Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Galjour.
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 love for makeup started when I was in high school with the crazy 2016 brow phase.
I got my first job and asked my mom to take me to the store where I dropped my first paycheck on makeup.
She scolded me and couldn’t believe that I spent so much money on just makeup.
She ended up kicking me out and I had to move across states, from NJ to Louisiana, with my dad.
Years later I was applying to colleges and planning my future.
My dad sat me down and told me that he had kids young and had to work offshore to help pay for his family. This wasn’t the work life he would’ve chosen for himself and he didn’t want me to make the same mistake. He said that I clearly loved doing makeup and he wanted me to pursue that.
At the time I didn’t see makeup as a career and he helped me put the down payment for beauty school.
Years later I worked for multiple companies and was able to get work experience.
I slowly found out that these companies don’t actually help you grow as an artist and they’re just interested in growing their own companies.
I left for good to pursue my career full time.
During that time I have taken on a lot of mentees to help them grow and hopefully surpass me one day. So that I can give them the opportunities and experiences that I wish someone would’ve given me.
I’ve worked my butt of the last two years and proud to say that I have been fully booked ever since I’ve moved to Virginia two years ago!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My mom is an alcoholic, which created instability in my life. She didn’t always support my decisions in my career.
But I had my dad and step mom to support me, they have been there every step of the way coming to get services done and letting me practice on them as well as helping me find work.
The companies that I worked for in the beginning did not want me posting any work since they considered my work to be their clients. There was no way for me to grow and I was stuck in these year long contracts. I was able to get out of it when I moved to Virginia where I knew I could do better on my own. But before I left I convinced my old boss to let people post while tagging them, so I left the others on a good note.
When I first moved here I was worried I wouldn’t get booked. And in the beginning it was exactly that. I had struggled for the first couple months trying to get my foot in the door. Then I saw a post in a Facebook group from a makeup artist asking for help. Her name is Haley Rose. She has helped me tremendously ever since. She knew and appreciated the talent that I had. She would refer brides to me if she was already booked, ask for me to assist and do some bridesmaids if she had too many girls, and has even sent photographers my way if they needed makeup help! I thank her every time I see her because I would not be where I am without her help in the beginning.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional makeup artist and licensed master esthetician.
You don’t need to be licensed in Virginia to do makeup but you do in Louisiana where I started my career.
I specialize in treating acne and skin problems which most bridal makeup artist can’t say that they can do! I help brides get their dream skin and maintain it long after I’m done with my job. As well as giving them the bridal makeup of their dreams.
When in Louisiana I was able to do the Saints and Pelicans cheerleaders, meaning my work was televised! And now I can put that I am a former NFL and NBA makeup artist. I do miss the girls a ton, but I don’t miss the early mornings before game day!
I teach makeup classes at wineries from time to time helping people get the same results I give them at home. I’ve learned that not everyone can afford a makeup artist and that’s ok! I offer classes to brides and others who want to make themselves look and feel good without paying for a luxury experience. I keep my classes small (no more than 10 people) so that I am really able to help each individual person. I do a full demo on a model and encourage people to take notes and follow along while they do their own makeup. And they are always welcome to contact me after if they ever have any questions or need product recommendations!
My two years of living here I’ve realized that I do bring a personal experience that I don’t see a lot of other makeup artists do. I become friends with my clients, if they want that type of relationship. I’ve seen multiple brides get married, have babies, etc etc and I’m always cheering them on behind the scenes. If one gets divorced or cancels the wedding, I offer a boudoir or photoshoot of their choosing to help get their foot out the door and remembering to love themselves again. I always offer maternity shoot makeup or first birthday party makeup, whatever they need my brides know I will make it work for them not matter what.
For example, I have a wedding coming up and a bride reached out to me saying her original makeup artist ghosted her. Even though I was already booked I told her it might be early but I would take care of her. And sure enough she thanked me so many times and she’s going to be up bright and early with me so that I can go to my first scheduled wedding on time while also taking care of her.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am a lot more anxious than I appear to be. When I’m with a client I am in work mode and all of that fades away. Weddings are a high emotion environment and I’m there to fight all of the brides battles for her while also keeping them calm. But outside of that I am not a confrontational person at all. Something just flips in my head when I’m with my clients and I always want to give them the best experience possible.
I also didn’t grow up in the best house hold. I had an alcoholic mother which comes with its own problems, who kicked me out at 16 and I had to move states which was so hard at that age. And in spite of all that I think of myself as a very kind person. Anytime I share parts of my life during that time people always feel bad for me and say they would’ve never known. But I see it as something that changed me, I would not be the person I am today without those experiences. I would not be as ambitious or courteous towards people, because you truly never know what someone’s going through. And I take pride in it and don’t let it define me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laurengaljourmakeup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurengaljourmua?stkn=azF2MW9pa3dpemN3&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1N1AYbB9zT/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@laurengaljourmua?si=ydhyo8J-ZQ_sB9Ya
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurengaljourmua?_r=1&_t=ZT-99e9BVohBVt
