The Professional Side of Beauty Nobody Talks About
The Other Side of Beauty
When most people think of beauty, they picture the finished look — radiant skin, seamless foundation, and eyes that speak before you do. What they rarely see is the professional behind it all — the discipline, education, and grit it takes to turn artistry into a career.
This week, as I’ve been refining my professional résumé and finalizing my M.I.A. by Massiel brand suite, I realized how deeply the professional side of beauty shapes everything we do. Because beauty isn’t just about looking pretty — it’s about showing up with skill, sanitation, and self-respect.
1️⃣ Mistake One: Using the Wrong Soap
Too many artists grab whatever’s nearby — dish soap, shampoo, or even body wash — thinking it’ll do the trick. The truth? Harsh soaps strip bristles, damage brush fibers, and shorten the life of your tools.
Fix: Use a gentle antibacterial brush cleanser or baby shampoo with warm water. Rinse thoroughly and reshape the bristles before drying.
Pro Insight: As the creator of the M.I.A. Zodiac Brush Set, I learned first-hand that caring for your tools is caring for your craft. Proper maintenance preserves quality, performance, and longevity — and it’s one of the simplest ways to elevate your professionalism.
2️⃣ Mistake Two: Soaking the Entire Brush
Soaking your brushes may feel like a deep clean, but it’s actually a fast track to loose bristles and broken handles. When water seeps into the ferrule (the metal part), it weakens the glue that holds everything together.
Fix: Keep water and cleanser on the bristles only. Gently swirl and rinse without letting liquid reach the handle.
Professional Practice: Precision isn’t just about blending — it’s about how you treat your tools. The smallest habits reveal the biggest difference between being a hobbyist and being a professional.
3️⃣ Mistake Three: Not Cleaning Often Enough
You can’t build a luxury brand — or trust with your clients — if your tools aren’t sanitary. Clean brushes aren’t optional; they’re a non-negotiable standard of professionalism.
Fix: Use clean tools with each client that sits in your chair. Always begin by using a quick-clean spray to remove surface buildup and makeup residue. Then follow with a gentle wash using warm water and a mild antibacterial cleanser. Finally, mist your brushes with 70% isopropyl alcohol to ensure complete sanitation before your next appointment.
Pro Insight: Proper brush hygiene isn’t just about presentation — it’s a reflection of respect for your craft, your clients, and your brand.
4️⃣ Mistake Four: Drying Them Wrong
Laying brushes flat on a towel or letting them dry upright causes water to settle in the ferrule — leading to mildew, shedding, and misshaped bristles.
Fix: Always dry your brushes bristle-side down or hang them in a brush-drying rack. This prevents water from loosening the glue and keeps your tools pristine.
Pro Tip: Every professional knows presentation starts long before you pick up a brush. The way you care for your tools mirrors how you care for your clients.
5️⃣ Mistake Five: Thinking “It’s Just Makeup”
This one’s the hardest truth to learn — and it’s the reason many talented artists never transition into true professionals.
Because beauty isn’t just makeup. It’s science, art, psychology, and business — all blended together.
Being a professional in this industry means going far beyond skill with a brush. It means understanding how to protect yourself, your brand, and your clients.
- Know your state requirements and laws. Whether you’re an esthetician, lash artist, or makeup artist, learn what licenses and certifications are legally required where you work. Every state is different — and staying compliant builds trust and credibility.
- Protect yourself with contracts. Always have written agreements that clearly outline your rates, travel fees, timelines, cancellations, and policies. Contracts aren’t about being “strict” — they’re about protecting your time and professionalism.
- Understand your insurance needs. Some venues, including luxury hotels, require proof of liability insurance to allow artists on property. Research what coverage you need — general liability, professional liability, or both — before taking on bookings.
- Recognize red flags. Fraudulent or last-minute clients exist. Know how to identify them, request deposits properly, and secure yourself with clear terms.
- Learn how to show up. Present yourself like the expert you are — through your communication, your kit, your appearance, and your mindset. Clients can feel when you take your role seriously.
Real Talk: I didn’t learn these lessons from a course or a mentor — I learned them through trial and error. From being ghosted after sending contracts, to discovering venue insurance requirements the hard way, to realizing that protecting my brand meant saying “no” sometimes.
Every setback became a learning moment. Every disappointment taught me how to refine my systems and boundaries.
Because professionalism doesn’t just protect your work — it protects your peace.
The Beauty Beyond the Brushes
Every sanitized brush, every signed contract, every new certification — they all tell the same story: dedication.
Behind every artist is a professional who takes their craft seriously.
Behind every luxury brand is a woman who refused to quit when things got hard.
If you’re reading this as an aspiring artist, a beauty student, or someone just trying to keep going — let this be your reminder: perfection isn’t the goal, persistence is.
✨ If I can continue, so can you.
