 We're back to Why In The Morning. This is Tuesday's Interpreting Worship as we're saying earlier with Barry Moses. So we are so glad to be here because what we do in this particular day is talk to people who are doing various businesses and doing various things to put food on their table and kind of just survive in this world without entertainment. Us in this world without employment. I'm so happy that you guys have tuned in. Remember that if you want to talk to us you can do so on our social media handles. That's Facebook and Twitter, Y254 channel and on Instagram that's Y254 underscore channel. We are on DSTV channel 376 and want you guys to actually watch us and please subscribe to our YouTube channel as you do so. Today we're talking about a makeup artist. She's here with us on set. Her name is actually Betty Kajira and we're so glad to have her. We're going to be learning a few things. May I need to learn a few things about makeup? I'm a very, I'm new at this, very new at this so glad to have you. Kari Boussana. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. Okay. Yeah, so I like your makeup look by the way. Thank you very much. You do look beautiful. Thank you. I woke up very early in the morning to be presentable today. You have to market your business. So if I came here not looking presentable people wouldn't trust my work. That's very true. Yeah, it's kind of like getting your hair done by someone whose hair is messed up. Yes, and I talk about it all the time. You go to the salon and person who's about to do your hair, you are questioning. Look at the hair faster than I'm like. Exactly. Even nails, it's the same thing. Same thing. Yes. So you have to have to be a working billboard of my work. Yes. You have to be a you have to present yourself. Literally this is your work. Yes, this is my CV. This is your CV. I love how you put that. Yes. Yes, and it's a beautiful CV and I think you're great at what you do. Thank you very much. It seems like you've been doing it for a while. How long have you been doing it for? I have, but professionally I started doing makeup December 2016. Professionally. I grew up in a family of all women, so everyone was putting on makeup and lipsticks. So as a child I was always curious about these things, but professionally December of 2016, so it hasn't been that long. Oh, maybe that's where I went wrong. I grew up in a family of men. I'm men. I'm the only girl then. I encounter a lot of clients. So maybe this is why. I encounter a lot of clients who didn't grow up doing makeup, so it's their first time. But I guess it comes easy when you've been in a family where you've seen these things. Aha, okay. And you said that your profession started in 2016 and that your family and everyone they're kind of into the makeup scene and stuff. So that means that they support what you do. They do. My sister is now learning. She actually now has the desire to learn. She wants to learn how to do a brows and all that. My mom comes to me sometimes, to my eyebrows, to this. Yes, because when you now know how to do it professionally, then people want to learn more. Okay, so I end up seeing that you're tight with your family because when you sat down, you were looking kind of agitated. You're like, oh, and I'm, hmm, something's wrong. Is this young lady needs something? You're like, oh, there's a young man who's at the gate, and I'm hoping that he can come in. I was like, oh, in my head, I was thinking that's probably her PA or maybe someone for marketing or someone to take photos for the interview. And then he comes in and you're like, oh, it's my cousin. Oh, that's really sweet. I kept on thinking, who will I invite? Because I did not want to wake up in the morning and come here alone. I needed some motivation. You couldn't drag one of your sisters? My sisters have to be at work. They would love to be here, but they have to be at work. One is with the kids. I'm sure they're watching. So he's the only one who is available and I'm happy he is here today. I see. Yeah, we're glad to have him. But back to you. Back to you, madame. The work of makeup artistry. You know, here in Kenya right now, it's taken off. And I think that there are a lot of people who are doing makeup even on YouTube. And this is, there I can even, I think there's one who I was, I was watching the other day. Her name is Maxine Wabu. Wabu. Yeah. Yeah. And yes. And so I was thinking to myself, well, this is great. We have so many people coming up and also some of your videos are on YouTube. And I believe that's a photo of you, is it? Yes. Yes. It's the start of a video posted yesterday. I'm trying to be consistent and post videos probably every week. Yes, great content. Because I think everyone is now learning their makeup from YouTube. I could say I was, I knew about makeup, but I've really advanced my skills from YouTube. I see. Yeah. I see. Okay. Well, in this particular video that was posted yesterday, I did watch it and it was focusing on the eyes. Yes. And what you did was kind of do the eyelashes and the eye shadow and different kinds of things. Maybe the first thing, and you're showing people how to do, you've picked a shade and everything. Yes. Can we, what is first transition color? Most people who... God, this sounds like chemistry. Rocket science. I mean, I watch, I'm not kidding you. I watch these videos and I get frustrated watching them. I'm like, why? Why is this so difficult? The thing is this, you need to find a YouTuber who connects with you. There are YouTubers who create content for beginners. Jackie Aina. Oh, yes. I'm a Jackie Aina person, but she doesn't create content for beginners. So the people who create content for beginners, whereby they take you step by step, this is what you're supposed to do, followed by this, by that. I tend to be the sort of makeup artist who is just showing you looks. So I wouldn't tell you what to do step by step, but from looking at it, you can create something similar to this. So I'll go step by step, pick every color and anything that you have in your house, you can use it to create a similar look. That is what I try to achieve with my channel because you can't all have the same palette. If I'm going to something that is expensive and you don't have it, you're trying to achieve the very same thing. It needs to be easy on everyone. Whatever you have, the type of palette you have, you can just achieve something that is similar to this. In this video, I choose to do the eyes because I feel like... What was that first transition color, please? The first transition color is a color. It's like a base that you're going to build on colors. I really can't explain it if I'm not doing the makeup. If I show you, you understand. But what people do is that with eyeshadow, you just layer on one color. Like you choose today, I'm going with gold. But what you do when you're doing this professionally is that you use an array of colors that complement each other. Like on my eyes right now, I have the same transition color. I have glitter on my eye. I have black to smoke it out. That's why you need a makeup artist time to time. When you have events and such things and you can't do it on your own, that's why you need a makeup artist. I see. And is this something you went to school for? Is it something that you just learned? I actually didn't. It was just in your hands. I just learned. I was actually telling my family, I think I should go to school and maybe just get certified for it. But it's something I learned growing up from my family and then mainly from YouTube and just practicing and practicing. Yes. I see. All right. Well, we've talked about what our first transition color is and maybe you can tell us a little bit about brushes because I hear that brushes also get complicated. Do they do? And I've seen like a set of brush being unrolled. Yes. It's like a red carpet, like brrrrr. Like brushes. And we're like, we're going to use all this. And she's like, oh, we're going to use all of them. Like, no, how? For what? Yes. Why aren't we using two or three? So let's discuss about the brushes a little bit. Brushes. We have a lot of brushes, but the new brushes, I would say you would need a foundation brush is key. Okay. A foundation brush. And then you need probably a powder brush. And then you need a spoolie. A spoolie is used for your eyebrows when you're combing your, your little brows up. So a spoolie would be nice. You can find a spoolie that is double ended. It's a spoolie on one side, and it's an angled brush on the other side so that it cleans up the concealer on your eyebrows. So that is number three. Number four, you would need a fun brush. This is for your highlight. So the places you're highlighting, it gets into those areas very well. And then number five, I would say you need two blending brushes for your eye shadow. So one for placing and then one for blending in your eye shadow. So if you're not maybe doing the full thing, six brushes will actually serve you very well. But as us makeup artists, we know that this, we can use up to six, five brushes on one lid and eye lid. I've seen that. Yes. And that's why, yeah. Caters for a specific area. If I'm going into the tear duct, I know there's a specific brush that will get into that area well. If I am going into the bottom lash line, I know there's a brush that will get into that area well. But if you're new to it, just six brushes will serve you. Six brushes? Well, yes. Because what you're saying about the tear ducts, you see the water, the crease, as in people, I think men, even men may not understand how complicated it might get. You know, they look at us and they're always complaining, like, what's up with you? You know, like, yeah, I made that. But at the end of the day, I think it's a beautiful result. It's a very beautiful result. And as much as they love cars, this is our thing. Like just understand it. We don't get on your back about cars and football. Yeah. Makeup is our thing. It's not my thing. I'm trying to make it my thing. I'm slowly learning. But, but yes, I realized you talked about the different kinds of brushes when you're discussing that. When I saw that video, I saw a fluffy brush and then I saw one just kind of flat. Yes. On the, on the eyeshadow for using for the eyeshadow. Yes. Yes. The fluffy brush is what I'm calling the blending brush. So once you place your product on your lid, you need a brush that is fluffy to work it into the area you want it to go to. So if you're doing the crease, that brush is what is going to blend it into the crease. But then there are times when you're picking up product, just picking it and placing it on the lid, especially when you've created something we call a cut crease using concealer. So if you want a pigmented and shimmery color, maybe on the center of your lid, you wouldn't require the blending brush. You'll require a flat brush that will pick up your product and just place it on the lid. I see. It's not technical. But I don't want to make it sound too serious. Yes. All right. All right. I see. And you know, when we were going to talk about the YouTube videos, why did you start on them? Did you find that and understand simply it could be because people right now, YouTube is a huge thing. Everything's on YouTube right now. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it on YouTube. If you're eating, you guys might say, they're even videos of people eating, like shoving food in their mouth. And we're supposed to sit there and watch you do that. But I respect when people come in and do work on YouTube, like you're doing. Yes. Yes. And so how long has your channel been up? My channel has been up, I think, from 2017. Right. I posted some things back then and then I decided YouTube is not for me. I decided I'm not the type of person who wants to be known. I used to watch people like Wabosha, like you've mentioned. She started out with like 2000 when I started watching her. And then she'd say, oh, I went to the streets and someone noticed me today. And they said, hi, I'm a very introverted person. So the thought of that scared me away from YouTube. But my sister and my friends kept on pushing me and telling me people are making a living out of this. So this is your passion. This is like your portfolio. When you go to a client and they ask you for a portfolio, this is your work. You can show it through this. And through YouTube, you get clients, you get to teach people. That's when I decided, I think it's been two, three months since I've been putting up content continuously. And I think it's something I've decided, like you can't sacrifice what I love to do my passion just because maybe someone will recognize me or I feel my privacy will not be in my control anymore. So yeah, since 2017. But this year I decided to fully take it on. I see. And who are some of the people that you wish you could work with in the makeup world? In the makeup world? Because sometimes I see collables of makeup artists doing stuff together. Who are some of the people you'd like to collaborate with? If I was to say internationally, I would say Jackie Aina because I watch her a lot. A lot of the things I do, I have learned from her. And I think she has good content. She's very energetic. Yes. I love her personality and the makeup she does. If I was to say locally, I think... And she's finally made it because right now, I think last week, she was shooting in Vogue. I was like, oh, my girl made it. She's in Vogue magazine. Yes, she even has collables of foundation now. If I could get to that level... You will, girl. I will. I will. And people really underestimate this business. And I love how people are opening up to see that it can take you quite, quite far. Because at the point, I think once you get to do makeup for celebrities or something, I think your world does blow up. And so I think it's not limited as people think it is. It's not just on just doing makeup for weddings. There's a lot you can do in this world. And it can take you so, so far. Yes. With someone like me who is in the field, I think an aim, the main goal is to get to a place where you can have your own makeup line. So it's not... Don't just see it as something short-term, doing makeup for weddings and this and that. That's where you start off. Then I create content for YouTube. But the end goal, if you can create something that is your own, your own makeup line, because with us darkskins, I would say, there are a lot of brands in the market, but not too many brands focus on the dark-skinned people. I go to buy makeup for clients at times, and you really have to struggle to find something that is their shade. And even when you find something that is their shade, the undertone is wrong. Maybe it's too orange, it's too red, it's too gray. So if I was to get to that point where I could create something that focuses on the black woman, that would be... You'd just be sad. Yes, I would. I see. I think this is your first video. This is, I think, my first video. I pulled it up because I wanted you to tell us how you've grown. Yes. I thought it would be important because we've done two things. We've gotten your very first video. And the video that we played earlier was actually your most recent video. That was yesterday's video. And so the reason why I chose those two is because I wanted you to kind of point me out. What are some of the differences you've seen in yourself? Do you feel like you've grown from how you used to do makeup here to how you've done makeup in the other video? Yes, I clearly have the type of brush I'm using. Oh, you got your eyebrows up. For example, number one, I wouldn't use the type of brushes I'm using. Two, I am using eyeliner on my eyebrows. I wouldn't do that. Okay, some of the things like the concealer I'm using is the same thing. So some products still remain like they're good. But I think the technique, the eyebrows are very different. The setting, the type of camera I was using. The eyebrows are too much. Yes, they're very dark. They're very, very, very, very dark. But even the setting, I've tried to upgrade and use maybe professional things. I was just using my phone at this point. I had a small, what's it called? A tripod stand. My phone in front of a window in front of a living room. For lighting, yes. So step by step, you start investing into the things and you start buying equipment that will elevate your type of videos. I see. I see. It's very strange to watch this. Oh my goodness. How do you feel? How do you feel when you look at this video? I wish there are things I could change. First of all, if there are products I would have learned a little earlier. But I think everyone has a starting point and this is not too bad for where I started. That's perfect because that's exactly what was headed. You know, today it's Tuesday entrepreneurship. And one thing people don't understand is as an entrepreneur, you're going to change a lot. The way you do things in the beginning is not going to be the way you do things in, let's say, one year afterwards. The things that you learn, the I guess expertise that you take on your journey in that one year or two years or whatever, it's really, really different. And so that is actually the same basis for every single business. I don't think there's a business where day one, you're perfect at it. Oh, you know everything. And one year later, there's nothing you've changed. You're just the same as day one. If that's the case, then I'm afraid there's no progress because you must progress. Yeah, you must grow. Yes. And I'm glad that you're proud of yourself. I'm glad that you've seen the things you can point out because another thing that makes people efficient entrepreneurs and efficient business people is to know where they've gone wrong and to point it out for themselves, being like, oh, this is where I went wrong. I shouldn't have made a deal with so-and-so or I shouldn't have used this color, whatever, you understand? And so I think you're on the right path. Maybe we can talk a little bit about products because as we were saying, Kenyans are really into makeup right now and we're all trying to learn. And it can be expensive. It can be expensive. Like, cool, it can be expensive. I think I entered a Mac shop at the hub. I was like, I was crying inside. I was crying inside at the prices. I was just like, how? Pickup is an investment. Wow. Yeah, so it is an investment. People come to my house and they see the collection that I have, which to me is nothing compared to where I want to get to in terms of the collection. And people ask me, in fact, my cousin was asking me this morning, if someone came to your house and only stole this box, I'm sure you'd go to the police and to the CID. I said, yes, because that is my lifetime investment. What you do is that instead of buying, I feel like most Kenyans prefer maybe the counterfeit makeup just because it's affordable, but you do not put into consideration the repercussions that it has. What are some of those repercussions? People, if you go online and you search for the things people suffer from, from the things from swellings and acne and all these things, even black spots, what I tell a client is that do not focus on covering up your skin if you're not using the right products. You'd rather not put on makeup and keep your skin healthy and flawless. But if you are going to put on makeup, make sure you're putting on makeup that isn't going to damage your skin. Because some of my clients have gotten to the point where acne is so severe, they have black spots, they have redness and all these things. Now they feel they need to layer on even more to hide this. And I tell them detox, take a detox from makeup because you're using the wrong products. Get your skin to a healthy place, invest. Save up some money where you can buy. You buy these products bit by bit. I didn't wake up on money with $100,000 and bought my collection. Which probably costs $100,000. I saved up little by little. Today I bought foundation. Tomorrow I was able to afford concealer. Next month this and that. And over some period of time, you realize that you have everything and you're using the right products for your skin. But honestly, when I also started out, I used to go to, I hear people call it Dubois now. I don't know if it's Dubois or Dubois Street. It's Dubois. It's Dubois. I'm glad that people are saying it right. I used to, you know how you cringe? Ah, Dubois, I was like, oh, cringe is Dubois. Yes. So I used to go to Dubois, which I still do. I would say I don't, I do. There are things I buy there, like the technical things, the brushes, things that do not really have effect on the skin. You find me buying the brushes, the sponges, things that I feel are a little too expensive, but I can find an alternative too. But when it comes to products that are touching your skin, like foundation and powder, primer, foundation, the powders, the concealers, even though there was one time that in Dubois, when I was just starting out, I didn't have the money to do it. I bought an eyeliner there. And the swelling that it brought to my eyes, my eyes were so swollen, I did a cut eye. Waking up in the morning, I washed it off. I was swollen. I had wounds all over. I'm not saying all their products are bad. I'm sure there are people who would swear by them, but just be cautious with what you're buying. Brushes and things, tools, I think tools. Buying tools, they're no problem. But buying makeup, just invest in the right things. And let me tell you, they last a really, really, really long time. When I buy makeup, it lasts me probably not less than a year. So that 3,000 shillings, that even 1,500 shillings will last you a really long time. It will last you a very long time. Yes. I see. I see. I think now we can move to what our producers have put up before. So I've understood what you've said about the investment in makeup. And the word for it is where you've done makeup on people. I saw like a little bit of artwork on somebody's shoulder. I actually do both. I'm both a makeup artist and I do body art. Makeup artist and body art. Did you do makeup for these ladies that are being shown here? I did. This was a baby bum shoot. So these were her friends. So we went somewhere, did their makeup. I see. So this is your work as well? Yes, this is my work. You do this and then they go for photo shoots. Yes. Sometimes a photographer will reach out to me like this was a particular photographer that reached out to me and said, would you be able to do this body art on someone? I said, yes. Talked about it. He got a model. Did it. He shot it. Yes. I see. So at times it's someone who has their makeup done, who reaches out to me. At times it's a photographer. It just depends. I see. That one's quite pretty. I see. With a brown little. Well, I think you're quite talented, Miss Thing. Thank you. And then I have to ask you, now that you're into body art as well. Yes. Like we said, makeup is a large field. If only people could understand. It is. It is large. And there's a point where, for example, the guys who even, these Game of Thrones people, the guys who even make the white walkers costumes, that's also makeup artists. Let me sit here and nod my head, though I am part of the 1% that doesn't watch Game of Thrones. But you may understand. Maybe in something that you have watched, you're part of the 1%, I love that. Maybe it's something that you have watched where something looks quite gruesome. Yes. That's also done by makeup artists. There's a lot you can do. And I hear that these people spend up to seven hours just to create a certain costume on somebody's body. Yes. Yeah, to take it off the next day. Yes. Do the same thing the next day. Yes. Take it off. Do the same thing the next day. Yes. So it can be quite demanding job. That is why I chose the line that I'm in, because I mean the beauty side of makeup, and then the effects side of makeup. I am curious to maybe try it out and see what it's all about, but I am aware that it is a lot, a lot of work. Yes. And are you interested in kind of, now we can kind of talk about how you want to broaden your horizons. Yes. Yes. What do you want to do with your skill as a makeup artist? Right now you're doing face and body art. Yes. But ultimately, what are you trying to get to? Are you trying to make up your own body line? Are you trying to work with celebrities? Yes. Are you trying to do makeup for costumes in movies? Yeah. What is it that you're trying to get to? I think the one thing I see on TV and I'm like, I think I could fill that gap. I see Kenyan content like movies and shows that we create, and I tell myself, I wish they would invest in a makeup artist. And I started telling myself, instead of just saying that at the comfort of my home, I would try and maybe reach out to these people, because the content is good. But I think the moment you come to the screen and you see your makeup, we know this thing is local. We know it wasn't done professionally. Sometimes I look and I'm like, this is a wonderfully written show. I know. We're wonderful actors. I know. The story is nice. Yes. The acting is good. But what is wrong with your eyebrows, honey? Yes. Yes. So that is the one gap if I would fill, I'll be happy. Because I feel like we are getting to that level in terms of the talent and the movie itself. But in terms of investing in makeup and such things, that is where we detect very quickly. This is local content. Even in terms of music videos and such things. I see people trying lately, but that is a gap that I would really love to fill. And then obviously, I would love to work with celebrities, but I feel like that is a market that people have already gone into, which I do not mind. It's a good thing that our celebrities are embracing professional makeup artists, that when you're going to an interview, when you're doing your video, you see most of our musicians right now putting on very professional, decent looking makeup. But I think the movies are yet to get there. And then if I could work outside the country, that would be really good. Yes, the time and again I find people DMing me maybe from Uganda, from Nigeria, to maybe do something together on YouTube. So if I could broaden my horizons and go outside the country, that would be a good achievement. I like your goals. I like your goals and it seems like you've set something up for yourself. And that's important and we don't have much time. Maybe we can just quickly talk about one, two things and then you can give you social media handles and then we can let the next person come in for the interview. But now that you've talked about broadening your horizons, I was watching YouTube again. I do love YouTube. And there's a challenge going on where people are in different parts of the world, in different parts of the world, people are going to the worst reviewed makeup artists. They get it recorded. Of course they don't tell the person that. They're just like, oh, I want to do a photo shoot. So the person does their makeup, they get it recorded, they post it and they're like, I went to the worst makeup artist in Nairobi. And then they do a challenge for, I went to the best makeup artist in Nairobi or whatever, or Dubai. I've seen all over Dubai, London. The one for South Africa cracked me up. I have never laughed so hard. I should check it out. Please go and check. You will. I'm still laughing. I don't find any of my work less. No, no, no. Maybe the best category. No, no, no. No, you do your work quite well. When I say worst reviewed, you'll just be like, what are these people doing to these poor, poor customers? It's a very interesting thing to watch. And so what you also kind of get is the difference between what I feel I got was the range in makeup artists. I was like, the people who believe they're actually makeup artists, but it's just not working. And then there are those who it's really working for them. And I think it's really working for you. And I really believe that you're going to go quite far with what you're doing. Thank you very much. And lastly, please, can you share your social media handles? And if you'd like to shout out your family, even your cousin, when I'm a kitty, you can shout out anyone that you'd like and also let people know how they can reach you so that you can go into the makeup for them. Okay. So maybe I would start by saying a huge, huge thank you when I got this invitation. I was very happy. These other types of things I want to now start doing getting myself out there to be known. And my social media handle is at Kajura underscore Betty, that is my camera. So at Kajura underscore Betty. And then my official Instagram handle is enhance underscore beauty underscore space. So enhance beauty space, just separate them with an underscore. And then on YouTube, I am known as Kajura space. And then we decided to gift two of your viewers today. So anyone who is, maybe has a wedding or an event, if you go and follow my YouTube, my Instagram handle, and you like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, you stand the chance to get a full makeup courtesy of me. So tell your friends to tell your friends subscribe to Kajura space and follow us on Instagram. I mean, we'll give two viewers a full makeover beat for a wedding, a photo shoot, whatever it is. I see. Oh, okay. So you guys, you know, you stand to get something just by watching, just by watching, is it? Yes, by subscribing, you have to go to Kajura space, my YouTube subscribe to that. And then to Instagram, Kajura enhanced, sorry, enhanced beauty space. And I forgot to say my hi. I think I'll say my hi to my family, our kids, my friends and my church. Oh, okay. That's wonderful. All right. Well, you've told people how to, you guys have to go and subscribe to her on Instagram and YouTube. Yes. You know, there are some things that you are going to get following. Yes. Thank you so much for coming, Miss Kajura. Thank you very much for having me. We had a wonderful time. Me too. I have learned some things about makeup. I hope so. I can't say I love it, but I've learned something. And I'll continue to practice. Okay. I have to have you as my client one day. I shall come. Trust me, I will come. I shall come and you can tell me a few things as you also. I too. Yes. Give me a nice look. I can't wait actually. Thank you so much for coming. And coming up next is actually Miss and Barry Moses with another interview on Tuesday Entrepreneurship. Do remember that you guys need to watch this particular show so that you kind of learn on the different things that you can do instead of sitting at home waiting for employment, because right now employment is pretty scarce. But here we have business people coming here. They've done a few things with their lives have come and said they're talking to us about the things they've done. And it's just amazing. Thank you so much for coming once again. Do stay tuned.