Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Taylor.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I remember my earliest memory of makeup as a child being around seven or eight years old. On Saturday mornings, there use to be those infomercials on TV for about an hour or two after my Saturday morning cartoons went off. I remember one coming on and it was a makeup artist doing a makeup demonstration and showcasing her products. All I remember is just being so intrigued and fascinated by it to the point that I knew what time she came on TV every weekend and that I had to be there to watch what she was doing. The funny thing though is that I didn’t wear makeup or play in it like most young girls did. I didn’t start experimenting with makeup until my early twenties. During this time, I started to wear makeup and do hair. My friends would ask me to do their hair and makeup because they liked mine so much.
So in 2011, I decided to enroll in Cosmetology School at I.T.S. Beauty Academy in Mesquite Texas. I went in essentially to do hair but while attending that’s when I truly tapped into a passion for makeup that I didn’t even know was there. I noticed when vendors would come to our school to showcase their products I was more interested in learning about the makeup products instead of the hair products. During this time I really started to experiment in makeup by creating different looks for myself and classmates. I had a desire in my heart to do makeup full time and one day own my own makeup studio.
Once I graduated in 2012, I remember thinking about different names for the business I would one day own. After countless names I tried to come up with, nothing sounded right or felt right. So after much frustration, I left it alone and just started to pray about it. I got up and set on the side of my bed fumbling with some things and the name Redd Karpet Makeup popped into my head. Once I heard it, I wrote it down and I knew that was it!
You would think that after all of that I went straight into the beauty industry but I did not. I didn’t want to do hair and doing what I desired most seemed more like a dream than a reality at the time. I was already working at a retirement community during school and that is where I continued to work.
Even though I had a desire for makeup I didn’t know the fundamentals of it. So in 2013, I got the opportunity to freelance for M.A.C. Cosmetics. I was extremely excited but scared and nervous at the same time. To me, I had stepped into a different territory. Instead of just doing makeup for fun on myself and friends I was actually doing it professionally.
During the two years of freelancing for M.A.C., I learned so much and got to work with some amazing and talented makeup artists. I learned product knowledge, skin care and technique. I also started to build a little clientele as well. Once that door closed, I started to freelance on my own on the weekends while still working my full-time job. I went through a period where everything was just on a hiatus when it came to me free-lancing. Though it was frustrating I never lost hope or faith in the desire for makeup that was on the inside of me. During that hiatus, I grew and matured in a lot of different areas. It allowed me to see my strengths and weaknesses.
My breakthrough came in 2015, the saying “God’s timing is everything” is absolutely true! Things shifted in so many ways that year. I was connected with a Web Designer who offered to construct my website for free. I also registered my business during this time and started to invest in myself and build my clientele even more. For the next two years, I started to learn more about myself and grow in my craft. I slowly went from seeing myself as just being a makeup artist that did makeup, to seeing myself as a makeup artist who is building a business/brand. God used those test and trials, the ups and the downs to get me where I am today. I wouldn’t change any of it because it prepared me for this very season and this very moment.
Those things that once felt like only a dream are becoming a reality day by day that I couldn’t be more excited about and I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface yet!
Great, 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?
Absolutely not! I have had so many struggles and roadblocks along the way during this journey. It has been my faith and belief in God that has honestly gotten me through it all and will continue to get me through the things that come. A lot of my issues came from a lack of confidence in myself as to if I could really do this. In the beauty industry, it can be very competitive. The trends are constantly changing that you are trying to keep up with and honestly it can all be a little overwhelming if you allow it to be. I remember early on, I use to compare myself to other artists that I use to work with. When Instagram and Youtube became popular it made it even worse.
I had to learn that comparing myself to other artists was not helping me but hindering me. It dimmed the light on the gift that was given to me. Therefore, I was not fully able to operate and grow in my gift the way I was supposed to. In order for me to break that cycle, my mindset had to shift. How I saw myself had to change. I will be honest with you that is not something that came easy or happened overnight. Once I finally got past that, I started to see myself and my craft in a whole different light.
In this journey, there are always going to be different obstacles and challenges that come along the way, but you have to keep pushing forward and making strides to get better and be better. It is going to take hard work and dedication even when it seems like nothing is moving. You also have to get yourself out of your comfort zone. Growth and expansion can’t come out of you being comfortable.
The best advice I can give to young women that are just now starting out in their journey is to stay true to who you are, be confident in the ability to do your craft and to always remain teachable. Even though, there may be others in your particular industry doing what you do. Remember there is no one else that can do it the way that you do!
what should we know about Redd Karpet Makeup? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I bring a one of a kind red carpet experience right to your home that is tailor-made to fit each and every client no matter what the occasion may be. At Redd Karpet Makeup, the face is my canvas. I believe makeup is an artistic tool used to create something great. The goal and focus of Redd Karpet Makeup have been to use that tool to enhance the natural beauty of every woman. My clientele is very diverse, they come from different nationalities, backgrounds and professions.
What I specialize in are brows and a flawless makeup application. The number one question I get asked constantly is: “How do you do your eyebrows?!” I tell my clients that their brows will make or break their makeup application. I teach them the importance of grooming them and also the importance of skin care.
I am known for my extreme attention to detail, I can be a bit of a perfectionist but that is one of the things that my clients appreciate because they know when they sit in my chair they are going to receive quality work every single time.
What I am most proud of as a brand is the impression that it gives and leaves a client or a potential client. When people hear the name Redd Karpet Makeup they know they are going to receive a one of kind experience. The majority of my clients are referrals, and that comes by constantly leaving a lasting impression that people want to go tell someone about.
I believe what sets me apart from others is that I have a true passion for what I do deep down in my heart. Being a part of helping someone else realize how beautiful they bring a great deal of joy and pleasure to me as a makeup artist. I constantly grow in my craft to be able to provide knowledge and excellent service to my clients. It’s more than just makeup to me. It’s about building lasting relationships with my clients with a brand they can trust.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
The biggest barriers are that woman in some cases have to work two times as hard than their male counterparts. I have seen this and have also experienced this myself. Over the years, a woman has worked very hard and made many strides to break those barriers and will continue to do so. It’s amazing to see so many women today in prominent leadership positions and thriving in them. It shows that as a whole, that stigma is being broken and that our actions are being heard. Not only that but be taken seriously in the positions of Leadership.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reddkarpetmakeup.com
- Phone: 469-254-4751
- Email: reddkarpetmakeup@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reddkarpetmakeup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddkarpetmakeup
Image Credit:
C. Rene Designs & Photography, Perfect Image Photo Studio
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