A tiny Clinique compact started the obsession. Years later, that spark has grown into a full-fledged bridal beauty business, built on grit, word-of-mouth momentum, and the courage to bet on yourself when the “safe path” won’t fit. We go behind the chair and into the rooms where careers are made, sharing the unfiltered story from minimum-wage makeup counters and salon sinks to five high-velocity years as a strip club head MUA—and the moment independence became the only option.
We unpack how counter experience trains real client listening, how one booked bride can become a pipeline, and why side-by-side income streams are the ladder before the leap. You’ll hear the creative stretch that comes from stage-proof looks, the reality of industry politics and sabotage, and the mindset shift that turned setbacks into a blueprint for growth. We talk lashing as a bridge that paid bills but taxed the body, the decision to open a salon and build a trusted team, and the systems that make wedding days smooth, fast, and joyful.
This conversation is equal parts practical and personal: how to spot work that gives energy instead of taking it, when to phase out services that no longer serve your goals, and how to protect new ideas from noisy opinions until they’re ready. We get candid about health insurance, starting an IRA before it feels urgent, and drawing firm boundaries with relationships that drain ambition. If you’re dreaming of a makeup career—or any creative business—you’ll leave with a map: start where you are, let clients be your megaphone, and choose belief before proof.
If you want product breakdowns, technique deep dives, or business Q&A for aspiring artists, DM us at tube's in a pod on Instagram. If this story resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help others find it.
