Meet Alex Kelsey

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alex Kelsey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alex below.

Alex , so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

Being in the beauty industry, and at some point having burnout just comes with the territory. When working in environments where you pour your all into people and your talent it’s often times hard to keep some pieces back to maintain your own mental health and physical health . You’re working so hard to meet a goal and maintain your client list that you’ll be so tired and exhausted and can’t rest . The best word i can use is balance . Creating balance and proper scheduling is so important , it helps maintain the artist and the craft as well as providing the top notch energy and services your clients want . The next word i would use is creativity, being creative and trying new techniques , colors and aesthetics keep the craft fun . I’m always to jump on the new trends and give them a try , sharpening my skills and keeping the business fun . After all I chose this path , due to my artsy , go with the flow nature and i want to maintain that through my makeup art and life .

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Alex Whitman – Kelsey , I am a native of Huntsville AL and I am a 33 Year Old , mom and wife . In my career field I am a Licensed Cosmetologist of 12+years , Certified Pro Makeup Artist , Makeup & Beauty Influencer , Educator and CEO of kelseyalexcosmetics__ launching late 2025 . My passion for makeup , hair and beauty started in my younger years as a ballet, tap and jazz dancer , during our many onstage performances , my favorite parts weren’t the dancing but the glitz and the glam of it all . Adding rhinestones to the eye looks for drama around the eye , bright red stage lipstick so the large audiences in the area could see it , dramatic lashes for days and making sure my bun or style was slicked and slayed to the gods awakened a passion that I never lost . My makeup vanity was a go to backstage for many dancers back then for all the beauty needs and in my adult life I can still say my makeup vanity is open to serve any and everyone . I wasnt always sure this was my path but as time passed and becoming a young mom after graduating high school , my passion was reignited , so I took my talents to Cosmetology School where I furthered my love and passion for beauty . After graduating in 2013 I tested with State Board to receive my License in 2014 & have been licensed and working since . I worked in hair salons , and barbershops for many years , and over time my spark for makeup grew . I stepped away from hair styling and was heavy in my pursuit in the makeup space . In 2020 I started my own makeup artistry business , and for 2 years I used all the knowledge I had gained as a self taught artist to begin taking clients for only makeup services . By 2022 I had gained enough traction and had enough clients in my portfolio to apply and join MAC Cosmetics as a part time artist , less than 2 months after joining I was the manager of my MAC counter . During that time I got certified 4 times with the company and still today I am a Freelance MUA with the brand . The many connections I made during this time and my time with other brands like YSL ARMANI and DIOR set the stage for some huge opportunities for me in the industry , like Miami Swim Week , Alabama Fashion Week , Dallas Fashion Week and NYFW where my hair and makeup work has been published in major publications as well as displayed in times square , and on TV platforms . Being fairly new in the makeup world and working with some the great key artist and platform artist I worked with shaped me greatly in this industry. Working all over the US with so many walks of life has inspired me and pushed me to be a better artist , the greats like Pat Mcgrath who once said “Makeup is a movement , Its an emotion ” and she couldn’t have said it better makeup is a not just a form of outward art but an emotional connection to yourself , and others its a true extension of beauty that reaches the whole world , that almost any person can relate to in some way . As an artist I’m still growing , learning and embracing the industry , and taking the paper plane wherever the wind blows me next , wherever that is I will have a comb , hair products and my makeup kit ready to work , always .

As I move into the next phase of my career after working multiple fashion weeks and beauty shows, I’ve decided to bring my expertise and pro level experience to the makeup game offering makeup tools makeup products, new pallets, new shades and a new fresh outlook . kelseyalexcosmetics __ has already begun. our expansion into the beauty industry as it’s in the beginning phases and production . I can’t wait to bring this new fresh outlook to you guys all over the world. as I learn and grow in the production phases i’m excited about what to come in 2026 !

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back over my journey as a stylist for the last 15 years I can say the qualities that pushed me are 1. Adaptability— in any all situations from the daily makeup chair to the nyfw runways backstage being able to be a chameleon is so important , it’s part of the beauty culture you never really know what situations or looks will be ahead of you but being prepared for anything , any shade , any gig is so important . 2 . Persistence— no matter what good bad or ugly thing that comes my way i don’t stop i don’t bend . There’s been times i wanted to quit and give up so bad , I regathered , rebranded and persisted, and it even rings true in my everyday life . 3 . Ability to listen and learn — and we all can do that but even almost 15 years in i still have things to learn , everyday i’m learning and developing new skills and it’s important to never stop doing the work and learning , being uncoachable in this industry is a career ending move , evolve grow learn from others connect with others that are likeminded . This business is based off of connections no matter how near or far they are stay well connected to people who help you grow and grow with each other .

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

In this industry creating content and marketing online have become so important. As i’ve grown my content brand on TikTok fairly quickly and would love to collaborate with like minded individuals who also love to create . Not only in the beauty space but all spaces , i’ve recently started my youtube creator journey and would love to collaborate on trips, beauty , restaurants, new activities and new things in general . You can connect with me on youtube, and instagram @kelseyalex__.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

@visionsbyondre

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