The most meaningful moments I have felt throughout my long career have been when I have felt connected to people. When I have someone in my make-up chair and I can help ease their worries on their big day. When I have had my hands gently massaging product in to someones skin during a facial, with a yummy candle burning and the perfect, gentle song playing, pouring gentle, relaxing care and love through my fingers, on to their face. When I hear someones deepest fears and insecurities about their appearance when they come to me to learn make-up. Or indeed during the messages that flow back and forth between us, back in the day in my once adored and now redundant facebook group, or now on instagram during a live or even after.

For me lockdown was a moment that helped me to realise this. I was so caught up in the day to day frenetic pace of running one of the most successful salons in a big city; doing and teaching make-up, training and inspiring my team, managing social media, shooting, planning, and in general keeping the business healthy and thriving, that I forgot why I was doing this in the first place. The joys I know I felt were folded in to the stresses and the frenzy of everyday life. I think they were quite hidden from me, if I am honest. I didn’t have the time to feel the pleasure of a smiling face before jumping to worrying about the next thing. I was in too much of a rush. I think we all were. The salon provided a safe, loving , kind space for hundreds if not thousands of women……but I was so busy making sure of that, I think I barely got a chance to relish it.

And then BOOM. We hit pause.

I had a few days to decompress, to spend time with family and then I realised what I now know about myself so clearly….. I am addicted to connection, to providing and curating moments and spaces of care, of fun, of creativity……I like to create that energy in people’s lives. I missed it so much after just a few days that I took my chronic shyness and shelved it and jumped in front of the camera.

During lockdown and (and now beyond) I have had the incredible joy and privilege of having the service that I have always provided bounced right back to me. You lifted me up when we all felt lost, and in spending time with you, providing what service and distraction that I could, I remembered my purpose while we weathered the storm together. The purpose of my life is to create and share joy. In realising this, It was at that moment that we became an online community, a tight circle of care, a core of serious besties. It was magic.

As time has gone by we have returned to our usual lives, chasing those elusive dreams and running that rat race…… but I am after still after those kinds of meaningful moments with all of you. I want to encourage you to share, to give and recieve support, to enjoy art, to indulge in self care, to give and to take.

And this feels like the right forum for us.

If you choose to be here, I choose to be here as well!

Let’s ride!