October 15, 2016

Meet Los Angeles Makeup Artist: Nicole Wittman

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Wittman.

Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was in college at UNLV studying Criminal Justice and I had plans to work in entertainment law. While finishing up college and studying for my LSAT I had lost my part-time job at a hotel restaurant. My mom and I were in the MAC store shopping for make-up when I showed interest in the brand. They told me to send in my resume and so I did. 3 months later I was a cashier at the MAC Pro store in Ceasars Palace. I was 19 when I started. Worked for MAC 6 years total. 4 years in Vegas and 2 in New York. At 23 I left MAC and was the Business Manager for Dior Cosmetics at Bloomingdales Soho. I freelanced in my spare time in NYC working on Weddings and working Fashion Week. After 3 years in NYC, I moved to Las Angeles to be closer to my family. I spent 2 years working at Laura Mericer in Saks Beverly Hills. I left because I had the opportunity to work fashion weeks in London, Milan, and Paris. So I began to travel in February and September of each year to New York. London, Milan, and Paris. I assisted the top artists in the industry; Val Garland, Diane Kendal, Tom Pecheaux, Alex Box, Kabuki and so many timeless artists. I have been on over 100’s of shows. Chanel, Balmain, Giamattista Valli, Rick Owens, Vivienne Westwood, Elie Saab, Just Cavalli, Missoni and Salvatore Ferragamo to name a few. I am 100% my own boss and have never looked back at retail since.

Has it been a smooth road?
Ha. I think no one wants to speak the truth about the struggle in our industry. This career takes passion, talent, drive, sweat, long hours, free work or little pay, and the heart to never give up. You have to want it, and there are times where you will feel as though you have been set back only to later realize you were just preparing your future. We have all felt beat up, run down, and at our wits end, then something beautiful happens and you are right back at the top of your game. A mentor of mine once told me, ” Nicole, there are many times in your career where you will start over, and that’s okay.”

It’s changed a lot since I started 12 years ago. As an artist though you have be adaptable to the industry change, if not you lose the chance of being relevant. It’s not easy when just anyone can tell people they are a make-up artist and post work to social media outlets. That’s a whole other story.

What are your plans for the future?
I have big plans for the future. This industry is always interesting so I like to go where it takes me. As for now, I leave in a couple months to continue my make-up career in Europe. I will work between LA and Europe for some time. From there I know it will open up so many more doors. The fun part is deciding which door to pick.

Let’s go backward a bit – can you tell us about the most trying time in your career?
The hardest part in this career is knowing you’re supposed to be in it when it throws you curve balls. I remember not to long ago I made a choice to stop assisting my mentors and start a career of my own. That was the biggest choice in my career to date. I was met with months of little work and struggling to make ends meet. I wouldn’t go back and change anything about that process, though. I came out on the other side with a more humbling look at myself and the industry. I know this career is for me, because even when it’s tough there is still nowhere else I’d rather be.

What about “Wow-moments” – any moments that stick out? Any moments when you felt like you had made it?
Ha. This career always wow’s me. I could be working with celebrities on press junkets, a part of the make-up team for the Paris Chanel couture show, helping a clothing brand create a look for their campaigns, or being a part of the Dream foundations team to make a dream come true. All of these I have done and all of them Wow me. No matter how many amazing jobs I get I’m humbled to have even been hired.

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