Meet Tarah Brinkerhoff of blushedbybrink

This business started as a sister duo! My sister, Madison, and I originally started it years ago from our mutual love of hair and makeup, and we wanted to do something on the side that fueled a passion that bonded us more together. I truly don’t think either of us ever thought it would become what it is today and hopefully, will continue to grow and flourish into. I have always loved makeup but began at a young age doing people’s hair for school dances. Madison came to enjoy makeup more as she got older and decided to get her makeup license in San Diego so she could work freelance on the side. I followed suit in Orange County so we could both go into this together, and then immediately following, set up the business details (with help from my business degree and other entrepreneurial friends and family).

We continued to have a great time together while growing the business and our skills, but it was definitely starting to be too much trying to work full-time jobs during the week and weddings most weekends. The quick growth we were seeing was unexpected in the best way possible, but I knew nothing was really guaranteed. So although I’m not inherently a risk-taker, it felt wrong to let the opportunity slip away to see what more it could become. Plus, I was really happy running blushedbybrink and being a makeup and hair artist! With the incredible help and encouragement from my husband, friends and family, I decided to take a leap and leave my corporate job in Marketing to give blushedbybrink my all.

It has definitely been tougher than I expected but still very worth it! I never went into this industry with the intention of being an entrepreneur and certainly not for the money. My husband and I took a huge financial risk to support me leaving a well-paying job with benefits to go out on my own, but I did it because I finally felt happy, fulfilled and more excited than ever for what the future held. I’ve learned some big lessons along the way as well! I’m constantly reminded of how I can’t do it all alone and how sometimes, we are too hard on ourselves. The truth of the matter is, I couldn’t have done what I did and will eventually do without the help and support of my husband. He’s truly the best partner I could have ever asked for in life, love and business.

From all the changes over the last couple of years, I also experienced more ups and downs physically and mentally than ever before. I too often, and to be honest still do at times, overdo it because I’m too scared to ask for help, embarrassed I don’t know the answer or because I go beyond my limits. I’m so grateful to the professionals and loved ones that stepped up to help me when I needed it most. I also believe we have to be kinder to ourselves if we want to find real joy, fuel our creativity and nourish our relationships. When I waste energy criticizing myself and questioning if I even have what it takes to be successful in this industry, I don’t leave room to remember why I chose to do this in the first place – the love of the work and making others feel and look as beautiful on the outside as they are inside.

Blushedbybrink offers on-location services for elegant, beautiful, and stress-free hair and makeup – helping brides look and feel their best with everything that leads up to and on their special day! Trained and licensed in Bridal and Event Makeup and Airbrush, you can be confident we use the best techniques and highest quality tools and products to bring out the natural beauty in all our clients. Hair is also our passion! From discovering and trying out new do’s to perfecting the art of hairstyling for weddings and special events, we love it all. Every artist on my team takes pride in making sure every experience is enjoyable and luxurious, all while ensuring that each look lasts and is captured on camera perfectly.

As the owner of blushedbybrink, I truly believe what sets the business apart is the foundation it was started on – the love of makeup and hair as well as family. Both my sister and I value family so much and it’s partly why we initially started the business together. There’s something so meaningful about weddings and the joining of family and friends together to celebrate the love between two individuals. It’s usually the happiest day of most couple’s lives and it means the world to us to be a part of it!

I’m so grateful to our clients – past, present and future – that have helped us grow and made it possible for me to take on the role of managing the business and being an artist full-time. I’m humbled to say there will always be more experienced hair stylists or makeup artists out there. However, I feel so deeply that you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who cares more about helping each client feel beautiful inside and out along with the passion for growing and perfecting the craft as myself and the artists who work with blushedbybrink.

I’ve struggled with this so much! For too long, success to me was defined by my job – the company I worked for, my title, salary, and so on. Even after reaching the goal I set out for myself by age 30 of being a Digital Marketing Manager, I was still hustling on the side doing makeup and hair because something was missing. It hit me hard that my parents and their peers were retiring soon and sadly, I don’t think many of them were looking back at what they did as something they were proud of or happy doing. At so young, I was already starting to feel that way which clearly shed light on what I was valuing wasn’t resonating with me anymore.

I knew I wanted more. I wanted to work hard and see real results, do something that I could take ownership of, and have more freedom of expression to fuel my creativity. I found that by going out and running a makeup and hair business which for someone like me, is pretty crazy! Because I’m also a realistic and practical person, I can’t ignore the fact that it is still very important to me that I make a living and help support myself and my family. Of course, it would be incredible to be super financially successful doing this – who would say no to that :)! Truly though, success has become more about how I feel waking up to work each day and how at the end of it, I can say it’s rewarding and exciting to do even more. As long as it continues to give me all those feelings, I am going to keep working toward growth because I do believe, it can bring me both happiness and financial stability.