Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Tikki.
Nadia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ever since I can remember I’ve always loved art. I’d get super excited about art class at school but I never thought I was really good at painting or drawing. (To this day, I use stick figures anytime I have to draw something!) I loved colors but never found the right medium until a few years down the road.
I was about 14 years old when I took my first makeup class. My dad encouraged me to sign up for summer while we were visiting our homeland. He thought it would help me make some new friends be more outgoing and learn more about the culture. (I’ve always been a shy person.) From the first day in that class, I realized this was my calling! I fell in love with makeup. I would learn during class and come home and practice on everyone! My mom, cousins, sisters, anyone I could get my hands on! If anyone needed their makeup done, they would come to me. In the beginning, I never thought of it as a career, it was more of a hobby that I loved because I was still young and in school.
In our culture, girls often get married pretty young. (Times have really changed now!) And it was no different when it came to me. My parents found a suitable proposal and I was married off at 17. With marriage came responsibilities, and a year later, my husband and I were expecting our first child. With all this going on, though I was super happy, I never got a chance to focus on myself. When my son turned 3, I felt like I was ready to go out and do something for myself. Makeup was always in the back of my mind, (I had even done my own makeup for one of my wedding events) but, I didn’t know how to start or how to put myself out there.
With the support of my husband, I took a huge step. I went to London to perfect my makeup skills. About 12 years or so ago, there weren’t any classes being taught close to home and especially not for the kind of makeup I was looking for. Asian bridal glam is a whole different ball game! It took me about 2 months to finish my course. I was taught by the head makeup artist of Asiana. A super popular wedding magazine. After I came back, I started taking on clients, built a website and the rest is history!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road. Especially when you are constantly trying to better yourself and your brand. I feel like the most challenging part for me was getting in touch with clients and learning the ins and outs of the industry as a whole. It’s not just about makeup. There’s so much that goes into being a bridal makeup artist. I feel like makeup is just 50% of it.
You just have to make sure you don’t get too comfortable with your techniques. This industry is ever changing and keeping up with it is a challenge but also very rewarding!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Makeup by Nadia Tikki – what should we know?
I specialize in South Asian bridal makeup and hair. I have been in this industry for about 10 years now. Asian bridal glam is very different from regular bridal makeup. In our culture, the brides wear heavily embellished outfits with colorful embroidery so the makeup and hair should compliment that look.
My signature look is a dramatic smokey eye with glitter paired with volumized hair pulled to the side in a low bun!
I really take pride in the fact that when I’m with the bride, I try to do anything and everything I can to make the day more special for her. I’m not just the makeup artist, but her stylist, friend, coordinator (the bridal party is always asking for suggestions on walk-ins, speeches, jewelry placement, etc.) and so much more. I’ve been told more than a few times how I’ve helped the bride relax and feel at ease. I work great under pressure and am an expert at draping the hijab/veil which is a very important part of the outfit.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
There wasn’t really a specific experience but I always knew I wanted to make a name for myself. My parents were immigrants and I always watched them struggle to give us the best life they could. They did an amazing job being in a new country and not knowing much about how everything worked here. They did everything they could to help give us a life better than they had experienced. I wanted to make them proud and set an example for my kids as well, no matter the odds or how difficult anything may seem, if there’s something you really want, and you put in the work needed, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.nadiatikki.com
- Phone: 262-960-1691
- Email: nadia.tikki@gmail.com
- Instagram: @makeupbynadiatikki
- Other: Nadiatikki-snapchat
Image Credit:
@maha_studios
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