Today we’d like to introduce you to June Barker.
June, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was a young girl I was bullied because of my looks. I was never the tiny girl. I never fit in clothes at limited too or any places like that and was called fat a lot on the playground, but I had a loving family and a mom who encouraged me in the truth that we are all made beautiful in our own skin. She taught me to have strength to brush off the negative stuff and allow myself to be confident in how I was built. So as I grew up I also grew in love with all things “girly” I loved shopping, designing, anything creative and of course….MAKEUP.
When I was in college I actually pursued music as my degree, I met my husband there and was pretty content until my junior year. I was falling out of love with music and realized it was because school was taking the joy out of it for me. So I transferred into the school of ministry at DBU where I got my degree for Christian studies. Towards the end of my junior year my sorority volunteered and attended a benefit fashion show where we helped zip, button and steam models clothing. During one of our breaks I wandered over to the hair and makeup station. I got to see about 8 women who were letting themselves be creative with eyeshadow, hairstyles, on all these different faces and a fire truly lit within me. I remember thinking, these women are getting to do what I have always dreamed of doing, they are encouraging women by telling them they are beautiful, they are getting to be creative, and they were getting to meet and interact with so many different people.
As I entered my senior year I was still daydreaming about that night, finding myself trying new makeup looks, buying way more makeup than I could afford, and begging friends to allow me to practice on their hair and face. But I still had no idea what all this meant for me as I was quickly approaching the end of college and facing the “real world”. My dean informed me that I was lacking a “practicum” or in other words an internship to finish out school. This internship had only one contingency: that it had to be ministry minded. How was I going to find a makeup job that was “ministry minded”.
Well the Lord is good because I DID find a woman who had previously graduated from DBU and had started a fashion production company with the purpose of sharing the gospel with people in the fashion and beauty world.
She quickly accepted my application and I started training and learning from her!
She taught me SO much from how to make the perfect curls, to how to own a business. She is the person who got me working with weddings. I learned how to communicate with a bride, what sort of prices to charge. And I have not turned back since. My goal was to create a hair and makeup business for any woman who needs my services but for those who do not care for that fake cakey look. All my work is VERY natural and soft. I accentuate the natural beauty that is found in every woman’s face. And my hope and prayer is that every time a woman leaves my studio she feels empowered in her own skin, not like she had flaws she needs to learn how to hide.
I have branched out from weddings and also offer discounted date night looks, prom hair and makeup and even everyday makeup lessons!
I have learned so much about myself and others in this process and hope that it just keeps growing and growing!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely one of the biggest struggles has been getting the ball rolling, and there are days that I still struggle with this! I can have weeks where I am booking and getting good marketing done, and then months where there is silence. It makes you second guess yourself, your passions, and even your work. I have had brides end up cancelling me last minute and never paying me their deposit, SO I have learned how to protect myself legally with contracts.
And of course I have my fair share of people who do not think my prices are fair. I was a bride not too long ago and researched other hair and makeup artists in DFW and I charge a fraction of what they do because I want everyone to have a chance to be pampered. But I have learned that no matter what people are going to judge your work and your business for that matter so there is no point in allowing it to hurt your heart. For every difficult person and failed week, there is a kind and gracious bride and fruitful season around the corner.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bare Beauty by June is an event hair and makeup company. I, June Barker, am the sole owner, CEO, employee or the company and do everything on my own and LOVE IT!
I specialize in natural hair and makeup. I only use products I know and trust and I take pride in my work. I love that I am different. I do not ever want a woman to walk away feeling like she has a mask on, but rather that she has learned how to make her already gorgeous eyes pop, or how she rocks a bold lip. Every woman who leaves my studio should feel as though their confidence has been built, not questioned. A lot of others in the beauty industry want to make women look like whole other versions of themselves, but I would rather them feel like themselves the whole time.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like DFW is a perfect place for someone in the wedding and beauty industry like myself, but that does not mean it is for everyone. It is a very competitive place, which is something I have struggled with but also overcome in some areas. If you feel like you have a business that stands out but is still something relatable to the city you are wanting to be in then this is an excellent place to be. You have to take pride in the business you started and fight for it.
Pricing:
- Basic Hair and Makeup for Bride: $175.00
- Just Hair for an Event: $90.00
- Just Makeup for an Event: $95.00
Contact Info:
- Website: barebeautybyjune.com
- Email: barebeautybyjune@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barebeautybyjune/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barebeautybyjune/
Image Credit:
Brittany Partain Photography
Alli Morgan/ Fawn and Foe Photography
Shelly Vos Carlson Photography
Jessica Adaway
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
