Women in Gear © School of Makeup Artistry
We have set out to bring you the most comprehensive online learning platform available today. It is our deepest desire to see you have all the success in the world in your chosen field of Makeup Artistry. We have written these online courses for everyone who desires to be the best in the field of Makeup Artistry and for anyone who ever wanted to wear makeup like a professional.
Our courses are taught in modules and each module is accompanied by a video tutorial created exclusively for you by our Master Makeup Artistry Instructor and other experts in the field of professional makeup artistry. Makeup Artistry is an art form that requires practice to enhance your skills.
Mission
INSPIRE- women of all ages to take action in their own lives
EMPOWER-women with the best tools, education, and resources available
ENCOURAGE-women to become strong leaders who give back
Toni Thomas
Founder/CEO/Master Makeup Artistry Instructor
Our founder began her entrepreneurial career in the beauty industry at the age of twenty-nine. Her love of the beauty industry and her desire to be a successful businesswoman fueled her passion to become a prosperous business owner and share her passion with others. She believes getting quality skills training in the beauty industry at an affordable cost could take a woman to a level of success that at one time she could only dream about. Toni is the Author of The Business of Makeup Artistry, DIY Bridal Makeup, Professional Makeup Artistry, and Makeup Magic. Makeup and beauty guides for aspiring makeup artists as they make their way into their new career of freelance makeup artistry. She blogs regularly for the Beauty Buzz and many of her beauty articles have been published in fashion and beauty publications. She currently holds active licenses as an esthetician, nail technician, and master educator in Virginia. She is a Master Makeup Artist pursuing her passion daily and encourages all women in every age group to pursue personal development, career development, and business development and to live their passion.
BRITTANY WALKER
Master Makeup Artistry Instructor
Master makeup artist and our exclusive training instructor bring a wealth of makeup knowledge to the table. A mother, wife and passionate makeup artist, this beautiful and talented woman gives new meaning to the word powerhouse. Her non-pretentious personality and charming smile create a buzz wherever she goes. Brittany graduated with a degree in Business with a focus on Entrepreneurship in 2014. She studied the Fine Arts at the beginning of her college career, but soon realized her passion for business and entrepreneurship. Through her study of paint and color theory, Brittany realized her true passion was in makeup, the beauty industry, and empowering others to pursue their passions as makeup artists.
JOSHA GLEICH
Makeup Artistry Instructor/ Admin Support
A mother, a friend and a lover of the great outdoors, this gorgeous young woman takes her career in the beauty industry. With a love of all things related to skincare she pursued her dream to be more involved in the skincare arena and continued her education in Esthetics. In 2011 she became a licensed esthetician and showed a strong love for makeup artistry. Today she holds licensure in Massage Therapy, Esthetics, Nail Technology and is a certified Makeup Artist.
Women in Gear is pleased to have her on staff as one of our Makeup Artistry Instructors and our Admin Support Specialist. She brings a plethora of skills to the table and is genuine in all she does. Her desire to help you the Makeup Artist perfect your skills is first and foremost in her work.
Keisha Garret - Guest Makeup Artistry Instructor
Founder of KG Beauty Studio and working freelance makeup artist Keisha began her career in the makeup industry as a self taught makeup artist and developed a line of cosmetics for herself when she was unable to find the brilliant colors she wanted to work with. Later she decided to enroll in a certification makeup course jump starting her career in the beauty industry and getting the credibility to back up her makeup artistry business. She is a published makeup artist and has been working with some of Virginias top fashion photographers for the past few years pursuing her passion in print and fashion makeup. She is a MAC Pro artist among other companies and encourages all makeup students to get their pro memberships to build credibility and build their pro kits. You can see her work featured in The Human Canvas or visit her business page at KG Beauty Studio.
Amanda Smearman
Makeup Artistry Instructor
Amanda Smearman has been in the beauty industry for 15 years as a Licensed Cosmetologist in Maryland. For most of her career, she focused on hair, but in 2014 she made the leap into makeup and found a passion that she didn’t know existed before then. Always eager to learn, she took her first makeup course in 2015. Then in 2016, she became a Master Makeup Artist through Women in Gear’s Master Makeup Artistry course. Later that year, along with a friend and business partner, she opened her own salon, Shine Studio, where she now works as a Hairstylist and Makeup Artist. As a wife, Mom, and business owner, Amanda strives for perfection and to constantly grow and learn. She is excited to help pass what she has learned on to those just beginning or expanding their makeup career.