Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Andrews.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Yes Absolutely! I grew up in England, with my Mum, Dad and younger brother. I attended a private secondary school in London, though I admittedly wasn’t very interested in going to any class other than art. This was a school where most of the students mean to become doctors or lawyers, so naturally my desire for art and beauty seemed distant. At a very young age I could feel that beautification and skin care was more than just playing dress up for me. I think cutting my own hair during final exams was a strong giveaway! My mother was not really keen on wearing makeup so it was scarcely found at home. Not finding even a tinted lip balm in the house; I sought it elsewhere. Luckily, I was able to nurture my curiosity and play with product at friend’s houses. Two of my good friends had older sisters who were always stocked with product that we would mess around with. After school, I frequently found myself running straight from the coach into Boots London (a local shop that carried makeup) to play with testers. 14 years old at the time and looking for a way to get more funds to buy my own products, I was offered a job washing hair at a friend’s mother’s salon in South London. I started collecting product and made a common practice of doing hair and make up for friends. After being in a salon environment for a few years, it was more clear than ever that this was the path I would choose. I think my parents were a bit surprised and unwilling to accept this, and it took a lot of convincing to support the idea. My Mum insisted that if I was going to pursue this, I go to Mayfair to train. Mayfair is the capital of London’s Salon culture. I saw an article for MichaelJohn, one of the more reputable salon’s in London, and went in for an interview. This salon was exceptionally appealing because in addition to paid work, offered a government paid training program called an NVQ. I was able to work a full shift during the day and follow up with training in the evening. There were about 35 stylists from all over the world and I had the incredible opportunity to assist all of them. I learned all of their techniques and how they adapted to different types of hair. I completed my training in a recorded time of 3 years, working and training 12-16 hrs a day; I loved it! I worked as hard as I could every day, striving to assist the top stylists. One in particular Fred, a top French stylist, exhibited techniques that I still use today. After my training was complete, one of my stylists put me up for a newspaper article for The Evening Standard Magazine “one of the 6 super stylists of the future’. From this article, I had a huge response and built the start of my clientele.
I was working for a few years as a stylist in London when a couple of life-changing events occurred. My father had been diagnosed with cancer and passed on three months later. My brother was in and out of mental health hospitals with no end in sight. As my father was passing he asked a dear family member to take me to Los Angeles and under her wing. She embraced this wholeheartedly and I was delighted to be asked to travel across the globe to the states for her book tour. We traveled all around the US, we even went as far as Vienna and my hometown. It was exactly what I needed and it changed my perspective on life completely. After the tour, I decided to stay in the states and start building my clientele.
On the book tour, I had been traveling with the talented Leonard Engelman who recommended his school as a means to further study makeup. In 2007 I decided to expand my creative abilities, add to my craft and cultivate a deeper more official study of makeup at Cinema Make Up. During my training, I only had time for clients after school and on the weekends, so I decided to do house calls to be more time efficient. I eventually incorporated a business based on this idea; On Location Hair and Makeup.
I was eventually connected with The Four Seasons who started requesting my on-location services. I loved this idea and how it playing out so much that I wanted to make something legitimate of it. I got all my paperwork together and started pitching my in-room business to different hotels, learning as I went along. Ultimately I ended up in a meeting at the Four Seasons with Joyce Louie, one of the most posed and professional ladies I know. It went well and Joyce called and said, “we would like to work with you for award season but it’s not only you is it?’. Wanting to expand my business and have the privilege to work with Joyce I replied no! And just like that, I was interviewing hair and makeup artists that could be potentials. Before long, we were doing in-room hair and makeup services for The Four Seasons, The London Hotel, The Montage hotel, L’Ermitage and The Beverly Wilshire.
I often find myself at different locations working with fun, a talented successful women across the country. I love to connect with women and create a space where they feel peaceful and comfortable. The pressure to look good can be overwhelming, especially today, so I like to know I’ve made a difference in their day, their evening and have placed a playful spring in their step!
Great, 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?
Finding, hiring and managing my team was a big challenge. It took me a while for me to hire someone and make sure they are okay for me to send to one of my clients. Today, I have a great team but it took me a while.
GOLD – GlamourOnLocationDaily – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in on location hair and makeup for events and or TV. My work is top quality and I have a talent with a light hand, making clients look like a softer prettier version of themselves. For the mature skin, I have a way of creating younger looking skin without a heavy application. My clients tell me, I have a really calming energy which feels great to be around especially before a high demanding red carpet event or tv appearance.
I am very proud of my industry, the artists and what they have accomplished, it’s really inspiring. There is much talent and so much to educate myself on even 18 years in. It is never boring!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Can I have two? In 2014, Vanity Fair put us in their ‘Red Carpet Glamour Guide’ Oscar Nights issue. To be recognized so quickly was a great honor and made me feel quite proud.
Another moment that stands out for me was when I worked on a lady that was going through a difficult time. She was getting divorced from her childhood sweetheart, had been through a vicious chemo treatment and had lost a lot of her hair. During our appointment, she shared her story with me while I worked. At the end of the appointment, she looked in the mirror and was so happy I saw her grow a little. She had her spring back and my work was done.
Pricing:
- Makeup – $250
- Hairstyling- $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.glamouronlocationdaily.com
- Phone: 1 (310) 701-8033
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @glamonlodaily
Image Credit:
Jessica Andrews, Giovanna Paramo Lieb
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