Meet Kierstyn Waller | Makeup Artist & Public Relations Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kierstyn Waller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kierstyn, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress” – Fredrick Douglass

This quote means so much to me because the first time I saw it I was in the 8th grade. My English teacher at the time had it posted in the room and I would read it every single day. I used it then as a reminder to just make it through middle school but it has been a quote that I have taken with me throughout my life. Struggles can help us learn, grow and gain strength. Life has continued to teach me that success does not come without some form of struggle therefore, I have learned to embrace it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I first gained my love for makeup playing in my mom’s makeup when I was 15. I started off by just wearing it to church on Sundays. It was nothing too crazy, just a little bit of lipgloss, mascara and eyeshadow. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was adding foundation and concealer to my routine. Of course then I had no skills and was just curious how all the stuff “worked”. I started watching YouTube videos of beauty influencers and makeup professionals. I am a visual learner so I would spend hours watching videos and applying my makeup until I did it the way I saw it on screen. Once I was in undergrad I began experimenting with doing other people’s makeup. Let me take a moment to thank all of the ladies who trusted me to do their makeup in college because looking back on it…I was terrible! I had no reason doing anyone else’s makeup until I perfected my skills but, “if there is no struggle there’s no progress”, right? Being a makeup artist in undergrad was definitely a struggle but it propelled me to where I am today. It was necessary for me to mess up and make mistakes then so that I could learn from them and do better going forward. As I continued to practice and take makeup classes, I gained the confidence to turn my hobby into a business. In 2014, while sitting in my dorm at Eastern Michigan University, I created The Beauty Hour. The Beauty Hour started with me just servicing ladies for birthdays or events around campus. I would consistently post pictures of my work on social media whenever I had a client. I was eventually gaining quite a bit of attention from women back home in Detroit who wanted me to do their makeup when I came home on breaks or during the Summer. As the years progressed, The Beauty Hour evolved to more than just servicing for birthdays and campus events. I was now doing makeup for weddings, corporate events, fashion shows, tv appearances, photo shoots and mentorship programs. I was amazed at what God was able to do with my “little hobby”. I eventually realized that I did not want The Beauty Hour to be just a makeup service but I wanted it to have a lasting impact on people. When we think of something that has a lasting impact on us it usually satisfies us in a way that we want to experience it again and again. That is how I wanted people to look at The Beauty Hour. I began to incorporate the phrase, “service that magnifies your beauty and satisfies your soul.” I tell all of my clients and prospective clients that I never want you to leave my chair without feeling like an enhanced version of yourself. Makeup should magnify your beauty not cover it up. Thats what sets The Beauty Hour brand apart from others. The goal has always been to magnify the beauty that you already have.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Detroit is a city filled with rich, historic culture and grit! We have so many incredible things to see and do.

I would start by going to my favorite breakfast place right outside the city in Grosse Pointe called, Original Pancake House. There we would get their famous bacon pancakes! Next I would take them on a drive towards downtown. We would ride on Belle Isle, ride through the Heidelberg Project which is an outdoor art gallery. I love art, history and museums! Detroit has so many amazing museums so my mission would be to take my friend to at least 1 a day while they are visiting. The first museum I would take them to is the Motown Museum. Then we would go to the Detroit Institute of Arts museum, the African American history museum, the Detroit historical museum, and the Henry Ford museum at some point during the week. After the museum, we would then take a stroll on the Riverwalk so that we could see the amazing Canadian skyline. After that, we will walk through Campus Martius and The Alley for some nice views of The City downtown. I would also take them to Savannah Blue, which is an upscale soul food restaurant, for dinner. We would end the day with a movie at the Ford drive in.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my mom, Kathy Peterson.

Mom, thank you for always pushing me, believing in me and telling me the truth. I couldn’t see how significant those qualities were when I was younger but I am so glad I see how important they are now.

Thank you!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkwall?igsh=bGZvOG1jc2h4ZG9m&utm_source=qr

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkwall?_t=8lOzeR6FZVO&_r=1

Image Credits
Shot by: BlueFlameMultiMedia