How 30 Years in the Beauty Industry, Transitions and Manifestation Elevated Makeup Master and Guru Tia Hebron To the Top
Makeup as we know it today, is full of so much life; so many possibilities. In this billion-dollar industry, people are breaking boundaries everyday. Like Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty’s 50-shade foundation range or Covergirl making the face of their company a man, it seems like beauty in the 2010s is limitless.
Makeup wasn’t always like this though, as most things it had very humble beginnings. I spoke with Tia Hebron, master of makeup and beauty guru to get her take on her journey through this ever-evolving industry, from negotiating with her parents to let her go to makeup school to becoming the Manager of Education and Events for the East at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty — and every step in between.
In a podcast interview called Basic Beauty, she credits her love of makeup starting in her early life. In fifth grade, she got into her mother’s makeup and made her whole face up. She recalls her mom being on the phone and stopping in her tracks to admire how good of a job her daughter did, despite not knowing anything about makeup. Like most little girls, playing in their mom’s makeup is often their first introduction to a sparkly medium they might love for the rest of their life. In Hebron’s case, it became something bigger than she ever could’ve imagined.
She went to a traditional college for a couple of years, studying fashion merchandising. Quickly realizing that it wasn’t a huge passion, she convinced her parents to let her go to manicuring school, where she met a makeup artist who she constantly questioned to gain as much knowledge as she could. She later went to beauty school and then landed a job working with Frank Toskan and Frank Angelo, founders of MAC Cosmetics. Tia noted that the attitude around makeup was not like it is now, back in the 80s. There were few options for people of color in products they could use; likewise there were very few people of color working in the industry. Hebron joked that she actually might know all of artists of color that got their start at the same time she did. On a deeper level, it was not a profession that was respected or ever considered for most. Due to the fact that the makeup industry was not very diverse, her peers thought that what she was doing was very “abstract”.
This actually led her to create what she called a “ Deep-skin tour” once she joined Bobbi Brown Cosmetics in the late 90s.
“I went around to different markets throughout North America” Hebron said, “ I taught internal artists how to work with women of color because our needs are quite different for how we shop for cosmetics; even generationally, how we shop is so different.”
She worked closely with Bobbi Brown herself when she was still at the brand, and they even created shades together — a complexion powder called Golden Brown and Azalea, a lipstick named after her daughter, among other contributions. Together, they broke boundaries not only for the shopping and wearing experience for people of color, but for Hebron, as an artist.
Hebron was able to partner Bobbi Brown Cosmetics with Montclair State University and create a Makeup Artistry Certificate program, where students could learn the basics of makeup and skincare using products at Bobbi Brown Studio in Montclair, NJ. Adding another credential to her belt, as Professor Hebron, she mentored many students through this three studio class program. It was in this program where I met Ms. Hebron, the glam extraordinaire herself.
Life was great for Hebron. Nearly 30 years in the industry, 20 plus of those years with Bobbi Brown and Estee Lauder Companies, and she was able to retire. She took a step back from her work life to breathe, and catch up on anything she might’ve missed while working tirelessly all those years. She traveled around the world, went on cruises, took her daughter to Disney World (which was especially special because she was old enough to enjoy it) and went back to living life as a freelance artist. A few months into the much-earned bliss of retirement, she jumped into work again, this time with another brand that was dissimilar to what she had previously known.
Noticing about herself that she likes founder-brands, brands and companies that start with a founder, she said she was always intrigued by Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.
“I really adore Charlotte’s philosophy” Hebron said, “The simplicity of a really gorgeous product. That’s what really sealed the deal for me leaving my retirement.”
Hebron talked a lot about how she took many skills from her old job to her new one; while also maintaining that she is corporate, she always has her feet in the field. Being hands-on and working elbow-to-elbow with artists, so she never loses touch.
“I see what artists on the front lines need to be successful, and I am the conveyor of that message to the people that can affect change.” Hebron said.
I asked Hebron what she felt like her biggest skills that she brought with her to Charlotte Tilbury from Bobbi Brown, MAC, and Estee Lauder companies were, as well as what advice she would offer to young artists trying to break into the industry. She talked a lot about collaboration, manifestation and seeing yourself at tables you want to sit at. Knowing how to work with others, as well as putting into existence what you want to see for yourself in not only your professional life, but your personal life as well.
If there is anything that I learned from Tia Hebron, it is the importance of being authentically you. Knowing what your strong suit is, and honing in on that craft.Knowing when to ask for help, and when to make yourself teachable to gain the knowledge and guidance you may need to become a better artist. She truly understands the makeup industry from all perspectives, especially as a woman of color, and undoubtedly paved the way for what the industry looks like today.
