Meet Melayne Clark | Hair & Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melayne Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melayne, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for creativity, constantly wanting to have a paintbrush in hand. Growing up in a family that valued creativity, we often spent afternoons doing fun, creative activities together. As I got older, I became really interested in makeup. I would spend hours in my room watching YouTube tutorials, trying to master different looks. Before long, I started painting my face and sharing my own makeup tutorials with friends.

I have always been determined to pursue a career that I genuinely love. Watching many of my loved ones dreading their daily work just to make ends meet, motivated me to find a way to turn my passion into a fulfilling career.

Despite my enthusiasm, I initially felt apprehensive about pursuing a career in this field. Many around me attempted to dissuade me from attending cosmetology school. However, I was fortunate to have the support of my parents, who encouraged me to follow my dreams.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been a hair and makeup artist for six years, and my journey started when I moved to Grand Rapids in 2018 to attend Douglas J Aveda cosmetology school. While I was there, I was excited to receive a prestigious student award that let me travel to California and learn from some amazing professionals in the beauty industry. That experience really sparked my love for continuing education.

After I graduated, I moved back home, but just a week later, all the salons in Michigan were shut down due to COVID-19. It was a tough and scary time, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. When salons reopened, I quickly built a solid clientele, as clients appreciated my ability to get them in right away.

I’m really grateful for how fast I established my clientele, but I soon realized it can be challenging to keep up with the fast pace of the industry. I learned that taking care of myself—mentally, emotionally, and physically—is super important to avoid burnout. This realization deepened my love for ongoing education. Every year, I travel across the country to learn from the best, and I also take local classes in Michigan.

My favorite part of this job is making my clients feel good and helping them love themselves again. The genuine connections I create with them truly enrich my work. I’m proud of my commitment to bettering myself and learning new techniques, as it helps me bring fresh skills to my clients and keeps my passion for this career alive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would first start out a little south of Alpena, which is closer to where I am from. I would bring them to breakfast at Connies Cafe in Ossineke, where you absolutely have to get the giant cinnamon roll, along, with the delicious breakfast. After I would bring them to Negwegon State Park in Black River. There we would take a hike in beautiful trails, then we would cool off in the beautiful Lake Huron.
We would start our next day in Downtown Alpena grabbing some coffee and breakfast at Cabin Creek Coffee. We then would walk around and do some shopping at our local shops like Cedar & Threads, Traveling Ladders, and more. After shopping we would stop to get a quick bite to eat for lunch at Blue Moon Cafe.
We would spend most of our next morning at one of the many beaches in Alpena, then spend some time taking pictures in front of the many murals that Downtown has to offer. Later we would grab dinner and drinks at Red Brick Tap and Barrel then going for a ice cream cone at Downtown Scoops.
For the last days of the trip, we would enjoy going on a shipwreck boat tour. Stopping by Austin Brothers for some great food, brews and some corn hole. Our last stop would be at the Sanctuary Cinema to watch a movie!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to a few very special people in my life.

I am incredibly grateful for my amazing parents. Without your support, I would not be where I am today. Your constant expressions of pride in my accomplishments keep me motivated and inspired every day. Thank you for believing in me.

My husband is my unwavering support through both the good times and the challenges. He stands by me during late work nights, constantly offering fresh ideas for my social media and encouraging me to keep pushing forward, even after a long day. His belief in me motivates me to continue pursuing my passion.

To my incredibly talented coworkers; You are some of the hardest-working and most passionate women I know. Your support and encouragement truly keep me going, and I am grateful to have you as my number one supporters.

Website: https://melayne-manes.square.site

Instagram: @melaynemanes

Facebook: Melayne Manes

Image Credits
Photograhers

@if_it_aint_bokeh_dont_fix_it
@raegeneller_photography
@hannahallyse