Community Highlights: Meet Sarah Franklin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Franklin.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My mother who was a beautician put blush on my cheeks when I was in second grade and sent me to catholic school where makeup was grounds for suspension. As a scared seven years old sitting in a nun’s office being scolded for being a harlet, I knew I did nothing wrong but I loved the way I felt. I ultimately got suspended and my parents pulled me out of that school eventually. And that put me on a path of exploring makeup and all things beauty. A few years later I asked for a face painting kit for Christmas and got it. I came downstairs every day with a new face. A clown, a butterfly, a tiger, you name it I had painted it on my face. As I got Older competitive cheer and dance allowed me to glam up my face to no limit. Glitter, lashes, red lips I was in heaven. The faces of beauty in my youth were The great supermodels of the 90s and the house of style on MTV taught me everything I needed to know to look just like them! Off to college, I studied sociology knowing my heart was truly in the beauty industry. I had a girlfriend who was going to school to be an Esthetician in Baltimore MD. I didn’t know what that was but it sounded amazing and they had a makeup program.

So I too enrolled in Von Lee International School of aesthetics. Von Lee was the first esthetics school in the country and very prestigious. Once I was there I found my calling. I learned so much and could not wait to start my career. I graduated from Von Lee in 2002. And have been a licensed esthetician and makeup artist for 20 years. My career in makeup as taken me to runway shows all across the USA. I have been the head makeup artist for television shows like Doctors on Call. My pageantry makeup has presented many title holders and 3 Mrs. West Virginias. In 2010, I started kiss and makeup a mobile makeup and spray tanning business that took off. I was living in West Virginia with a strong desire for more in my career. So I came to visit Austin and six weeks later packed my things and set out to plant roots in Austin. I moved here with no job, place to live or knowing a single person. Just me and a will to succeed. Since moving to Austin in 2015 I have worked with many established artists here and weddings have kept me busy. In 2021, I started Sarah Franklin Beauty a fully mobile makeup and hair service. 95% of what we do is weddings. And 2021 did not disappoint with bridal bookings.

After the start of the pandemic with all the mask-wearing, the makeup and beauty industry has seen a huge emphasis on the eyes. Doing eyebrows whether it be tinting, waxing, lamination, or makeup has been something I’ve always been passionate about. In July of 2021, I set off to Utah for Microblading training at Couture Brows. The best Microblading program in the US. I trained directly under celebrity brow slayer Sandi Fox. I have been perfecting my craft for the last year and in August of 2022, I will be adding Microblading, ombre, powder and combo brows to my menu of services and will be opening a studio space in North Central Austin.

Making women look and feel their absolute best is my number one goal. And I am so excited to add to my list of services to help women achieve their most confident self.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, not at all!!! Back home in West Virginia, I was a big fish in a small pound and definitely took that for granted. I assumed it would be that easy to make it here in Austin. I got here bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and quickly came to the realization I would have to work twice as hard to make a name for myself here. There were already a lot of talented successful makeup artists here in Austin. I was turned down for jobs and had worked a few jobs at various spas trying to find my fit. I once worked at a spa in Westlake and was told by the owner that I didn’t “fit in that neighborhood” and maybe I should try working in a different neighborhood in Austin. Instead, I went down the street and worked for another spa and did 1 million in sales a year for the next five years. And the clientele I built could not have been better. I was so grateful for the opportunities I had while working in Westlake. So many doors have been open for me in these last five years and I have gained the confidence I needed to go out on my own.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mobile Hair/Makeup and Spray tanning, soon to open microblading studio August 2022. I am known for soft glam bridal. I specialize and sculpting women’s faces and bringing their true inner beauty to life. One thing that sets me apart is my extensive knowledge of skin that I can not only cover skin imperfections but also help correct them with treatment and product consultations. I am proud of the knowledge I have acquired in the last 20 years of practice. It is rare that a question may arise concerning skin or makeup and I am stumped. I know how to match all the beautiful shades of skin as well as treat them and I’m very proud of that.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One book that has helped me understand myself and complex communications is Attached. I recommend that book to everyone. it has helped me assess my triggers and know how to control them. My girlfriend who is a local author has written a beautiful book called “a Wilder Eden” and it is about dreaming in a world of disappointment. And I think that’s for anyone who has had big dreams for themselves and maybe has had doors shut or it seems like those dreams won’t come to fruition. This book is a great encouragement to stay faithful to the dreams you have on your heart and not focus on the negative. Yearly I attend many spa /aesthetic conferences around the country to stay up to date on the industry standard. I am also a M.A.C. cosmetic pro with that I have access to their educational resources and artist which I absolutely love.

Pricing:

• Bridal Hair and Makeup $250
• Bridesmaid’s hair and makeup $150
• Al La Carte makeup $125
• Spray Tan $50
• makeup lesson $100

Contact Info:

• Website: sfbeauty.co
• Instagram: sarahfranklinbeauty
• Facebook: sarah franklin beauty
• Yelp: sarah franklin beauty

Image Credits
Stacy Kenyon The Oberports Main Street Hub