Today we’d like to introduce you to Leontay Timmons.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been the girl all things glitz, glam, and beauty. I’m the only girl, I have three brothers, so my mom raised me to be super girly. I just remember getting super heavy into doing my own makeup after I left home for college. It wasn’t until I returned home in about 2011/2012 that my family and friends would ask me to do their makeup. Of course, since I was new to the craft, I wasn’t charging them anything. Then I received my first paying client in 2014 and she became a regular, as well as referring people to me. I think I had an “Aha” moment and realized that I could actually make something of this. I continued to diligently research and practice my craft and the rest was history.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has absolutely NOT been a smooth road at all. I think my biggest struggle was not being as business savvy as I would have liked to been at the beginning. I majored in biology and public health, something so far fetched from business. Had I known what I know now, I would have definitely enrolled in Business 101 a little earlier on. Having a craft or talent is only half the job when operating a business. You must be business-minded and have the desire to want to continue your education. Not only for yourself but for your clients and customers as well. Another struggle for me was/is having a full-time job. I am employed with the U.S. government, so finding the time to allocate to my business is very tough, but I feel like I was built for this.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The inspiration behind the name Desired Faces is my middle name, Desire. Desire means to have a strong feeling of want for something so I wanted to play off of that and create a brand and an experience that my clients and future clients wanted to be apart of. I typically specialize in neutral soft glam makeup enhancements. With the beauty industry ever-changing with different trends here and there, I want to create looks that are timeless for the everyday woman who desires a bit of glam in her life. What I think sets me apart from others, although I’m my biggest competition, is that I am extremely focused on the wellness of my client’s skin. The reason being is because the foundation to a flawless makeup application is healthy skin. Although I am not a licensed esthetician yet, I make sure that every client that sits in my chair gets properly skin prepped so that I can create that skin like enhancement that I strive for. Apart from that, I make sure that I recommend products and/or services of others within the beauty industry to assist them with achieving their skincare goals. I want them to know that even without my makeup application, I am genuinely concerned for their skin.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was extremely shy and in a shell. I think a big part of that comes from being the only girl and being raised differently than my brothers. I enjoyed all things pink and frilly, baking with my grandma, and singing/praise dancing in church. I always knew that whatever I was going to do as an adult, would include serving people. At the time, I thought it would be healthcare-related and it still could be, but for now I think God has planted me here to bloom in the beauty industry for a reason. I think it is so amazing to witness my own growth from a timid shy little girl to a fully blossomed woman who is on a mission to create something great for myself and my family.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 205-567-0752
- Email: desiredfacesinc@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/desiredfacesmakeup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesiredFacesMakeup/
- Other: https://DesiredFaces.as.me
Image Credit:
Trey Chambers, Bold As a Lion Studios, Gianna Turner-Arline, Brian Pride
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