Hello, Barb here…
I’m a native of the Los Angeles area, born in Glendale – a mother of two, Brando and Kim.
As my story goes…
In the mid-eighties, I became a cosmetologist and a solopreneur – a creative artist. For over a decade I was the owner of two full-service salons in Sherman Oaks and Universal City, one after the other.
Then, a California disaster. Our towns were greatly impacted by the ’94 Northridge earthquake. Having experienced both personal and complete business losses from it, I had to reinvent myself. My industry clients gave me the opportunity to get back in the game. I went to work doing soap operas, game shows, as well as all segments and shows in the CBS News bureau. With gratitude, some reluctance, but a curious open mind, I became a 706 hair and makeup artist at CBS Network Television City – a position I held for twelve years.
Starting with the 2008 Writers Strike, I decided to switch from network to a freelance artist – I needed to stay put in L.A. There weren’t many productions that stayed. California money left us high and dry. We all said, “Where’d everybody go?” Well, out of state for work. A sign of the times.
Now, thinking “boots on the ground, just say yes” I sought any gig with any production in L.A. Tough times ensued for myself and many other families. Between gigs, I looked for a sense of accomplishment and created things to do. With my personal celebrity applications and formulas I wrote and self-published an educational makeup book called Hands On Image. My most endearing endeavors were to volunteer in the clinical ward at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank. The volunteers there get to be part of a patient’s recovery, and back then my own emotional healing was an unexpected gift to receive, as well.
All the while, the following decades working in the “freelance artist life,” still in Local 706, I was blessed to have between 75 to 100 TV shows and major motion pictures to work on. It’s always an honor to be asked! My need to succeed and my faith allowed me to increase and develop my given talent and gifts, working with passion. Praise be to God.
Now, with all those opportunities and experiences behind me, in my “toolbox” are incredible lessons and memories (some unbelievable), one bookended after another. I think they could only have been had working in the entertainment industry. Thank God He didn’t give me eyes to foresee details along the way. I might have said, “No way!” I’m glad He didn’t. Because time is precious and so are the human experiences in relationships – all lived in volumes, behind the scenes, unwritten between the lines of my résumé. I am grateful.
Work habits, research from many books, and torn pages…
My go-to reference book called Fashions in Hair: The First Five Thousand Years by Richard Corson is an industry bible. ”The ancient Egyptians seem to provide, for all practical purposes, a logical starting point. From ancient Rome to the 21st century, the looks for men and women in hair (natural or wigs) – any look is possible and transformational. And those particular looks define their respective era and personality. Eccentric, fashionable, individual, or conservative, all define standards – and often will even fall between two hairstyle periods.”
It’s a nice compliment that my style and work are relied upon – because there’s an authenticity to my style. When I apply skill and imagination to create characters of the day, decade, and century, I try for results to be ones that bring characters, of all worlds and time, to life.
Indeed, yes, I enjoy creative imaginations – yep, an essential component to team play, communicating freely about hair and makeup applications that create and correct, or hair textures and shapes that define a specific feel or character. Finding the good balance is fun, and sometimes challenging. I’ve found that small adjustments are in fact reusable tips that make the difference in a moment’s time. And, although we do keep our trade secrets close, it’s good to pass them along too.
All good stuff!
Thanks for considering me.
I’d be honored and ecstatic to participate in your production, and your vision!
Light and Love, Barb
Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Work, Styles, & Clients
