By Charlene Holmes
When Ms. Shemeka Lynez Sanders was a little girl, her mother always bought her a makeup kit, a nail polish kit, and crayons for Christmas.
So when Ms. Sanders graduated from high school in Jacksonville, Fla., it was no surprise that she would major in the Arts. “I merged degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Design with Business,” she said.
She explained that she initially attended school to learn about skin and became an Esthetician (one who gives facials) and later a nail technician.
“Fashion design, skin and makeup – it’s all relative. Your outfit is not complete unless you have your makeup, nails and hair done. This gives you an overall complete look,” she added.
Although Ms. Sanders grew up in Florida, she was born in Mississippi and lived in Virginia, and Chicago for a while.
“I was a Navy brat. My dad retired from the Military five years ago and moved to McCalla, Alabama. I moved to Birmingham to be with my family a year after they moved,” she said.
While waiting for her Cosmetology license and credentials to transfer to Alabama, Ms. Sanders accepted a full time Management position at Sally’s Beauty Supply Store in McCalla.
“I love it”, she said excitedly.
She continued, “People should be properly educated on what they want and how to get the look that they want. You can spend a lot of money and still not get the look you want. I love sharing my knowledge with customers. I try to be helpful when anybody comes into Sally’s because good Customer Service is important in the beauty industry. You must listen and give good advice. Why should I have knowledge and not share it? That’s what I like about Sally’s. I feel that I am helping people and making a difference in their lives. I like to see people happy,” Ms. Sanders added.
She shared, “One lady came in who had been receiving chemotherapy treatment. She felt depressed about her makeup and was in dire need of makeup advice. I helped her find a good pair of eyelashes and I drew on her eyebrows. She already had the pretty wig. She looked amazing! She felt good about herself and I felt good because I had helped her. The beauty industry is not only about making people look good, but it is about making people feel good about themselves.”
She continued, “Another customer asked my advice about her eyebrows. She bought the pencil and asked if I could assist her with her eyebrows. It was an extra step, but I shaped her eyebrows and she left extremely happy and satisfied; therefore, I was happy.”
“I like the fact that people get the overall beauty experience when they come to Sally’s. I have learned a lot about hair color by working there. I can answer questions about all textures and types of hair and how to color it properly,” Ms. Sanders said.
She shared, “Working at Sally’s has made me miss being behind the chair, but, thankfully, I’m still in the realm of cosmetology, even though I am not doing makeup and hair for eight hours a day. But just sharing my makeup knowledge with people is rewarding.”
Ms. Sanders added, “When people ask me for makeup advice, I always say there are no rules as long as the foundation matches your skin tone and you have the correct eyebrow color and eyebrows that shape your face. The wrong eyebrow color or eyebrow shape can ruin a face.”
She said, when she is asked about the proper color of the season, “I say it is whatever you want it to be as long as the eyebrows and foundation are correct. The lipstick can be purple and the hair can be whatever color the customer wants it to be.”
“Color-that’s me in my little colorful crayon box,” she said.
On the business side, Ms. Sanders said she is working on developing a nail polish line that will simplify and minimize nail polish-manicuring woes. “It should be out in a year or less,” she said.
Since 2004, Ms. Sanders said she has promoted Sacha makeup. “It’s based out of Trinidad and it is geared toward women of color and/or oily skin. I love the product line,” she added.
Ms. Sanders, who wears natural hairstyles and colorful head scarves, said she styles natural hair only and provides skin, hair, makeup and nail services. She said she is available to do makeup for weddings, proms, pageants and even for a Friday night date.
“I do a little bit of a lot,” she added.
