Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Ray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello Houston, my name is Brittany and I’m the CEO of Face of Curuhj Makeup Artistry. My passion for makeup started at the age of 13 years old, and my love for beauty continued to grow from there. I remember watching my grandmother apply her makeup in the morning for church and her asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Originally, I wanted to be a hairstylist, so my response to her was that I wanted to be a beauty stylist. As I became a teenager and was old enough to wear makeup, I would practice doing makeup on family and friends.
I started my journey as an Aspiring Makeup Artist in 2015 when a coworker suggested that I began doing makeup publicly. Needless to say, it was one of the boldest moves I’ve ever made, and I didn’t know if I was ready or not. I applied for a position at Ulta Beauty in Beaumont, TX and was hired as a cashier, where I gained a lot of product knowledge and began building my kit. I practiced on close family, friends, and coworkers to begin building my portfolio. “YouTube makeup tutorials became my holy grail for growth” and my marketing skills at that time were on point, but I still wasn’t getting the opportunity I needed to actually call myself an official Makeup Artist.
In 2017, I applied for a position at M•A•C Cosmetics, but I wasn’t offered a position. I remember questioning if I was making the right decision for my career, but instead of feeling sorry for myself I continued to learn my craft, market myself and walk by faith. My career took a turn for the best in 2017 when my clientele began to increase tremendously-I began accepting clients on a regular basis. I began receiving compliments on my makeup and eventually inquiries about providing services.
In 2019, I moved to Houston, TX where I accepted a job offer at M•A•C Cosmetics as a Freelance Makeup Artist! I was surrounded by other talented makeup artists and began to provide services for a range of people. “I launched Curuhj Cosmetics late 2020” after creating a concept of both makeup and skincare products that will bring out inner beauty in a bold and courageous way without showing fear no matter the skin type. My brand is now built on integrity and ethical marketing that will provide my clients with the ultimate beauty experience that will meet the highest beauty needs on all occasions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey of becoming the artist I am today hasn’t been easy as others may think. I’m constantly learning myself daily as a artist, an entrepreneur and as a woman in general. Balancing work while positioning myself as a Makeup Artist with limited availability to actually do what I love was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. For me, mentally, it was tough because I have this concept that what you put into something determines the outcome of what you get out of it. Needless to say, I’m handling my career as a entrepreneur the best way I know, and it’s been one of my biggest accomplishments thus far. I truly wouldn’t change anything about my journey nor where I am for nothing in the world because it has made me who I am today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Houston based Makeup Artist where I launched “Face of Curuhj Artistry/Cosmetics. Curuhj is pronounced as “Courage.” Curuhj stands apart and is here to be the freedom that unleashes inner and outer beauty with products and services that provide the chance for bold transformations to happen while inspiring everyone to recognize their individual beauty. Curuhj stands by principles that represent codes of honor to describe my brand’s reputation. I focus on enhancing these qualities: Freedom: is the outside of the inside that makes you, you. Transformation is the ability to embrace each challenge in life as an opportunity to transform yourself. Change: is knowing old habits won’t bring new results Rebirth: requires courage and trust to gracefully transition through life cycles. Empower yourself and have trust — in who you are.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is asking a lot of questions, reading and writing! “My mother and grandma told me I needed to be a lawyer for all the questions I asked” which was hilarious. At 11 years old, I volunteered to work in the library during the summer months, where I developed a love for reading books. My favorite books to read at such a young age were about cosmetology, beauty and self-help books for personal growth. “When I received my first library card it was over after that.” I began learning more about the industry and even started my first blog, where I would discuss topics related to my love for beauty and makeup. “So, my favorite childhood memory is always knowing what my passion is.”
Contact Info:
- Email: info@curuhjcosmetics.net
- Website: www.curuhjcosmetics.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faceofcuruhj/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/br.inclusively?ref=bookmarks
Image Credits
@marshall.vision @dhinez
