Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Okere.
Antoinette, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Contrary to popular belief, I used to be a tomboy. I hated anything that made me look like a girly girl; getting my nails done, eyebrows done, etc. I’d always been pretty plain. Nine years ago, I was going through a divorce. I was at a point where my confidence was almost non-existent and I desperately wanted to enhance my appearance. It just so happens that someone bought me one of those inexpensive makeup kits from Walmart one Christmas and I would play with it but never really knew what I was doing.
Enter Jackie Aina and my best friends, Brittany and Aishia. Brittany used to always tell me how pretty she thought I was and would always talk me off of the figurative ledge I was on. As for Aishia, we’d just met and she invited me out to celebrate her birthday with her and her friends. I walk into her apartment as they’re getting ready and see this wide array of colorful eye shadow palettes and they were applying lashes on each other. At that point, I just knew I had to get one of those palettes.
The next week, I was perusing YouTube trying to figure out how to use said palette and came across Jackie Aina and her videos changed my entire life. She was not a big name then but the way she applied her makeup using all of these colors and the way she accessorized; I fell in love. Up to that point, I did not know that women of color could look like that, just vibrant and so gorgeous. Not only that but I’m Nigerian as is she and we were going through some of the same life experiences at about the same time.
I made a list of all of the MAC products she used and that is when the collection started. I started doing makeup on myself and soon after, I was called by Aishia who tells me that I need to do her makeup. I definitely was not ready for that but she bullied me into it. Then she started recommending people to me and now here I am, bullied into being a makeup artist. I read books, watch videos, practice; I love all things beauty now. Through makeup, I found new life; a light at the end of the tunnel and confidence I never dreamed I’d ever had.
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?
This has not been an easy road. I found myself getting discouraged at times because I would spend hours trying to replicate or duplicate a look and fail so bad. The precision was off as was the blending…I wanted to look like the girl in the pictures and videos. I was also one of those people who would watch videos and feel I had to have the exact same products needed in order to achieve the looks and that could get quite expensive. I was a single mother on a very fixed income and could not afford to spend $100 at a time on makeup.
When it came to doing makeup on others, there was always the issue of matching the makeup to the client. With that, you have to know about undertones, skin type, etc. It was a learning process for sure.
Then, when you begin to think about the business aspect of things, there’s building your brand, deciding which direction you want to go in, building clientele. How do you build clientele working from home? You have to be much more cautious about your clientele when you work from your home. I’m very careful about the people and the energy I allow at home. I’d love to rent a space to separate work from home and build clientele. With my current schedule as far as my regular job, working on a Master’s Degree, being a parent to a pre-teen and a set of 19mo twins, the balancing struggle is real.
Tell us more about your work.
Infinite Faces is just that. I’m known for dramatic transformations and I am willing to try ANYTHING. LOL From simple, elegant, glam looks to Halloween makeup, I am not afraid to try anything. The glam transformations are the most fun though. I love glitter and sparkle so any chance I get I do it. If you want bold and sultry, I can do it. Soft and subtle, I can do it. Full-on drag or a Sugar Skull, I can do that too! Hence the name Infinite Faces because there is no limit to the faces I can create. I’m known for my personal style of over-the-top/Super long lashes. I love long super voluminous lashes.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve had many proud moments. I have a proud moment every time I see a client see their makeup for the first time and they are blown away. I have a proud moment every time you see the confidence light come on when that makeup is done. I have a proud moment every time someone can recognize my work without me having to say I did someone’s makeup and when someone recommends my services.
Pricing:
- The Infinite Classic–$50
- The Infinite Glam–$55
- Infinity and Beyond–$65
- Infinite Lashes and Brows–$30
- Infinite Lashes–$15
Contact Info:
- Address: Pflugerville, Texas
- Website: https://InfiniteFacesbyAntoinette.as.me/
- Email: infinitefacesbyantoinette@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Antoinette, MUE (@infinite_faces_by_antoinette) • Instagram photos and videos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Infinite-Faces-by-Antoinette-432996167165357/
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