Laura Kanayo is a Nigerian makeup artist, pharmacist, and Christian. She is passionate about all things beauty-related, especially making women feel beautiful.
Although she’s an introvert, it doesn’t stop her from having a great time with clients on the job.
Creative expression can take many forms, what made you decide to be a makeup artist?
I’ve always been fascinated by full eyebrows, maybe because I have really scanty eyebrows (I blame my mum lol).
I watched a few video tutorials and realized I could shape brows using razor blades, making people with full brows comfortable enough to go out without drawing them.
I did that for a long time at school until I met my very good friend’s sister, Wendu who’d just attended makeup school. She watched me shape her brows and almost immediately said, “If you can do this, then you can do makeup well.”
She gave me some of her makeup products. I got back to school and started practicing on my friends. That started the journey.
Her words of affirmation gave me the courage to start.
Truth is, I never knew I would love it until I started and those words stuck with me since then.
How would you describe your signature look?
My signature look is soft glam with the natural facial features beautifully accentuated. I’m obsessed with enhancing beauty using a *skin-like finish.
What is the most important beauty advice you can give women?
Honestly, it would be that God created each of us beautifully and uniquely, so we need to love ourselves some more and learn to be comfortable in our skin. If we need to wear makeup, it should be only because we feel like it.
You’re required to create a complete look with just 5 products. What are using?
Oh my! I’d be using a HD foundation, a setting powder, a volumizing mascara, an eyebrow pencil, and a Lipgloss.
What is the most hilarious experience you’ve had on set?
This is very interesting.
So, it’s 2018. I’m a pharmacy student and a makeup artist on the side. For every job, my very good friend Chizi helps me pack my makeup box.
This day is no different, we pack everything and I head downstairs to leave in my Uber that had just arrived. I get to the set location, and the photographer is kind enough to send someone down to assist me to carry my stuff up.
I begin to set up my light, chair, and boom- I can’t see my makeup box.
It feels like a dream for the first few seconds because if it’s not here, it’s probably in my Uber.
I immediately dial the driver’s number. After a few seconds of scanning his car, he says “it’s not here”.
I call my friend, and with a very defeated voice I ask, “Chizi, is my makeup box there?” She’s surprised at my question because “How can it be??”
Well, indeed I had left the one thing I needed the most back in the hostel.
Long story short, I had to wait for her to send it in another Uber to me. Thankfully, it was a collaborative photoshoot. Both the photographer and model were very patient. We all laughed hard about it at the end of the shoot.
Since that experience, I have checked, double-checked, and triple-checked before every job. I have a newfound appreciation for the African adage that says ‘A farmer doesn’t go to the farm without his tools’. Lol.
Click here to see more on Laura Kanayo and her beautiful work.
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