Meet Noel McKinnon

We were lucky to catch up with Noel McKinnon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Noel, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Confidence doesn’t come from perfection,it comes from practice. From a young age, I remember begging my friends to let me do their hair and makeup. Back then, there was no social media to guide me. I collected fashion magazines, studied the trends, and recreated them on anyone who would sit still long enough. With each attempt, I got a little better, a little braver.

As I grew older, the roles reversed. I wasn’t asking people if I could practice on them anymore—they were asking me. That shift taught me something important: confidence isn’t about getting it right the first time, it’s about showing up, experimenting, and trusting that with time, skill and self-belief will grow together.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My brand has always been about more than just beauty—it’s about confidence from the inside out.

I started my career in New York, interning anywhere someone would let me tag along during the day, then bartending at night to make it all work. Those years were my foundation. After two years of soaking up every bit of knowledge I could, I took the leap into freelancing and never looked back.

When I moved to Boston, I dove into the community, attending every event I could, networking, and offering my services for free so photographers, models, and creatives could experience not just my artistry, but my work ethic. Boston is a tight-knit city, and building genuine connections became the heart of my business.

As social media began to rise, I needed a name that reflected the reaction I loved hearing from my clients: “It’s to die for.” And so, Makeup 2 Die 4 was born, with the tagline: “If looks could kill.” That name carried me into the worlds of film, television, branding shoots, and eventually, weddings.

It was during that time I met Kim, who took me under her wing and introduced me to the beauty of bridal work. I was hooked—the joy, the energy, the emotion of being part of someone’s most meaningful day.

Now, 20 years later, my brand has evolved once again. I’m proud to launch Hair & Makeup 2 Die 4—continuing the same passion, artistry, and dedication, but with an even greater mission: to help my clients feel not only beautiful on the outside, but unstoppable on the inside.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been:
1. Artistic Vision – I’ve always been an artist at heart. Painting murals taught me how to see the world as a canvas, and that naturally translated into my love of makeup. Every client I work with is a blank canvas, waiting for a look that brings out their unique beauty.
2. Empathy & Listening – I truly care about people, and I believe that shows in my work. Whether it’s an art director, a bride, or an everyday client, I start every interaction by listening, asking questions, learning what they want, and aligning their vision with my expertise.
3. Work Ethic & Dedication – From interning and assisting in New York to freelancing and offering my services at Boston events, I built my career by showing up, working hard, and saying yes to opportunities. Those early experiences taught me lessons no classroom could.

My advice to anyone just starting their journey? Find a reputable artist and intern for them. Classes are great for building foundational skills, but nothing compares to real-world experience. Being in the room, seeing how professionals problem-solve under pressure, and learning how to interact with clients is that’s priceless.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was instill strong core values through both example and consistency. My childhood was not typical. my mother left when I was very young, and after a difficult start, my father and stepmother (who I consider my true mom) raised me and my siblings together. Suddenly, we were like the Brady Bunch, a blended family learning how to build a life with love, structure, and resilience.

My father was a schoolteacher and football coach, and my mother worked full-time at the courthouse. Even with four kids in extracurriculars, a demanding job, and a household to manage, she still cooked a homemade meal every night. That showed me the meaning of discipline, sacrifice, and caring for others even when life is busy.

We didn’t have a lot, but they taught us to take care of what we did have. Those lessons have shaped my business and my approach to people: be kind, understand others’ situations, work hard, and always go above and beyond.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than