Welcome to In The Spotlight

Do you have an amazing business to showcase, or an incredible story to tell?

This month emmaheaven.com is shining the spotlight on...

Jenna Kelly Makeup Studios

By now, regular readers will be more than familiar with our resident makeup artist Jenna Kelly.

Jenna has been with me since the very beginning, and we first ran a feature on her way back in October 2015.

Since then she has gone from strength to strength, building her business and winning many well-deserved, beauty and bridal awards along the way in her quest for putting her stamp and her famous ‘JK faces’ on the beauty map.

Let me hand you over to the fabulous JK, to tell you all about her latest venture.

“I needed to expand as I’m just one person and can only do so much by myself. The idea of the studio came about as I had been freelancing and pretty much on the road for the last three and a half years.

It was becoming increasingly difficult with my brides-to-be living so far away; with so much time spent travelling, I could only fit in one bridal trial a day. This meant I didn’t have enough hours in the day to fit in my regular clients and their occasion makeup, with limited time slots available. So I needed a base.

The more I looked into it, the more I wanted to expand and take the JK brand to the next level. I’m also very aware and sensitive to the fact/perception that the beauty industry has a certain reputation where people might feel intimidated, uncomfortable or out of their comfort zone.

Luckily people warm to my personality - I’m not the shy and retiring type! They also rely on me for recommendations in the beauty industry.

With this in mind, I wondered if I could create a space where all these elements could come together in one place.

I wanted to create a space for people to come, no matter what their budget or age, that when they walked through the door, they walked into a luxurious environment, where they are pampered, and made to feel so wonderful that they would want to come back for more.

I wanted the studio to reflect my personality and I also consulted lots of clients, family and friends, “what do women want when they go for beauty treatments?” The most prominent thing was people wanted privacy when having their treatments, so my aim was for the studio to be a hidden gem. Once you step inside, you walk into a luxury environment where you can lose yourself and forget about the world outside.

With this in mind the studio has opaque glass on all windows and doors - you can see out, but people can’t see in.

There’s no big sign outside; just a small plaque. The studio is inconspicuous, understated and private. So if you have an appointment and want to turn up in your rollers or loungewear, then nobody is going to see you.

If you are having your wedding makeup done or have a special occasion to get glammed up for, no-one is going to see you until the big reveal at your event.

A major feature of the new studios is the makeup masterclasses. I have been running these for a while, at various locations; they have been so successful, they will be a bi-monthly event at my very own studios.

They are popular, and fill up quickly - attendees get LOTS of product recommendations, and are shown the key to understanding makeup - application and product use.

I want to educate people more on the ‘why’, rather than the ‘what’. So instead of just using a product, I tell them the reasons why I have chosen it, along with the benefits and effects of using that product.

I don’t want to see people wasting their time and money on gimmicky products that won’t give them the desired effect. Certain products won’t suit certain skin types.

I want my clients to:

Look and feel fabulous.
Get value for money and longevity from their products and show them how different products compliment one another.

I want to take people back to ‘old school’ makeup and stop worrying about faddy trends; take them back to basics, and to understand the basics enough, where they can change things and be comfortable.

JK Rule Number 1 - Educate - don’t dictate!

I have a busy summer ahead, and hopefully in the autumn the studios will expand further, when I will be installing a nail bar, lashes and brows bar.

I would like a busy, buzzing studio, or many studios, where people are so excited to come, where they feel comfortable, pampered and get to indulge in the whole JK experience.

I will be announcing the next big JK venture a week after this feature goes live so make sure you follow me on Facebook for that special announcement.”

I get to experience the JK magic on #TeamHeaven shoots every month. This time, I had the added pleasure of sitting in JK’s chair at her new studio, where she worked her magic, creating a glamorous look for a special night out and boy did she make me look and feel fabulous.

For more details about the studio, latest ventures, adventures and the JK experience, visit www.jennakellymua.com or follow her on Facebook: Facebook.com/JennaKellyMUA
Instagram: @jennakellymua