Today we’d like to introduce you to Bear Campbell.
Bear, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been a creative, for as long as I can remember! My Dad is a musician, and my mom has purple hair! In a household full of artists, I was drawn to the arts. My journey kind of goes with the saying “leave no stone unturned.”
I’ve pursued so many different passions and interests over the years. Which is a good thing, I think! I’m a pretty well-rounded artist, and can work alongside so many others! Learning new things is fun and an essential part of enjoying life. I started out in the theater and learned everything I could. Acting is a primary focus, however, I learned to sing, dance, direct, build the sets, sound, lighting… everything! For the longest time, I chased after success in the business. My ideas of success have changed a lot over the years.
There were a lot of negative voices telling me I’m not good enough, it’s too competitive, I should learn to settle… the kinds of conversations I had with people weren’t always the kindest. They didn’t break my spirit though because I believed in me.
So, am I on broadway or in the next Star Wars movie? No. But I worked hard, made a name for myself in my community and even got to do some work that paid! My story doesn’t end here though, I kind of threw everyone for a loop when I changed careers.
While I was still working in the showbusiness industry, I had left public school to homeschool myself online so I could graduate early and pursue a career as a hair and makeup artist. That was my “daylight” job, you know, the thing you do to actually make enough cash to survive while auditioning your way to New York or wherever you’re trying to be successful. However, I think I’ve found more success in the career that I initially intended to just be the backup plan… and I’m actually loving it.
All my years on stage and behind the scenes taught me a lot about identity. One subtle change in your hair, makeup or wardrobe can suddenly transform you into someone or something else. I enjoyed this process, the adult version of playing dress-up. My hair and makeup skills were put to use for all of the projects I had lined up, whether that was covering an actor in fake blood or just making a wig less frizzy, I found myself aligning both talents and passions together.
And even when I was doing that, I was working as a model, posing for promotional materials and just for fun creative Photoshoot ideas! Now, I’m on my way to being a creative director for photography/photoshoots because of all this crazy experience I have in this business! From hair and makeup direction, modeling direction, and general storytelling, I’ve found my little niche in this business.
I’m only 22 years old, and through this process, I started my own business this year. I work in a salon that admires and respects my craft at its fullest, I get to travel for hair and makeup needs on set, and occasionally, I still work as an actor for some really cool gigs!
Doing a little bit of everything has really helped me discover who I am and what I like to do. I like to have fun, I like to create larger than life characters and help people find themselves and who they want to be. With a little coaching in front of the camera, some highlights or a bold red lip, I think I’m helping people realize who they really are!
Life isn’t always glamorous, and neither is the business. I’ve been through abusive relationships, people told me I couldn’t sing/dance/act, I’ve been told to quit, people ask me all the time when I’m going to get a real job, or even still ask me what I want to do with my life. There’s always somebody who will doubt you, there’s always something in your way and sometimes, it’s yourself. I had to unlearn a lot of things to really be happy with myself. My ideas of success are always evolving, just like my career, and family life and… life as a whole. I want to encourage everyone out there that creativity can heal, and that change is a good thing. Change your hair, change your career, change your life. I’ll probably change again in five years, ten years but I’m enjoying this crazy awesome creative mess of a life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Many people told me to give up, to quit, that I’ll change my mind, that it’s hard. My goals can sound pretty crazy, I wanted to be on broadway and now, I want to own my business and start a YouTube channel or something crazy.
My biggest hurdle was my abusive relationship. Before that, I had my eyes on the prize, nobody could tell me no. I really believed in myself. Slowly, that fire began to go out. I stopped believing in myself and started believing all the lies and manipulations. It was hard, not going after your dreams, and feeling like you can’t reach them even if you could. Thankfully, I had a great friend and family to help me leave that darkness in the past.
Even with the amount of time that’s passed, I’m still trying to find myself again. After leaving that situation, I threw myself back into work. Making art again was fantastic, but I felt guilty for loving it, I’d tell myself I wasn’t good enough, even when I totally was! I’ve come a long way since then but I’m still scared to take creative risks or career risks from time to time because, deep down, I still don’t believe I can and I’m afraid of failing.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bear Campbell Beauty – what should we know?
One of my favorite sayings is “jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one” My business is ever-evolving but has picked up the pace a lot in the last year. I’m a professional hair and makeup artist, model, actor and goofball. Some of my traditional specialties are creative color (think rainbow hair!) Balayage, Blonding, Extensions and I love short haircuts! I’m a little bit different from other stylists though because I’ve got a few more specific skills. With my background in showbusiness, I also specialize in character design, creative makeups/hair, and simple SFX.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I know how crazy this sounds but, I have to thank my abuser, who shall remain unnamed, for teaching me that I can overcome anything, that I can do whatever I want to do as long as I believe in myself, for showing me that I am powerful, and for giving me the opportunity to learn this about myself at such a young age. Thank you for teaching me what real friends look like, thank you for showing me the kind of relationship that I want to have, thanks for forcing me to take my life into my own hands because, I’m succeeding more than ever, and I could have done it without you but, I’m glad that this time of my life came with the greatest lessons for me and my success.
I also have to thank those people who believed in me always throughout my career, whether it was acting, modeling, hair, and makeup. You taught me, you hired me, you cheered me on, that kind of support is the real reason I’m happy with my work.
Natalie Burkhart, I was so young when you took me under your wing, you showed me how to teach. I learned how to direct groups of people, how to be an amazing boss woman! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow, and for teaching me all your techniques in the arts.
Jason Leyva, thank you for treating me like an adult when I was growing up, for giving me tough advice, for throwing me into some challenging creative endeavors that helped me grow, and thank you for standing up for me even when it was a hard thing to do.
Brad Barton, thank you for giving me the confidence boost and opportunity to succeed as a model in this business. You were the first photographer I ever worked with professionally. You also gave me a platform and reason to get a little weird with hair and makeup! Our projects always inspire me and move me closer to my goals and higher self.
Amanda Rebholz, Thank you for reminding me about individualism. Thank you for showing me that I’m pretty without Photoshop, for always recommending me and my business to others who seek out my services. Thank you for thinking that I’m cool enough to do this interview. Thank you for inspiring me to find my own unique style and artistry. And that it’s okay to be different from the others.
Dad, thanks for showing me what hard work looks like. Thank you for telling me all the stories about your music career in Europe. You inspire me to take my dreams and run with them and make them bigger than this world. I may or may not achieve them, but I want you to know that you’re the reason those dreams are so big. Thanks for showing me that nothings impossible. And thanks for always being supportive, even when that sometimes means being the voice of reason.
Mom, thanks for reminding me to march to the beat of my own drum. Your stubbornness about self-expression reminds me to put my foot down about my beliefs, too. To believe in myself, to not care about what other people think and to just go for it. Any crazy idea I had, you supported it. You were there for me every step of the way, sometimes because I volunteered you to help but, you were there for me anyway. You never once doubted me even after I’ve changed my mind about something. You’ve always known what’s best for me, even if I didn’t know at the time. You and Dad both taught me to be an independent free spirit and I’m so grateful for that. Hearing you talk about how you had to take care of your mom inspires me to pursue my dreams even harder because, I want to be there for you as much as you’ve been there for your mom, and everyone else, too.
Michael E. Spencer, thank you for believing all the crazy wonderful late-night ideas. Thank you for holding my hand through the creative failures, thank you for always supporting any of my endeavors. You make me want to be better every day. Life gets hard, with the business or with a project but it’s never been hard with you. Thank you for believing in me, no matter how big the dream.
Pricing:
- On Set Hair/Makeup/Creative Director $120+
- In Salon Makeup $95
- Haircut $65
- Creative Colors $175+
- Highlights $145+
- Blowout/Specialty Style $65+
Contact Info:
- Address: 8849 North Tarrant Pkwy Suite 110 North Richland Hills, Tx
- Phone: 817-875-0789
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bearcampbellbeauty
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bearcampbellbeauty
Image Credit:
IG @darkroomlament, @justeyesphotos, @l.i.pservice
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