Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke Nowicki.
Hi Brooke, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been in the hair industry for going on 16 years. In that time, I’ve worked behind the chair and I was also an educator for Paul Mitchell. I was feeling burnout around year 13, so I decided to go back to school. I quit my job in education and started in school full time, I was pursuing a degree in occupational therapy while also working at a salon. During that time, I quickly realized that I was already in my dream career, I just needed to give myself a new direction. I got a freelance job as a hair and makeup artist for weddings, photoshoots, and some film! That grew to where I am today. I’m one of those lucky few, that don’t feel like their career is work. I love that I get to spend my time with great people. Weddings are so much fun because it’s such a positive atmosphere. People are genuinely happy and it feels so good to see their reaction to my work! Nothing makes my day quite like someone who loves the hair and makeup services I provide. I want to continue to expand my career throughout Kansas City. I love this city and being able to travel to different beautiful venues throughout this city is quite wonderful. When I’m not freelancing you can find me in my studio in the crossroads of kc! It’s called Hairpins. I’m there Wednesdays and Saturdays, and I love building my clientele with cool people. I’m such a people person and it’s my passion to be creative with hair and makeup. I’d love to get more involved in hair and makeup for theater, film, and portrait photography!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. While my passion for the industry has always been there, my motivation has not. During my 16 years, I’ve had some ups and downs and highs and lows. Some to the extent of having to put my career on hold. I’m a mother of two wonderful children. My son is medically fragile and spends pretty close to the first year of his life in the hospital. He had multiple major surgeries and medical complications along the way. During that time, I quit my job to be with him full time in the hospital. When he was 8 months old, I was able to take him home for the first time. I was home with my son for about 4 weeks and then I decided to dip my foot back in. It felt so good to get back to something positive after all the stresses that came with my son’s long hospital stay. Being the mother of special needs child gave me this sense of empathy that I didn’t quite have before I became a mother. I’ve always loved people but there’s something beautiful when you can use your own human experience and relate to those on a human-to-human level. A few years after my son’s hospital stay, I went through a divorce. Again, this was a pretty pivotal event in my life that has since shaped me even more. After my divorce, I had this period of what am i doing with my life. I’m about to be a divorced co-parent. And I didn’t think hair was the industry to be in to support my little ones. Hence going to OT school. I was very very wrong! This industry has never been more lucrative than it is now and for that, I’m very grateful. It’s so freeing to be in a great space both personally and professionally. I am growing so much in my career right now and I attribute most of that to my outlook. I feel very lucky to be in the position to do exactly what I want to do. It wasn’t an easy road getting to where I’ve gotten, but the things that happened along the way, no matter how hard, have changed me for the better.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance hair and makeup artist. I travel around the KC metro area marking people feel amazing. I specialize in bridal makeup, airbrush, and soft dewy looks. Occasionally, I love stepping out of that box and working on photoshoot makeup doing more dramatic or bolder looks… I love the creative element of it all. The way I can see an end result in my mind’s eye and literally watching come to get her piece by piece. But with all of that, I’m most proud of the dedication took to get me where the vision in my head saw me. It may have taken me a bit longer to get to where I am today.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the industry growing so much in the next 5-10 years. Bridal trends are going to become less and less traditional. I see brides leaning towards bolder makeup looks like a pop of color on the eyes, bolder lips. As far as hair I see the side part tend to come back. I also see hair becoming bolder as well. The money piece is so big right now, and it doesn’t have to be only for blondes. I see this being done on tones ranging from golden brunettes, coppers, and reds.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @glammedbybrooke
- Facebook: Brooke Nowicki
