New Yorker of the Week

NovMon 2009 Filed in: New Yorker of the Week

Michele Bell

Craft: Hair and Makeup Artist
In New York: Born and raised
Why we think she’s cool: Has a couple of ideas for Ms. Liberty and the men love her.
Where to find her: www.bridestobeny.com
Interview by: José

Jose: I've heard so much about you and I knew I had to interview you. How are you?
Michele: Thank you. I'm really good.

J: So I saw that you were born and raised in New York. That's rare, because people here are so transient.
M: Most people are. I truly love New York. It’s given me a lot of successful opportunities. This state has taught me a lot and has given me even more. Recently I've been traveling to LA for work, but I always come back to New York. It’s my home.

J: How did you get into the beauty industry?
M: Well enhancing people's beauty has always been my true passion. I began doing hair and makeup in middle school and never looked back. Having been trained in prestigious schools and teaching people the craft of perfecting people's beauty really makes me fall in love with my career over and over again.

J: How did you start your company?
M: When I got married at 20 years old, there were no beauty artists that would come on site to do hair and makeup. I had to drive to the salon in rainy weather and after many tries, I didn’t look the way I expected to. I wished that somebody could have come to my house and assisted me on my special day while I felt stress-free and beautiful. My rainy wedding day inspired the concept of brides-to-be, a service which provided hair and makeup designers for the bride on the day of her wedding. When I started the company in 1990, I would go on site to the bride's home or hotel and give them what I always desired: Beautiful hair and makeup in a stress-free environment.

J: That’s amazing. I can’t imagine that there was a lot of that going on in 1990.
M: There was nobody. In 1990 there were no professional hair and makeup artists who would go on site to accommodate a bride on her wedding day. I was alone in NYC. Word got out and I was busy every weekend.

J: I did some research and found a lot of unlicensed people posing as makeup and hair artists. How does that make you feel?
M: It's very disappointing to me that there are so many people advertising themselves as hair and makeup artists. They attempt to do what I do while offering their services for much less money. However, they are not licensed. It’s unethical.

J: Now with what’s happening with TV it seems like everybody thinks they can do what you do. Do you think reality tv is giving people false information about your line of work?
M: I was just in LA this past week and I was talking to one of the producers out there who said, “We've got to work together on a reality show,” I told him “Yeah, we should get a reality show on who’s a real makeup artist and who’s not!”

J: That’s funny.
M: Yeah, I’m so sick of seeing David Tutera (My Fair Wedding), Bridezillas, and Platinum Weddings. The reality is that when a bride looks at her photos in 30 years and sees the foo-foo up-do and the shiny-looking blush and foundation, she’s gonna say “OH MY GOD, I should’ve called Michele Bell!"

J: I believe you.
M: Seriously. Listen, your hair and make-up has to flow with who you are. You can’t put an over the top hair style on a simple girl next door. It just doesn’t work. I am the Feng Shui of hair and makeup! By accentuating one’s features I can prove that everyone is beautiful.

J: Are you predominantly working in the wedding industry right now?
M: Brides are where my heart is, but I do everything. I love to work at Bryant Park during Fashion Week.

J: Do you have a preference? Brides, celebrities, models?
M: I don’t have a preference when I do hair and makeup. Working with film, commercials or TV work is much different than weddings or fashion shoots. At the end of the day though, it’s all about just enhancing the look and the beauty of already beautiful individuals.

J: What has been the hardest part in the last couple years in New York?
M: Unless you are with an established agency, a lot of jobs are on a “barter” basis. People offer prints, credits, or just connections. Unfortunately the no-pay atmosphere does not pay my bills and there is a lot of competition for paid projects.

J: If you had to choose somebody to do your own hair and makeup, who would it be?
M: Johnny Lavoy. He’s a big makeup guru from Ford Models. He’s amazing!

J: What products do you use?
M: I use Make Up For Ever, Smashbox and some of Mac. For hair I use Bumble and Bumble and Warren Tricomi. People’s skin and hair is valuable, therefore I only use high end quality products on my clients.

J: Do you think Ms. Liberty needs a make-over or does she still look good?
M: [smiles] She is still stunning but can use a little color on her lips, cheeks and eyes. Maybe she can use a bit of modernization. I can give her a Bohemian hair style and make her pop.

J: Haha. I think it's time to let her hair down. People you meet must love what you do.
M: They LOVE IT! They’re like “OH MY GOD” - they want to be my best friend and know my little secrets. My secrets are like a magician’s though. A true magician never reveals their secrets. Not even to their friends most of the time.

J: Looks like I’m going to have to take you out for coffee and be your best friend!
M: NO! Champagne and Chambord please!

J: Fancy! That’s a deal. It was great talking to you.
M: Great talking to you, too. We'll talk soon.
File

www.bridestobeny.com

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Michele answers our 5 ‘Outsider’ Questions:

1. List 5 things you have in your fridge:
M: Activia Yogurt, hazelnut cream, Hellman’s Mayonnaise, Italian ice & edamame

2. What freaks you out most about NY?
M: The ridiculous parking situation and the tickets.

3. Describe a good NY cheap date:
M: Going to Carnegie Club on a Saturday night listening to Steve Maglio and his 11-piece orchestra do a Sinatra tribute.

4. What's your favorite NY Icon?
M: Lady Liberty it is. You know what they say, “it ain’t easy being green,” and her green just transcends timeless beauty.

5. Where do you go to escape NY?
M: Saint Martin. I love the beautiful sunsets.

Tags: Jose, new yorker, new york , Interview, hair and makeup artist