Meet Nikita Collins | Makeup Artist & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Nikita, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Hi, Im Nikita owner of The Favored Faces Makeup Artistry. My thought process or means behind starting my own business was literally to just do it. Either I was going to make it or I was going to pivot, try again or try something else.
Truthfully speaking, friends and family have always sung praises regarding my skill set and gifts that I’d had from a young age. But I didn’t have much prior knowledge about starting a business – legally speaking; only that I knew I had profitable talents, that I should remain malleable throughout the professions curves & always remain open to learning and being taught. I think those were my main ideals when I first started taking up makeup artistry as my profession. Startup Costs also played a big part in choosing the directions to go in; having spare money to just splurge and really invest into my businesses wasn’t exactly ever easy in my life so I had to be strategic with my business plans and decisions. Which led me into starting an online graphic design business which required $0 to start. When that business grew & I started placing money to the side for different expenses I would always make sure I had enough to go and invest into something for my makeup passion whether it was beauty products, tools or even backdrops and lighting. Still choosing more cost-effective options and playing safe in case things wouldn’t go as I planned.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Whew, There are so many lessons and little nuggets I’ve picked up throughout my career as a MUA. One of the biggest is to remain open! Not literally as in operating hours wise, but open as in open to suggestion, open to failure and open to collaboration. Quite literally your networth is your network – if you’re trying to grow in a creative form of profession you have got to get your name out there and be willing to work even for free sometimes if it means you’re letting your skill be known. You also have to remain consistent; if an idea strikes you- you got to jump right on it. A good professional friend of mine told me that “procrastination is the arrogance that you will have time tomorrow to do what you could’ve done today,” that quote sticks with me often because it’s so easy to let almost anything distract you and get in your way of succeeding; but it all boils down to how bad you want to succeed and how heavy are you willing to trust the process and just go for it. Being a makeup artist is by far the most fun industry to be apart of but it can be very overwhelming if you let the profits and comparison get in your head. In todays economy products are only getting more expensive and not many people are looking at these beauty services as worth the money anymore. So often I see other artists get discouraged when they don’t have consistent clientele but its important to take those down seasons as time to practice your craft even more, research on how you can gain more consistent returning clients or even how you can take your beauty skills and earn money without even having to pick up the brushes. Most importantly know that it shouldn’t be about the money, with me I take pride in ensuring that my clients or even potential clients leave feeling 1) even more gorgeous & confident than they already were and 2) knowledgeable about the things I’ve done to help them look that way and how they may achieve it on their own. My client experience is what I feel everyone should know when they come across The Favored Faces. It isn’t just powder and brushes – its the mini therapy and self care sessions, the new friendship & the comfortability that my clients feel with me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely some of the best brunch and lunch spots are those hole in the wall places. I’d start our day at Breakfast at Barneys & then head out to do something fun and work off the great meal we just had. Beat the Bomb is a fairly new spot which gets you moving and thinking but is definitely fun! Theres also another spot if you’re into chemistry called Intoxicated Chemist in ATL that is exactly how it sounds. Science experiments with adult drinks is so much fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to recognize my mother and three sisters for playing a huge part in my growth and career. When noone would trust me to practice or even invest in my passions they would. Wholeheartedly and without hesitation. My sisters – Brittany who always loved to try the wildest fun looks and always gifted me anything beauty related for every holiday, Destiny who never ceased to challenge my skills & even little Sasha who trusted me to represent her schools dance team, had always asked and trusted me to do their makeup for big events or even on their casual nights out. Looking back at my work then, I definitely needed improvement but still they always happily wore their faces and never failed to mention me to anyone who asked about getting makeup done. Lastly, my mommy Constance, who always posted, liked, shared and spread any of my accomplishments and businesses to any and everybody she came across. These are my biggest supporters & without them I probably wouldn’t be as far as I am today. So thank you girlies, for always pushing me to be as best as I could be.

Website: https://theefavoredfaces.as.me

Instagram: instagram.com/thefavoredfaces

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082516431711&mibextid=dGKdO6

Image Credits
Jordan Harvey