We had a fantastic time chatting with Olayide Badmus, the creative director of Browneyes Makeovers. She is soft spoken, easy going and very detailed. She shared about her business, working in the wedding industry and gave solid advice for couples as well as vendors. Here’s what we learned:
Please tell us about yourself and your business?
My name is Olaide Badmus, a graduate of Computer Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University. I started makeup artistry in 2011. I used to be a model but I knew I couldn’t be a model for the rest of my life. However, I wanted to remain in the showbiz and fashion industry, so I thought about what I loved to do that relates to modeling, showbiz and fashion. I know I can’t act or sing. I love colours and I like painting my face a lot since I was child. I mimicked my big sisters. I just thought to try makeup. As a model, I admired makeup artists when we went for jobs, so I said “I think I need to do this”. I needed to learn a skill and wanted to remain in the industry, that’s why I went into makeup artistry. I chose weddings instead of fashion and beauty because I love weddings. In fact, wedding is my favorite party when it comes to going for parties and all. I enjoy weddings to other events.
How did you start Browneyes Makeovers? What inspired you to get into the wedding industry?
I was doing my IT in a financial firm and one day I sat down and asked myself if that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life; leaving home at 5 am and coming back at 9 pm. At least when I start my family, I don’t want to do this every day. I want to be there for my kids. I knew I had to learn a skill, so I asked myself what I love to do and enjoy doing. I love painting my face, even when I wake up late and I am supposed to leave my house at 4 am. I will do my makeup even if I had to use candle light. I do it because I enjoy it. Since I like do my makeup, I decided to do something in that field. I started watching a lot of YouTube videos although I had not taken it seriously then. I went for a three-day training. After the training, I offered to do a friend’s bridal makeup, although I didn’t have a tools or products that I could use for her aside from mine. That happened to be my first bride and since then it’s been from strength to strength, going from one training to another, trying to perfect the skill. I opened officially November 8th 2015, that’s when I started my studio.
Would you start Browneyes Makeovers, if you were to do it over again? What would you do differently?
Yes, I will choose makeup artistry when it comes to learning a skill because I enjoy it. That’s the only thing you can get me to do when I’m sick. When I’m down and you want me to be useful to you, get me something makeup related. If it is something else I will be sick again. If it is makeup related or something to do with colours, the energy comes from nowhere and I really don’t get tired until the job is done.
What has been your greatest motivation?
Motivation to succeed and have a better future. I thought about my future, my family although I am not yet married and what will happen in the next five years. I don’t want to do long hours. Not me, not possible. I don’t want to leave my home for a house help. I want to be there for my kids, be an integral part of their lives, and be their lesson teacher, best friend and all. Honestly, it’s hard with a career job. That’s actually the inspiration to learn a skill and start a business.
What do you think of the Nigerian/Ghanaian wedding industry? Has it changed over the years and how?
Yes. Before I joined the industry, I admired a lot of makeup artists in particular the late Ewar. She was one of the people that inspired me.
The industry has grown and things have evolved. You see different trends every day. My married sister wonders when makeup artistry became a big thing. When she looks at her wedding makeup pictures, she wishes it was now. The change is drastic when you compare pictures from say 2009 to what we have now. It is a different world entirely. I think we are doing well for ourselves.
What do you like about Browneyes Makeovers and working in the wedding industry?
I love that you can change something that looks ordinary to extraordinary. Sometimes when I look at someone, I envision that the person has a very sharp cheek bone that I can do something with or brows that would be nice if it was done a certain way. I am already doing an invisible makeup on that person. I love that the job allows me to do all of these things on another person which come out strikingly well.
What differentiates Browneyes Makeovers from others in your line of business and location? What are your greatest strengths?
I believe what differentiates me is my customer service experience and my passion for excellence which I learnt from my 9-to-5 job. There are so many things you learn from a 9-to-5 job that can’t be taken away and you can incorporate into your own business. I think customer service and getting to customers would be the difference. It is not as though I have everything but there is something about me, according to a lot of my customers. Sometimes, they apologize when they go somewhere else because I wasn’t reachable. They just choose to be loyal to this girl not because am better than other colleagues, but because of my personality and the received service.
What do you expect from your clients (brides and grooms)? What don’t you expect?
Not much, I just want them to stick to our agreement. No late surprises. For instance, we are to meet at a particular time and I have to wait for two hours. I like being punctual, so I like it when people are punctual too. I don’t like it when we have an agreement and I get to a place only to I hear sorry there has been a change of plan. It destabilizes me. I like people to stick to our agreement so everything just works out seamlessly; agreements such as time, location, etc. Another instance, we had an agreement that I will have a room to myself and I get there only to discover that I’ll share a room with six other family members. I am not up for those kind of surprises.
What is (are) the most rewarding aspect(s) of providing your service? What are the most frustrating aspect(s)?
For most rewarding, aside the money which obviously is one reason that everybody is in business, it will be the satisfaction on my client’s face after the job. I love the look and the expressions of “wow”, “are you serious”, “I look beautiful” and “love this”. In fact, I look forward to it while doing the makeup because some clients don’t get to look at the mirror till I am done.
What advice do you have for future brides and grooms regarding your type of business i.e. venues if you are a venue, photographers if you are a photographer, etc.?
Ensure privacy especially for the bride. They need a bit of privacy with the makeup artist, hair stylist and probably the photographer, to prevent situations where a room is stuffy / crowded and one person is saying “she didn’t blend this place well” and another is saying “no, it’s too dark”. They won’t wait for you to finish what you are doing before commenting. As a result, the bride is worked up and worried that she will look horrible for her wedding. That’s the essence of privacy.
What advice do you have for up and coming businesses in your line of business’?
My advice is not to go into the business because everybody is doing makeup. Don’t do it because your friend is a makeup artist or just because you want to own a business. Do it because you enjoy doing it, have a passion for it and think you can be successful. It takes consistent and continuous practice, the ability to accept ‘no’ because you will get a lot, and the ability to manage disappointments. Be ready for surprises, not just good ones, but also disappointments even from fellow vendors in the industry. So you have to prepare yourself. Money shouldn’t be the primary reason you are in business because if it is, you will pack up in the first year. If you have other reasons, the passion is there and you are not ready to give up, then you can start. For instance, if you are talking to ten different vendors and the first nine say no, don’t give up, talk to that last one. You never can tell as that last person might say yes and that collaboration might be the one that will sell for you.
What award(s), if any, have you received?
None yet but am looking forward to it.
What else would you like to share with our readers?
If you want a good makeup, you should be ready to pay for it. This business is not child’s play. There are a lot of people in this business who are B.Sc and Master’s Degree holders, so it’s not a question of what do they know. It is a business that is meant to fend for us and pay our bills. So when people look down on it, and refuse to pay much, then they shouldn’t expect to get good services.
For people that want to come into the business, I will advise that they seek God first and God’s direction. When you are sure that’s what you want to do and have a passion for it, then prepare your mind to be successful no matter how hard it is and how many people are in the business. Just have the mindset that you are going to make it. Mindset is the key.
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