Today we’d like to introduce you to Josue Rangel.
Josue, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 1997 at the age of 16, my high school friends found out I was attending a Cosmetology program, so I would often get asked to do their makeup and hair for school dances and other special events. I would charge them $40 for makeup or hair or $75 for both. I was very young, and I did not consider myself to be a professional just yet, but I loved getting everyone glammed. After graduating high school, I would continue to do makeup and hair, and I started my own company called MUAH Makeup And Hair.
It was the late 90’s, and we didn’t have social media so word of mouth was how I would get booked. That’s how I met my original MUSE, Elvira Flores. Elvira was a senior and was nominated for Homecoming Queen and needed someone to do her glam for the assembly, football game, and the actual dance. Word got out to her about me and booked me for all three sessions. During the assembly, Elvira gave me a shoutout, at this point everyone found out about my skills so I became everyone’s to go for glam. It only took getting together four times to become close friends with Elvira, so I started doing her hair color, hair cuts, and hair extensions I even did her wedding glam and just recently 26 years later I got to do her daughter’s glam for her quinceañera.
In my early years, I would buy beauty magazines and I would try to recreate the trending makeup looks and hairstyles. I wouldn’t read the magazines; I would just look at the pictures, so years later I found out that there is a section at the end of the magazine where the artist is credited. It was then when I discovered Kevyn Aucoin. I was obsessed with everything he did. So I bought his books and studied them, they became my beauty bible.
Working in the city of dreams I got to do makeup and hair for the iHeart Radio, EMMYS, and Grammy Awards including special segments for TV such as Despierta America and more. After slaying faces for two decades, I became an advocate and ambassador for Estée Lauder company who owns over 25 brands such as MAC COSMETICS which is my specialty. Educating and sharing my knowledge with young artists has really become my passion. Thanks to social media, everything becomes more easily accessible, but you can’t compare with an old school one-on-one in-person training when you’re an artist.
This all led to creating my own beauty brand MUAH Cosmetics, which the makeup line is set to be released in late December 2023.
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?
The beauty industry is forever evolving. New trends are always coming out, buying new products or even finding the time to take classes to learn new techniques can be challenging yet expensive.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m known for my ability to bring my client’s vision to life and make it look effortless. Making anyone who sits in my chair “Look and feel beautiful” is the ultimate goal. My picture-perfect makeup looks and hairstyles have been making the glam world swoon for 20 years and can be seen in numerous magazines, bridal and quinceañera publications, advertisements, and awards shows. I currently have a full staff of makeup artists and hairstylists that work and have the same vision as me, and that’s what sets me apart from other artists, and I’m proud of that.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I discovered I was very artistic at a young age and a perfectionist to say the least. My lil sister would ask me to make a dress for her doll and I would pull out my mother’s sewing kit and make something from scratch with our old clothes. I am also very involved in school, I love participating in dance recitals or dance clubs. I was not only a dancer but I would also assist in the costume making and makeup and hair on the day of the performance. My creative personality was always ready for a challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: muahmakeupandhair.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/muah.makeupandhair
Image Credits
Magic Productions James Murillo @magicproductions3333
