Today we’d like to introduce you to Imari Daniels.
Hi Imari, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started to experiment with makeup my senior in high school. At the time, I started with just brows. After I graduated, during my freshman year of college, I noticed the girls were not coming to play! So I stepped it up to lashes and a little concealer. Over time I just added on more and more until I was walking around with a FULL FACE BEAT DOWN!
But it was always just something I did in my free time nothing major. At one point, I was working in a warehouse drowning in depression. I just knew that wasn’t my end game. On my breaks, all I would do is watch YouTube videos and scroll through countless Instagram posts of makeup. I just kept getting further and further from the person I wanted to be and decided to quit. But instead of leaning on FAITH, I went to another job, only to eventually start that same cycle.
So one day everything began to build up and I just quit that job too. After a few days of sitting around in my own sorrows, my grandmother started finding reasons to get me to do my makeup. Running errands for her, finding looks to recreate, just any little thing. She even encouraged me to start taking pictures and posting them. I literally had to fake it ‘til I made it.
Makeup became my happy place. Makeup saved me from Depression, Makeup helped me beat PPD! During this time cut creases, glitter, long lashes, and bright colored eyeshadow was in. And I loved it! Makeup allowed me to become someone else, like an alter ego, you know? It allowed me to express my emotions, my personality and figure out who I wanted to be. I slowly became Mari and everything I created was my masterpiece. Hence the name Mari’s Masterpieces – Expressive Beauty Co.
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?
This journey has been anything but smooth. Even though I loved makeup, I was always scared to pursue it. I was a mother of three. I was still trying to balance work and school. All while trying to fight through Post Partum Depression. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be good enough. Embarrassed of what others would say or if they would support me or not. Worried about how me and my children would survive off of an unpromised income. The list goes on. So, I would turn down all the requests I got to do makeup on others and just kept my talents hidden in my room.
But it all came down to FAITH! Knowing that what’s for you will be! You just gotta do it! Stop waiting for the right time, the perfect amount of money, your family to say they’ll support you. Just do it! Fast, pray, set a goal and steps you can work on to accomplish it. Then get to work!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a makeup artist. Although I service women of all races, skin types, and complexions. I enjoy doing dramatic and special effects/Halloween looks. I just consider myself to be a very diverse artist because I can alternate my style from heavy dramatic looks to a soft “no makeup look” while giving you the same amazing finish. If I had to pick one thing, I would say I specialize in doing Makeup for African American women with deeper complexions. It just kind of happened! When I first started, I was intimidated by the thought. With darker women, it’s easy to make them look either ghostly, blue/black, or too red/orange. Unfortunately the makeup industry, even though it has gotten better, hasn’t always been too inclusive in regards to this group of women.
So as I started taking clients women kept messaging me asking if I do makeup on “dark women” and I never understood because why wouldn’t I? No matter how afraid I was, I wouldn’t ever turn anyone down. I would explain to them the challenge I was working through and allowed them to make the decision to book or not. But one day a girl messaged me begging me to squeeze her in because an artist refused to service her last minute because of her complexion. So I began to study videos and create my own technique. That’s how I developed the phrase(s) “Mari & The Chocolate Factory” and “Where we keep the chocolate girl’s chocolate“.
I also offer makeup classes, male and female mannequins, and brow henna / tinting services.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I’ve always been quietly creative! I would be the child that was in my room cutting up socks to make doll clothing or sitting in the living room watching my grandmother plait hair just waiting for my turn to do one. I’m a pretty good artist too! My pieces were in the local museums when I was younger. I joined drama, chorus, played the clarinet, and even was a part of the color guard during high school.
I’ve just always been that person who wasn’t afraid to try anything. I’ve learned how to do wig installs, nails, lash extensions, waxing, you name it! I’ve done it.
Pricing:
- Natural Glam $60
- Soft Glam $70
- Dramatic Glam $80
- Henna Brow / Brow Tint $35
- Mannequins $180+
Contact Info:
- Email: marismasterpieces@gmail.com
- Website: https://marismasterpieces.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marismasterpieces/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063698464758
- Other: TikTok: _marismasterpieces
