Conversations with Kandi Hernandez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandi Hernandez.

Hi Kandi, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
Hello, my name is Kandi Hernandez. I’m a Los Angeles-based makeup artist. I have always had a fun time doing makeup when I was younger for fun on my friends. They would ask me to do their makeup and I always did for fun. I started taking my hobby more serious later when I was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to find a way to make money. Eventually, I went to a makeup school, finished, and worked at Macy’s behind a counter. I loved helping clients and making woman feel great, but hated the part of having to sell them products. I just liked genuinely making them feel happy and give them a confidence boost. I eventually knew that wasn’t for me, so I started interning for a great mentor, SuperDuperMaxi! From him, I learned the entertainment business’s dos and don’ts. I then also started to work/intern for Rokael Lizama. From him, I learned the best beauty tips. From these 2 mentors, I really learned everything to my success today, and for them, I’m very grateful. After working with them I worked more independently and got more jobs on my own consistently. I have worked with some major beauty brands like Kiss Beauty, NYX & many more. I have also worked on many productions and celebrity clientele. I love makeup and it’s amazing to be able to call it my passion more than a job. 

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?
It definitely was not an easy ride. I started working as an intern and it was a huge struggle to find a way to make money on the side to also pay bills. A lot of the time, I did Lyft or DoorDash to make money on the side. I also would take little to no paying jobs because I wanted to work in this industry. You have to have a drive to keep going no matter how hard it gets no matter how broke you are. Eventually, your hard work will pay off, and it’ll get more consistent. So many times, I cried or would be on the verge of quitting and getting a regular job, but I’m so glad I didn’t give up and I kept pushing myself. I really owe my husband a lot of gratitude for never letting me quit, too. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love beauty. So, I would consider myself a beauty artist. I love to enhance people’s beauty from natural makeup to full glam. Makeup is fun. There are no rules. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come and how every time I do makeup, I feel like my makeup skills are always improving. I’m different from others because we all have our own touch to makeup. I love other makeup artists as well. We all can create a recipe, but everyone’s sauce is different. 

What matters most to you?
Family. My family is what matters to me. They are the reason why I do this. Why I work so hard? I want to be able to provide for them and give them what they give me. Love. They have had my back since I started and never let me give up, and I’m very grateful for them. They let me do what makes me not only provide for them but what makes me really happy. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/makeupbykandirose
• Facebook: www.tiktok.com/muakandirose