–Juliet Esiri-Oyemomi, London-based beauty therapist  and CEO of Okin Arewa

 

By Christy Anyanwu

London-based beauty therapist  and CEO of Okin Arewa, Juliet Esiri Oyemomi, is a renowned makeup  and ‘gele’ artist in the UK. 

Aside makeup, she’s well known for her crafts as gele specialist. 

 

 

 

Her clients stand out in parties because of her signature  headties. 

Speaking with Sunday Sun in London, she spoke about her sojourn  in makeup and gele specialty. 

Could you tell us about your journey as a celebrated makeup and gele artist?

My journey as a makeup artist began in secondary school, some 40 years ago. I always got into trouble, I always got called out for the remnant of my lipstick from the previous day. And I remember I just loved fashion, I loved to look good. And I would buy magazines all the time. As soon as I became very active in fashion, I would invest in Vogue magazines, I would look at clips and something always drew me to the makeup of the models. I would want to look like them. I would want to create a look. I always wanted to create a look for magazines. So, I was collecting makeup. I was collecting products, subconsciously. And when I went out with friends, I was always suggesting their makeup. I would always say, you didn’t use your blusher, you didn’t line your lips, and so on. I think it’s just a passion. And then someone said, why don’t you charge money?

What informs the style of your outstanding gele, which has now become your trademark in London? 

Before, whenever I went to parties, instead of me enjoying myself, I would be adjusting gele for free. I would be doing gele for people in the toilet, I would be doing their makeup, adjusting their makeup. I didn’t even see it as a venture or something that I would make money from. Sometime ago, in the course of my journey, the pastor at my church clocked 50 and I remember I was on my feet throughout that event, tying gele and, at a point, I looked back and I saw women, they were queued up with their head-tie under their armpits, waiting. And some were calling others on the phone, Where are you? Where are you? There’s a lady doing gele here. This was about 20 years ago, in London. And I was just tying it away. I didn’t even charge a penny. That was the beginning of my journey as a paid, professional makeup artist and gele artist. After that day, I remember I got home and I was in my bathroom, getting ready to go to bed. And I heard, just like someone talking to me, imagine if you had charged for that gele, you would have made a lot of money today. Now, start charging. For some reason, that was how I got the calling to become a paid artist. I’m a perfectionist and I love to do things the right way. I don’t believe in, “Oh, I’m self-trained.” Yes, you can be self-trained, but at the same time, I believe in training from professionals that are even ahead of me. So, I went to a makeup school. My first makeup school was in Windsor, in the UK  and after that I think I went to about three makeup schools. I also trained with one of the best Asian makeup artists in the UK here, to develop my skills. I was always reaching for perfection, I was always investing in training. Imagine paying like £1,000 some 17 years ago to go and train for just three hours and after  finishing makeup school, I said, I want to stand out. I want my gele to stand out. There was no gele artist then. So, I flew to America, where Segun Gele was. I met him in Houston, Texas, on one of those trips. So, I flew to America, and Segun Gele then was the main guy in America. I trained with Segun Gele and I returned to the UK and the rest is now history. Up to today, nobody can tie my signature gele. When you see the gele, you’ll know I did it. Back in those days, people would ask me, Juliet, where are you? I can see your gele. I can see your gele, where are you? And I am really happy today because the industry has really grown. Gele artistry is now a business on its own. Now we have makeup artists, now we have gele artists. But I am both. I do makeup and I do gele in a stand.