My Journey in Beauty

 

When I was growing up in Brazil, there was nothing quite as exciting to me as the act of creating. I recognized that about myself, a deep urge to use my creative energy, and I would spend hours and hours making up stories for my Barbie dolls. The woods in my backyard became an enchanted land of make-believe. At the same time, I was passionate about the woods for another reason: nature seemed to speak to me. From playing with the family pigs to fishing and hunting with my father, I was a girl equally comfortable sitting cross-legged with my toys and hiking from one end of a park to another.

 

My parents understood my passion for creativity, and they supported me in my efforts to develop my skills. Enrolling me in a series of workshops, they encouraged me to explore every option. I practiced painting, crocheting, and sculpting, and little by little, I started to find my voice as an artist. At the same time, I was coming into my own as a young lady, my aunt (who owned a local beauty salon) cut my hair and did my makeup, showing me how great it felt to look my best. My mother would also take me to get my nails done, and between that and the hours I spent with my Barbie dolls, it would be fair to say that my childhood was happy.

 

Of course, it was not always easy. The school presented some unique challenges for me. I never felt like the smartest student, but I worked hard, keeping my notes organized and putting a lot of detail into every project that I did. The next thing that I discovered was music, taking parts in my school's theater class and my church's worship band, and dancing in my church's choreography group. Looking back, I see how important each of these experiences was to me. I was uncovering my own personality piece by piece.

 

Around the age of fifteen, though, I shifted most of my attention to beauty and makeup, my path becoming clearer than it had ever been when I was a child and preparing me for what would eventually become my career – micro-pigmentation. I practiced my skills on my sister, my mother's clients, and my girlfriends, and I saw that in beauty, there were opportunities to use all my talents. To do makeup well, I had to stay organized, I had to pay attention to details, and of course, I had to create. In the end, there was a huge payoff too – the smiles on the women's faces. I lived for those smiles, and each one inspired me to dedicate myself to makeup even further.

 

During my teenage years, I became a mother. That was a stressful time for me, but because I needed to support my child, and myself I leaned into a career in makeup, which was one of the best decisions I ever made. My passion for beauty was immense. There was no doubt in my mind that I was making the right decision. Even though I had been practicing my makeup skills independently since before I could drive a car, I enrolled in cosmetology school, open to whatever lessons came my way and eager to show the world what I could do.

 

In the years since, I have held onto that drive and perspective, promising myself to always stay open to all lessons. I studied with some of the most world-renowned figures in the beauty industry, completing multiple certifications in Brazil and around the world, and then I decided to launch my own business. In 2013, I brought Jhellen Beauty Artist to life, followed by my debut beauty parlor Jhellen Beauty Studio in 2016. After four years or so in that location in Framingham, I picked everything up and relocated to Wellesley, where I now own and operate Jhellen House of Beauty. I have been practicing beauty for 10 years and now I work as a micro-pigmentation artist full-time, specializing in eyebrow reconstruction, facial corrections, and other micro-pigmentation work, which I have practiced for nearly six years.

 

Going forward, I would like to devote myself more to teaching. I have founded my own Academy, and knowing what my mentors and teachers have meant to me, I would like to make an impact on my students, cutting their learning curve and preparing them for rewarding careers as beauty artists. My approach to beauty and micro-pigmentation may be unconventional, but throughout the years, I believe I have proven that it works. I want my students to be able to walk into the studio confident in their abilities – and feeling just as excited about the act of creating as I am!

 

ART IS THE TRUE BEAUTY OF THE SOUL- by Jessica Hellen