to work alongside of my main photographer doing hair and makeup for clients that booked us while we traveled!
I think what sets me apart from others is the experience you have while working with me. I consider all the clients that sit in my chair as “friends” practically and much more than just another canvas. I strive to create an experience for them that’s much more than just hair and makeup, it’s about being comfortable, feeling good and confident in my chair too. I feel that I create life-long bonds with the people that work with me, it’s not just a service but an entire experience you won’t forget. I want our clients to feel safe, comfortable and confident in our space, bottom line. You can always improve your physical skills, but making sure your client feels good in your space is top priority and always the first to be improved on when possible!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I genuinely think our industry will shift more towards the digital world. I think with the direction and advancements that editing and technology is going through I think that makeup artistry will eventually become more of a luxury and experience compared to a necessity for photography and other media. However, I do still think hair and makeup artistry will still be considered a need for people in regards to events, fashion shows and everyday life. Hair and Makeup artistry is always going through shifts and changes, I honestly have no idea what’s in store in regards to trends but I love to see that it’s never statutory! I love to see new techniques, trends and so on being developed. I think that’s one of the really cool things about our industry is it keeps you on your toes in regards to constant new information, trends and new skills you can develop!
Pricing:
- Basic Photo Ready Hair and Makeup Package: $120+
- Creative Photo Ready Hair and Makeup Package: $140+
- Makeup Education (For Everyone): $125 per hour (2 hour minimum) add-ons available for an additional fee
- Makeup Education (For Artists) $125-$175 per hour (2 hour minimum) add-ons available for an additional fee
Contact Info:
- Email: info@jesseluxeofficial.com
- Website: www.jesseluxeofficial.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jesse_luxe
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesseluxeofficial
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/jesseluxe
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@jesseluxe
Image Credits
Jesse Luxe
Jennifer Ryan
Christa Dickson Photography
Videnoir
Veronica Halko
Candy
Dominique McNeil
Paris Michelle
