Sitting down with Global Makeup grad Tanin Nicole it’s easy to see why she’s thriving. Tanin has a sunny disposition and natural warmth; it’s easy to see why brides ask her to be a part of their big day as a bridal hair and makeup artist, and why fashion pros trust her to bring their vision to life. And all that’s before you see her makeup skills, which shine just as brightly as Tanin does.
Tanin’s seemed destined to end up in beauty, especially in bridal hair and makeup. Raised in Kelowna, British Columbia by a hairstylist mother, Tanin has always been immersed in glamour. “Growing up, I would stand in the bathroom with my mom and stare at her [as she got] ready. I would say ‘I want to be a hairstylist like my mom!’”
And though she briefly followed in her mom’s footsteps, she decided it wasn’t her purpose. “I would cut and colour some of my friend’s hair. [I learned] it wasn’t the journey for me.” However, she also dabbled in makeup. “In school, there would be dance shows; I would do the makeup for that, putting on the eyeliner, the red lipstick and the lashes on for everyone.”
Later in her teen years, she found more opportunities to foster her interest in makeup. “My mom would do hair for brides, and they would ask me to do their makeup. I was 16 at that time, so I didn’t even have a proper brush set, it was the Kirkland Costco brush set.”
With a taste for the art of makeup, Tanin began looking into makeup programs. “Where I live, we only have certifications for makeup.” Knowing she wanted an in-depth education, Tanin decided to spread her wings. “I was willing to move anywhere in Canada. I started researching and Blanche Macdonald came up. So many people had great feedback. Once I found Blanche, [I knew] that’s where I wanted to go.”
“I was willing to move anywhere in Canada. I started researching and Blanche Macdonald came up. So many people had great feedback. Once I found Blanche, (I knew) that’s where I wanted to go.”
Her instincts didn’t let her down. Talking about her time in the Global Makeup program, Tanin says, “It was incredible. The way classes were structured was really awesome. Each course has a different instructor who is an expert in that makeup field. They teach from their experience.” Continuing, she says, “CJ’s fundamentals class was so eye-opening. You know how they say if you can do ballet, you can do any kind of dance? It was just like that. You have to learn the basics before you can break the rules.” Another favourite? “Jon Hennessy‘s class on fashion. It was learning unconventional ways of doing makeup. It was really cool to see him break the rules and that relates to what I do today.”
Upon graduation, Tanin quickly found herself in makeup retail. It wasn’t just her newly refined skills that got her there, but also her determination. “As I was moving back home, Sephora was just opening [in Kelowna], so I sent in my resume every day, emailing it in. I think after the ninth or tenth time of sending it, the manager called me back and she said, ‘We filled all of our positions, but you were so persistent. I thought I may as well meet with this girl.’ I was with her for eight and a half years after that.”
“Jon Hennessy's class on fashion. It was learning unconventional ways of doing makeup. It was really cool to see him break the rules and that relates to what I do today.”
While at Sephora, Tanin was also building up a career as a freelance bridal and editorial makeup artist. “Bridal is incredible,” Tanin explains. “In the Okanagan, there’s up to 5000 weddings a season. It’s crazy. You can be booked all summer if you want for doing bridal hair and makeup. There’s nothing like being with the bride before anybody sees her.”
And in addition to the countless blushing brides she sees each season, she was also picking up valuable experiences that some can only dream of. “I had the chance to go to New York for training with Make Up For Ever,” she says. “They’re artists, like real artists. I’m a bridal hair and makeup artist, but I wouldn’t consider myself a true pen-to-paper artist. But at Make Up For Ever, they have a unique way of working and thinking.”
“It was incredible.The way (Blanche Makeup) classes were structured was really awesome. Each course has a different instructor that was an expert in that field. They teach from their experience. CJ’s fundamentals class was so eye opening.”
Through her whirlwind experience with Make Up For Ever, Tanin made connections that led her to other exciting opportunities — including brushes with fame. “The National Makeup Artist for Make Up For Ever, Danica, was [working on] the tour with Kehlani and Ella Mai, they needed an assistant in every city. I got to assist [with] Kehlani’s makeup, and then I got to fully do Ella Mai’s look. She was the nicest person ever. Just so humble and kind.”
Though she’s had an incredible career already, she’s far from finished. “I would love to take things international, in Europe specifically, Greece, Italy, Spain. I had never been to Europe before, and this year, I ended up there four or five times just from May until now.” One thing’s for sure, Europe would be lucky to have her.
