All Sharrie Thomas wanted was to be an artist. The Niagara Falls native used to draw and paint but did not feel valued enough with the results.
“I thought, ‘What can I do to distinguish myself as an artist?’ ” Thomas said. “How about if I become a makeup artist?”
After working on people’s makeup for 14 years in spare bedrooms, the 26-year-old Thomas finally opened up her own salon, the Material Girl Luxury Beauty Bar, at 1313 Main St. in Niagara Falls. The salon has been open since November, finally hosting a grand opening this past Sunday.
Originally starting as The Makeup Room LLC, Thomas would do her family and friends’ makeup, volunteer at fashion shows, and do freelance work while working at different salons. Soon, she got tired of going between the different places and wanted her own space to cater to her target clientele.
One day, as Thomas was walking on Main Street at the Portage Road intersection across from the Niagara Falls Public Library, she came across the storefront and decided it was a perfect spot. She also felt she outgrown the Makeup Room name as the business name.
“Being a (makeup) artist here in a small town is different,” Thomas said, adding she has had high demand because there are not many others in the area that can do what she does.
The various applications Thomas and her assistant give are full coverage, saying her clients are not going to get the bare minimum. Some of them include a Plain Jane with no contour, one like going to a Hollywood set or trusting the artist to get creative.
Overall, Thomas wants to create a safe space for her clients, whether they are women or non-binary, to help boost their confidence and be part of their beauty routine.
“I want to make a mark in beauty,” Thomas said. “I want to put my safe space in your beauty routine.”
The Material Girl Luxury Beauty Bar is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays by appointment only.