Photo courtesy of kensingtonmakeup.com.
You may ask yourself what a successful full service salon, a makeup pro-team, a pole fitness exercise club, and a makeup academy that recently opened in the valley have in common. The answer: Holli Christensen. You may not be familiar with Holli’s name, but surely you’ve heard of her businesses.
Photo courtesy of http://www.parkavenueblowdry.com/
Holli opened Park Avenue Blow Dry Salon and Nail Bar over 4 years ago, began Kensington Makeup and Hair 8 years ago, and just recently finished her first round of classes at the brand new Kensington Makeup Academy.
Holli has taken popular business concepts and turned them into something different and much needed. Her salon offers cuts, color, extensions, waxing, facials, manicures, pedicures, and spray tanning. But it’s her latest endeavor, the makeup academy, that truly stands out.
Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/
When I asked Holli why she began the academy, her answer interested me. Recently, she explained, a law was passed that allows non-licensed makeup artists to work for licensed companies. Previously, makeup artists were required to shell out the price equivalent of a Prius in order to become licensed makeup artists – even when they already knew what they were doing. If not, they were unable to accept money for their services or work for licensed companies legally.
However, now with the change in the law, students may attend Kensington Academy and become certified for a fraction of the cost. At the academy, they will not become licensed, but rather they will be taught everything they need to know and more to become a successful and professional makeup artist. If they show true skill, the also have the ability to be picked up by the parent company, Kensington Makeup and Hair (which was featured in BRIDES Magazine as one of the best bridal companies in America), to become a pro artist.
Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/
The cost to attend the academy is $3500, but $2500 goes toward a personal makeup kit for each student consisting of all Makeup Forever Products (Hello, can you say WORTH IT!). This is compared to the cost of attending other academies, which cost around $22,000. Yikes. In addition to learning everything there is to know about makeup, Kensington will be offering a supplemental hair course for those who want to learn both hair and makeup.
Makeup by owner, Holli Christensen. Photo courtesy of kensingtonmakeup.com.
In addition, for those of us who aren’t interested in becoming a complete “pro,” Holli has come up with a brilliant option for us normal people who just want to look like we actually know what we’re doing when we put our makeup on in the morning: DIY Beauty Classes. These will be taught with a focus, which you choose when you book the day you’d like to come in and learn. There is a calendar which lists each topic (highlighting, contouring, etc.) and you choose the date that corresponds with your interest. Genius. In addition, a large portion of the class cost goes toward a palette or kit that you can actually take home with you.
Makeup by owner, Holli Christensen. Photo courtesy of kensingtonmakeup.com.
Holly says this is a great option for friends or bachelorette parties (did I mention it was BYOBooze?). She explains that her classes intend to “[Bridge] the gap between YouTube and real life.”
I don’t know about you all, but Kensington Academy is looking like an amazing option to learn all of the things I still want to master – especially at that price point. Classes are enrolling now, and the first one begins September 15, so if becoming a pro artist is your dream, there is no better time than now!
