Bio |

"How did you get your hair to do that?"

“You did your makeup yourself? It looks like it was done by a professional makeup artist!”

And my personal favorite, a conversation between a high school friend and her mother before our junior homecoming dance: “I thought I told you we didn’t have enough money to get your hair done at a fancy salon! You must have spent a fortune on that Up Do!”...“No mom, I didn’t go to a salon...Nicole did it!”.

Quotes like these from my high school years are what made me think I should direct my artistic energy towards a career as a Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist.

I began my hair and makeup adventure by attending the Aveda Institute for Cosmetology in Minneapolis. While there, I won the “Most Creative Up Do” and “Nail Art” competitions, was on the Dean’s list and one of only two in my class to get 100% on my state board tests. Despite my success in school and realizing knowledge is power, I continued my education by taking many advanced classes along the way:

• Color classes in Aveda, Wella and Logics color lines
• Cutting classes (for men, women and children)
• Razor techniques, layer techniques and creative cuts
• Styling classes including up dos for weddings and special events
• Curling techniques
• Blow outs (practicing this in the humidity of South Florida has made me an expert in this area - I now consider myself the blow out queen!)

After years of working in salons in Minneapolis, Fort Myers, Orlando, Boca Raton and South Beach, I began to feel I had gone as far as I could in the salon life. Becoming the top earner in most of the salons I had worked for, I felt my creativity was taking me in another direction. So even though everyone thought me crazy for leaving such a successful career, I went back to school for an intense course in Makeup Artistry at Joe Blasco Makeup Center in Orlando. In the first few weeks I mastered:

• Beauty Makeup
• Bridal Makeup
• Period Makeup dating as far back as to when the girls would pinch their cheeks for blush and suck on an apple to plump their lips.
• Character Makeup
• Fantasy Makeup
• Pin up Makeup
• Vintage Makeup
• Construction Makeup
• Special Effects Makeup

A favorite memory while at school was turning a fellow classmate into a disco ball head! She got me back by turning me into a zombie though so don’t feel bad for her.

After five weeks much of my class graduated. But not me! I was thirsty for even more knowledge and enrolled in the Advanced Prosthetic Class. For six weeks we designed and made busts out of stone and plaster, and sculpted, foamed, latexed, baked and painted our prosthetic appliances. End result? A terrifying life size Grimm Reaper! Look for a picture of this in the special effects section.

Now I am a true Professional Freelance Hair and Makeup Artist, reliable, accountable, and experienced in:

• Photo Shoot Hair and Makeup
• Bridal Hair and all Wedding Hair and Makeup
• Fashion Hair and Makeup
• Pin Up Hair and Makeup
• Film Hair and Makeup
• Television Hair and Makeup
• Prom Hair and Makeup
• Special Events Makeup
• Airbrush Makeup
• Natural Makeup

I travel all over Florida to cities such as Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Naples and surrounding areas. If you are located over an hour away from my current location, a small travel fee will be applied.

Thank you to all the people that have helped me in my success! I'm living the life I've dreamed!

Have a Great Hair Day!

Nicole Patterson
Traveling Hairstylist and Makeup Artist
Tampa Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist
Sarasota Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist