Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimber Portmann.
Hi Kimber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began living the vintage life, loving the pinup aesthetic, at an early age while growing up outside of LA. I started doing professional hair and makeup early on and have worked hard to perfect my craft, bringing out the beauty in thousands over years. From California to Georgia, and several stops between, I’ve shared my art. Once in Georgia, I began in special effects and horror makeup for TV and productions and branched off into development of haunted houses in the Atlanta area. Since retiring the gore, I continue to be an international on-location hair and makeup artist for weddings, photo shoots, television, and more. As a passion project, I began designing custom wigs, cosplay gear, and Disney-inspired ears, as well as specialty made-to-order hair pieces. I can be found organizing and running live events and pin-up contests and working with a plethora of charities. I also frequent Tiki conventions where I do hair and makeup and sell custom haircrafts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been struggles along the way, but being able to raise three children and do the work I love makes it all worth it! Of course, in any journey, there are ups and downs. Growing up in southern California, with a mother working her way through the corporate world, we moved every two years. It was hard to find out where I truly belonged. No matter where I ended up, I found myself gravitating towards the theater crowd. Their accepting nature, positivity, and creativity, was something only those who experienced it could understand. I found my love for vintage aesthetics was appreciated and I learned my skills in prop arts, hair design, and makeup had a place in their world. After my family settled and I graduated in Georgia, I kept the trend by moving from city to city, wanting to experience as much of the country as I could.
Hollywood, Portland, Nashville, New York, Tampa, and ultimately Atlanta, I took it all in. Once I started my family, I moved to Canton, Georgia, where I began designing haunted houses, from the construction to the wardrobe, casting, effects, and makeup. During this time, I also did special effects makeup for photo shoots, movies, and television. After several years of this, I hung up the gore and got back to my roots in vintage styling. In 2013, Always Pretty by Kimber became my brand, “makeup and hair with a vintage flair”! Providing pinup-inspired vintage hair and makeup for photo shoots, weddings, proms, special events, television, productions, etc., has been a dream come true.
Unfortunately, once the pandemic hit, my craft was seemingly put on hold. With weddings and events being shut down, I sadly had to as well. I refunded those who had their big day canceled and began looking to other passions. With the shortage throughout the world, I produced thousands of unique masks and donated a majority of them. Once outdoor events began to open up, realizing I had done it for myself all my life, I started making and selling custom hair pieces. With social distancing still on the minds of millions and not being able to give a personal touch to people’s hair, I styled and sold wigs as well.
Post-pandemic, my family set their sights on Disney. For the trip(s), I made custom ears for everyone in the family for each day (along with the bounds to go with them). The ears became an immediate hit, getting attention from everyone who saw them. From there, Always Ears was born. Since then, I haven’t looked back. I have gone full send into each avenue, taking custom orders for just about anything and booking as much makeup and hair as I can!
It has never been enough to look vintage; I am also a collector. Throughout my life, I have amassed a rather large collection of antiques. My mother, who was my guiding star, always had picking and dealing as a hobby. With her recent passing, I found the courage to join the community by opening up my own antique dealing alcove. If you’re ever in north Georgia, you can find (and buy) some of my collection at Jasper Antiques and Things.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My ability to personally handcraft your hair and makeup, as well as hair pieces, Disney-inspired ears, and wigs, for your individual needs, sets me apart from others! I take the time to listen to all of my clients and work hard to see their dreams realized. If you’re looking to find a fully customized Disney bound for each day at the park, a specialized hair piece, completely horrific special effects makeup, your inner vintage-inspired pinup beauty, the perfect headshot or special event look, or the dream wedding day look for you and your whole party, I’ve got you!
How do you think about luck?
While things have definitely hit hard throughout the years, I make my own luck. Being able to do what I love and see the joy it brings others is the magic. I believe in giving endlessly. I have donated materials, work, and countless hours to a plethora of charities throughout my years. I get joy out of giving and doing for others. I get to bring out a beauty in others they may not see themselves and that is a joy that cannot be described. For people who live in circumstances that make feeling beautiful an afterthought, being able to show them their magnificence makes me my luck.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Kimbervongore
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllwaysPrettybyKimber
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@kimbervongore6499
- Other: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082423704180
Image Credits
Kevin Myers
Coastal Expressions Photography
Tara Keppler
Brooklyn Brat Images
Tracy Fowler
Stephanie Gomez Photography
