Job Interviews for the Alt Looking Woman

You would think working in this field bright hair, piercings and tattoos would be ok right? nope.

On tv all these makeup artists and nail techs and estheticians are usually alt(alternative) looking... or asian.

But in the real world, there are lots of different kinds of people in this field of work. And especially in a smaller city like Thunder Bay, tattoos and bright hair is still looked at funny.
I have been looking for work for awhile, and because my job market in flooded I am finding it a little tough there are not many jobs leftover. 

I will say this is more for the esthetics part of my job, it is a more serious and high end job. That comes with expectations, mostly clean cut looking.  

When I worked at the last spa, I had to ask my boss what colours I could dye my hair, and how bright. This was also my idea to compromise, I have respect for where I work, and the reputation of where I do. 
When I worked for the College Corporation, by the end of my contract they were instituting a new rule saying only "natural hair colours". I had already broken the dress code rule a bit; that you could sometimes see my tattoos, but I tried my hardest. I wore lots of scarves to cover up my chest piece that goes close to my neck. I also wore long sleeves under my short sleeved scrub top in our esthetics lab so you couldn't see my half sleeve.

I also do admit that to some job interviews, if I can tell they won't even look at my resume because of my hair, I wear one of my natural colour wigs.
I don't mind wearing a wig to work, I love changing it up but it is lying and I feel silly that because of the job market being so low I have to pull this shenanigans to just get my foot in the door.

I'm not saying that you have to give up who you are, or even put up with this. I always tell the truth once I get my foot into the door, I admit and ask about tattoos, bright hair and piercings. Are they acceptable, can I show them off/try not to/or hide all of them? Are you ok with this hair colour? 
I do compromise my standards, which is unfair but I need to put food on the table for my family and help keep a roof over our heads. 


So here's how I present myself for job interviews:

what tattoos?

Here is how I try to look like a "average" person with one of my natural colour wigs:

But we all know I look like this:

tattooed from head to toe...and lots of cleavage haha.

I hope soon in the future it will be 100% unjust to deny someone a opportunity based on how they look.

You can look at me and think that I spend all my time getting drunk and listening to punk music and doing nothing.  

You wouldn't think that I have a diploma in esthetics, nail technician,  funeral services and liberal arts(focusing on sociology and psychology). I have a university level understanding of chemistry, biology, anatomy and infectious materials from taking the mortuary sciences course added into the diploma in funeral services. 

I like to think I am a pretty smart cookie, and that listening to punk and metal and loving tattoos shouldn't have anything to do with it.

what do you think about having to cover up your ink or having to change who you are for work?

xoxox Scotia-leigh.

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Watch "Funnel of Love" FULL Movie

I just saw that my friend Cory Nikalaus has let out the movie I was the MUA and SFX artist on last year fully on vimeo.com




Funnel of Love - Corey Nickalaus - 2012 from Eric Weller on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoy and let me know what you thought!

Thanks so much to the Conflix team, hope to work with your new batch of 2nd years soon!

xoxox Mamma S.

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away and now back!

sorry that I have been inactive for the last 3 weeks. 
My mum died a week ago and was in the hospital for a month from a stroke. I have been dealing with her estate and my emotions while still trying to work, close down one house, reno another and still make time for the kids... sorry everyone please bare with me I have some awesome news to share as well though....

I got engaged!

if you have been following my instagram you would have seen the photos.

Kyle 2 days after my mums funeral, while we were cleaning out the house asked if I wanted to go for a drive, he asked what and how to get to the beach of our first date was. I told him it was at wild goose.

• our first date was we went out there to "sit" on the beach and eat ice cream *wink wink* while blasting pantera from the car. the sky was half stars and half lightning. it was really memorable. 

so on that day, looking pretty gross(hoodie thats 3x too big for me, covered in dust and filth from cleaning out a house, hair a mess, last nights makeup still on, eyes puffed shut from allergies.. he got down on one knee and asked me to "marry him for truesies"

I cried and said "yes for truesies!.... I thought we were just going to have beach sex"

He then put on my grandmother's ring that I had unknowingly had given to him that morning, when I had found it going through family jewelry before the antique appraiser got there... explaining to him what art deco is.

the smaller ring is the love ring he gave to me on valentine's day

its hard to see but behind the diamond setting there is a little compass(my grandpa was a sailor) and the ring is very triangular.

so now that it's wedding season and I am definitely in the mood... watch out for wedding day and evening looks for guests and brides!

xoxox Mamma S.

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Blood 2 Blood Video Shoot

I am so excited about this new video shoot I have been working on with Curtis from applewagon films. It is for AIDS Thunder Bay for their new project to help the community understand and deal with Hepatitis C.




Blood 2 Blood is Hepatitis C awareness project created by AIDS Thunder Bay, which starts with a simple message: Hep C is a virus spread through blood to blood contact. The reason for this project is that a lot of people don’t know much about Hep C or have misconceptions about the virus. This is why we are creating engaging and accessible resources with the right information on Hep C. Some of our resources include comic books, matchbooks, posters, a play (which will be viewable on YouTube, and even a smart phone App. We’re also running a public education campaign that you’ll be seeing over the next few months.
As the makeup artist for this project, I was to make a few people look pretty, do some stage makeup for the cast of a play being filmed and then also make some cast members look like they have been either un-diagnosed or going through treatment for Hep. C. 




Beauty and stage makeup I am very used to, but the hardest part was to make someone look like they are sick. When you are doing makeup for video, it has to be a bit more then what you would normally do if you just wanted to walk around and look a certain way.




With this making them look a bit more sicker for film is hard, you don't want to portray that being sick with Hep C or going through treatment is horrific: I know many people who have Hep. C who look fine, they get sick a lot but they don't look like zombies.

In fact that was the repeated mantra for the shoot: there are no zombies here for once. haha.



My 2 cast members that "have" Hepatitis C, the left is recovering from treatment and the right is a character with un-diagnosed Hepatitis C.

everyone getting ready and mic'ed up for the meeting scene





day 1 street style look


day 2 beauty stage with flash


day 2 look without flash










I had a really fun time shooting this and watching the whole play, I will post the videos when they are done and up and I hope that this campaign will help a lot of people. I know that I am already using the new information pamphlets in my classroom.

xoxo Mamma S.

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Bookings OPEN

So I don't know if you can read the descriptions, click on the photo if you want to read them.

 This is my new price list for everything I do. 

If you are interested in my services please email me laighid@gmail.com

A Personal Makeup Story

Warning: not for those who are still dealing with trauma from abuse. I know its hard and I don't want to make anything worse for you by possibly triggering flashbacks.

I came across this video just now, and I thought it a actual makeup tutorial at first from the title. "How too look your best the morning after" sounds to me if you got bags under your eyes after a hard night of drinking. 

I kept watching and really like the video, being someone who has had to do this for a number of reasons; partied too hard at a metal/punk show, said the wrong thing to someone at the bar once, and of course the reason behind the video: I have gone through similar situations that don't need to be talked about at this time.

First off before I even talk about make up for such a situation: REPORT  your abuser as fast as you can! I know its hard but you need to get as much help right away!

#911

ASSAULTED WOMEN’S HELPLINE
Toll-Free: 1-866-863-0511

http://www.domesticviolenceinfo.ca Thunder Bay and area information

I did become a expert over the years on covering up bruises and cuts. If you do need to ever cover one up  for whatever reason remember:

 

Yellow is for covering up brown coloured spots

Green cover up is for covering up red/purple spots(good for if you do have the bags under your eyes as well)

Then go ahead and use your regular foundation and powders.

I have had a few friends go through the same ordeal and a few clients who have also had some tough times and these tips do help. I always found covering it up when I went out made me feel less self conscience about what people would think of me while my brain was already in traumma.

I am posting this because I have been there and know how hard it is to go through this alone. It needs to be addressed way more still these days cause it happens way too much still!

I am here for anyone who needs to talk, I hope this post has helped in some way.

-xoxox Mamma Scotia