Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Castaldi.
Diana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey can really be described more as a life-long love affair with makeup and hair. When I was a little girl I would love to stand at the sink next to my mom while she applied her makeup. This was one of my favorite things to do, I was hooked. I loved the process of it all, how blending and dabbing could produce such a beautiful result. As the years passed my mom would take us with her to get her hair done and I would watch intently as her stylist, Stephanie, did her hair and eventually, when Stephanie started to do my hair, I would want to watch the entire time in the mirror; I was fascinated. When I was in high school I got Kevyn Aucoin’s book “Making Faces”. In the book, Kevyn Aucoin masterfully transformed modern celebrities into Marilyn Monroe and other starlets. I practiced and copied and used that book a lot when I was first learning how to apply makeup. I can happily say the magic never wore off.
Once I got into college I never really considered the fact that I could do makeup and hair for a living, but used my skills to help my friends get ready for parties. After college, I needed a job to pay off student loans while deciding what the next step was with school and that’s when I started working professionally in the field in 2006 with Benefit Cosmetics. I learned a lot about how to conduct a professional makeup consultation and loved it, but I wanted more, I wanted to be able to be taken seriously as an artist. The following year I was hired on with MAC Cosmetics where I received training and a lot of on-the-job experience as a makeup artist. I was in love with my job, with the process and, more importantly, with how excited my customers were at the end of the application to see how they looked. While working for MAC I was in school to be a teacher and while the prospect of being a teacher was exciting, I still never lost my passion for makeup. I eventually got a job teaching school and moved makeup to the back burner as a weekend job to make extra money. I’d work a lot of weddings while I was teaching, keeping up my skills and really just enjoying that I could have time for both.
Almost right from the beginning teaching became something that wasn’t as rewarding as I had hoped, but became something that caused a lot of upset and disappointment. I eventually left my full-time teaching job after three years and went back to work for MAC and later Bobbi Brown. It was nice to switch gears and work for a brand that had a different approach to artistry and ultimately, that move made me a more well-rounded artist. I did go back to teaching and after a five years stretch in the classroom and a big cross country move to Texas, I was ready to pursue my passion for hair and makeup full time after the pandemic.
Weddings are such joyous occasions and I love being able to help brides look their best on their wedding day. I started out really slowly here in Waco, with a few styled shoots on the weekends when I wasn’t teaching and eventually the weddings started to roll in post-pandemic. I think stepping into makeup and hair full time was presented different challenges than I thought, but have been a really nice change of pace. I am excited to see who I will glam next!!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been the smoothest transition to get where I am today. Besides the fact that I moved to Texas 5 years ago and only knew my family, there have been other hurdles along the way. There is a big stigma in the public for some reason around creatives. It’s either that they’re the “starving artist” or somehow less intelligent and capable because they’re pursuing something creative instead of something more mainstream. Overcoming the challenges of public perception is not something that really ever goes away, however, with social media, the idea that people can make virtually anything a career, even makeup artistry is a lot more mainstream, accessible and more widely accepted than it once was. Being a small business owner and learning as I go has created some challenges, but every mistake is my greatest teacher and I am better for it in the long run. I am always learning something and that really keeps me on my toes!
There is always the struggle as a creative of imposter syndrome; am I good enough to enter the space? Are my skills sought after enough to make this my career? Am I too old to do this full-time? Can I do this? Ultimately, the risk was worth taking and I am enjoying where this pursuit has taken me and I am excited for my future!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a makeup and hair artist that specializes in bridal and wedding looks and has recently also found a passion for working on boudoir photo shoots. I have a variety of experiences from working as a retail makeup artist in a fast-paced environment to working on set at photoshoots, backstage at runway shows and with celebrity clients and with brides at many wedding venues here in Central Texas. While I love catering makeup looks to each client and can do all kinds of makeup styles, I have been called the queen of “soft glam” and really enjoy creating looks for clients that are soft, classic and timeless. My taste in hair varies while I continue to hone my craft, but I really enjoy creating soft, romantic updos, half-up styles and big soft braids. I love that I am able to do both makeup and hair and have a beauty team that I work with to accommodate bridal parties of any size. Having a team opens doors and does not limit who I work with. I also bring 15 years of experience to the table and have worked with a wide variety of clients ranging in ages and ethnicities. There is no skin tone that I can’t do and no age range that is off-limits and that is often a worry of a lot of people. I am happy to be able to allay fears and instill confidence in clients, even celebrity clients, that I will be able to create their dream look on the wedding day and/or photoshoot or personal appearance. I have successfully covered tattoos and dark bruising from eye surgery. The goal with every client is always the same; to watch my clients light up with confidence and ignite their sparkle from within.
What does success mean to you?
The definition of success is a tricky one and one that I am not always sure how to define as it continues to evolve and change with my personal growth. Mostly I feel success is synonymous with happiness. If I am happy in my pursuit, then I am a success. But it becomes more complicated than simply being happy. I think I knew that I was successful in what I was doing if I was able to comfortably pay my bills. Now that I have achieved that, I am chasing a new version of success all the time. Whether it be helping more brides achieve their dream look, mastering a new hairstyle, or getting to travel doing what I love, my version of success is always evolving.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dianamariemakeupartistry.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dianamariemakeupartistry
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dianamariemakeupartistry
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCveLdM2LBffkYn2NijWcZKQ
Image Credits
Kennedy Miller Photo
Roaming Wild Photography
Neva Michelle Photography
Hip Pixel Photography
Petra Novak Boudoir
