Meet Kimberlee Bowen of to make Beautiful in Stoneham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberlee Bowen.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After many years as an Executive Assitant, I was laid off from a job after 8 years and had been considering Esthetics as a part-time job. Of course totally scared to death being unemployed I took the bold opportunity to attend Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics and became a Master Esthetician. A new path for me and a big risk, but I don’t regret one minute of that life-altering decision! I struggled with breakouts as a teen so I can so relate to what it takes to not only conceal the breakout but how to eliminate it all together.

While in school I was still searching for steady income and began at Merle Norman Cosmetics in Winchester, MA. where I met the next mentor in my career when she hired me to do her wedding makeup and gave me my first Esthetics job at a clinical skincare spa in Wilmington, MA. (I still get to work on her skin and brows!) After many jobs in the field of Makeup Artistry, Esthetician, Spa Manager I had an, AH moment when I was frustrated with another spa I was working at suddenly closed. I went home that night and created my own website and began letting people know I was going to give this a try.

I recalled being ABSOLUTELY broke, scared and close to hysteria after signing a lease in Stoneham, MA. I had no idea how I was going to support myself and my business since I hadn’t really had the time to do an official business plan or enough money to launch this insane idea or have any other business partners or financial help. That was in 2011. After many long days giving complimentary makeovers at prom shops, trunk shows with other wedding photographers, bridal shops and knocking on doors to introduce myself I spent more long hours working on clients, updating my social media sites and my website, responding to emails, phone calls and doing the bookkeeping.

Since then I’ve grown into a bigger space in the same building, expanded my team into 11 of us to specialize in weddings, proms, special event makeup and hair. We average about 80 weddings a year now and have taken on the title of “Wedding Hall of Fame” on theKNOT.com, Numerous years of winning the “Couple’s Choice Award” on Wedding Wire.com and one of the Top Five Makeup Artists on the Boston A-List. I’ve been hired to do makeup for TV shows on TLC, Houze TV, local commercial videos as well as the most important days of women’s lives – proms, senior photos, engagements, weddings, etc. I still take classes to keep my skills and my expertise current in Eyelash Extensions, Dermaplaning, Microdermabrasion and other makeup techniques.

I knew one day I would look back at that day I was crying in my reception area and say, ” I did it.”

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
HAHA, If owning a business was without struggles everyone would own one. I recall forgetting my ENTIRE lipstick case for one wedding. I improvised. I grabbed my own lipstick, lip liner, blush and made it work. No one ever knew! I’ve also made the mistake of letting a potential bride know I was working another part-time job and she decided to not hire me saying I was too busy for her. Lesson. SHHHHH. Less is more. I would not suggest starting a business without a business plan or enough money, (or NO money in my case.) I would have the best of the best if I had secured a business loan or had a partner who had the financial means. I still upgrade things to this day.

to make Beautiful – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in bridal makeup/hair. Clincal facials – serious skincare not just the fluff and buff facials. Mostly proud of the emails, referrals and social media posts from clients letting us know not only how they look, but how they feel we’ve made a difference in their day/skin/life.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is making one person feel beautiful at a time. It’s not a grandious award or 1 million Instagram likes. It’s more personal than that for me.

Pricing:

• Wedding Day Services for the Bride Makeup – Hair $160- $340
• Prom Makeup/Hair – $50-$150
• Lash Extensions – $6- $199
• Clinical Skincare Services – $60-$150

Contact Info:

• Address: 468 Main Street
  Stoneham, MA 02180
• Website: www.tomakebeautiful.com
• Phone: 781-454-8415
• Email: tomakebeautiful@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomakebeautiful/
• Facebook: facebook.com/tomakebeautiful
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomakebeautiful
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/to-make-beautiful-stoneham-3?osq=wedding+makeup
• Other: https://kimberleebowen.myrandf.com/

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