Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimari LaSalle.
Kimari, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Creativity has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. Around the age of four or five, you could almost always find me with a pencil, paintbrush, or sketchbook in my hands. I loved drawing, painting, and creating fashion illustrations. I would spend hours sketching stylish outfits, glamorous heels, and anything that allowed my imagination to come to life. At the time, I didn’t realize those moments were planting the seeds for the career I have today.
As I entered middle school, my canvas began to change. Instead of creating on paper, I became fascinated with makeup, and my own face became my canvas. Looking back, one of the greatest blessings God gave me was a mother who saw beyond what others saw. While some people questioned her and asked, “You let your daughter wear makeup?” her response was always, “Yep. I want my baby to be able to express her creativity.”
My mom understood that it was never just about makeup. She recognized it as an artistic outlet and saw a passion developing within me before I fully understood it myself. I thank God for having a mother who nurtured my gift instead of limiting it. Creativity also runs in my family, as my grandmother worked in beauty and cosmetology, and I believe that same creative spirit was passed down to me.
During middle school, I became completely immersed in learning makeup. I spent countless hours watching YouTube tutorials, practicing different techniques, and challenging myself to improve. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion. I truly believe God guided my hands throughout that journey, giving me the ability to learn and grow as an artist.
By high school, I had become known as the girl who always showed up with a full beat, even at 7:30 in the morning. Makeup was never just something I wore; it was something I genuinely enjoyed creating. Friends and classmates would compliment my looks, but one thing I became especially known for was my eyebrows. A perfectly sculpted, snatched brow became my signature, and soon girls around school were asking me to do theirs.
The more I grew in my artistry, the more I realized this wasn’t just a hobby. I knew God had placed something bigger inside of me, and I wanted to turn my passion into a career. That’s when I discovered Oakland Technical Early College (OTECH), a vocational program that provides students with hands-on training and career-focused education while still in high school.
When I learned OTECH offered a cosmetology program, I immediately knew it was the opportunity I had been praying for. The program allowed students to attend high school in the morning and cosmetology school in the afternoon. Through this two-year accredited program, I was able to complete my required 1,500 cosmetology training hours before graduating high school, putting me on the path to earning my Michigan cosmetology license.
The moment I found out about the program, I went straight to my parents and told them this was what I wanted to pursue. There was only one spot left, and after submitting my application, all I could do was pray and trust that if this path was meant for me, God would open the door.
He did.
I was accepted into the final remaining spot. At just 16 years old, I began my journey at OTECH, and that decision became the foundation of everything I have built since.
My journey through cosmetology school is something I will never forget. It was a transformative season where I met incredible people, built meaningful relationships, and learned skills that shaped me into the artist I am today.
The journey wasn’t always easy. Balancing high school and cosmetology training came with challenges, and there were moments when I wanted to give up. But my parents constantly reminded me to keep pushing. Growing up, I watched their dedication and work ethic, and those lessons taught me the importance of perseverance. Through their encouragement and God’s strength, I was able to finish what I started.
By the time I graduated high school, I had completed my 1,500 required training hours. That summer, at just 18 years old, I took my Michigan State Board written and practical exams and passed both on my first attempt. Receiving my cosmetology license was a defining moment because it represented years of dedication, faith, and trusting God’s timing.
After high school, I launched Kimari LaSalle Beauty LLC. I started where many entrepreneurs begin, from home, taking clients from my parents’ house and slowly building my clientele one appointment at a time.
I am incredibly grateful for my parents because they believed in my vision and supported me from the very beginning. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to continue pursuing something I knew God had placed inside of me.
At 21 years old, I experienced a full-circle moment when I booked my first four-figure opportunity in a single day with a well-known Detroit clothing brand, providing makeup for one of their photoshoots. It was a reminder that the gift God placed in me as a child was continuing to grow and create opportunities I once only dreamed about.
Now at 26 years old, my business has evolved in many ways. As I have grown personally and professionally, I felt God leading me into a new season of refinement, clarity, and elevation. That season inspired me to rebrand my business and fully embrace the vision He placed on my heart.
Today, I am a full time professional traveling bridal makeup artist, serving brides on one of the most meaningful days of their lives. My love for bridal artistry grew even deeper when I became a bride myself in 2024. Experiencing the wedding journey from the other side gave me a new appreciation for the importance of feeling beautiful, confident, and cared for on such a meaningful day.
One of the most special parts of my wedding day was that I had the opportunity to do my own bridal makeup, which is something many brides choose not to do. For me, it was a full circle moment that allowed me to pour my passion, creativity, and artistry into one of the most meaningful looks I would ever create.
One of the biggest turning points in my career has been becoming a featured makeup vendor on The Knot.com and WeddingWire.com
Being recognized on platforms that connect me with brides across the country has been an incredible blessing and a reminder that when you remain faithful, committed to your craft, and trust God’s timing, He will open doors greater than you could have imagined.
Looking back on my journey, I can see that every step was intentional. From the little girl who found joy in drawing and creating, to the young artist who discovered makeup as her canvas, to the woman I am today walking boldly in my purpose, I know this journey was always part of God’s plan.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” — Jeremiah 1:5
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
These scriptures serve as a constant reminder that the gifts, creativity, and passion God placed inside of me were never by accident. They were intentionally woven into my story before I ever recognized them myself. Every challenge, opportunity, and milestone has prepared me for this season, and I am grateful to continue walking in the purpose He created for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. During high school, I balanced a full academic schedule while completing cosmetology school at the same time. There were long days, late nights, and a lot of sacrifices, but those experiences taught me discipline and perseverance long before I realized how much I would need them.
When I officially launched Kimari LaSalle Beauty, I quickly learned that building a business takes more than talent. It takes patience, consistency, and faith. There were seasons when bookings were slow and moments when I questioned if I was on the right path, but I learned to trust God’s timing instead of my own. The right opportunities and the right clients always came when they were meant to.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to reinvent yourself. Starting over isn’t failure. it’s growth. Every new chapter has shaped me into the artist, entrepreneur, and woman I am today, and I hope my journey reminds someone else to keep going, even when the path isn’t easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a licensed cosmetologist and the founder of Kimari LaSalle Beauty, a travel-only makeup artistry business. My passion has always been helping women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. For me, makeup has never been about changing someone’s appearance. It’s about enhancing their natural beauty and creating a moment where they feel their absolute best.
I truly believe this talent was a gift God placed in my hands with a greater purpose. Through beauty, I’ve been able to connect with women, uplift them, and help them see the confidence and beauty that was already within them.
What I’m most proud of is building Kimari LaSalle Beauty from the ground up. Every client, booking, and milestone is a reminder that consistency, faith, and hard work truly pay off. Owning a business has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of trusting God’s timing.
What sets me apart is the experience I create for each client. I want every person who sits in my chair to feel comfortable, cared for, and valued. My goal is to create more than just a beautiful makeup look, but an experience that leaves them feeling empowered.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice for someone starting is to be patient with the process and give yourself permission to grow. When I first started, I wish I understood that building something meaningful takes time, consistency, and a willingness to learn. Trust the gift God has placed inside of you and remember that growth happens through every step of the journey.
Keep showing up, continue improving your craft, and stay true to your vision. Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Every experience, challenge, and lesson is shaping you for where you’re meant to go.
Pricing:
- KLB Bridal Makeup – $300
- KLB signature soft glam/full glam – $180
Contact Info:
- Website: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=20522109
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klasallebeauty?igsh=eDVqNzl1aXliYTRk&utm_source=qr
- Other: Klasallebeauty@gmail.com
