Making waves in the Beauty Industry – Interview with Themby

Making waves in the beauty industry is not easy as it sound. We all know how difficult it has been for the industry to thrive over the last two years as a result of the pandemic. Many beauty salons were unable to withstand the test of time, and unfortunately, were forced to shut down completely during the pandemic. However, we see women like Themby Bhebhe, taking a leap of faith by venturing into the industry and succeeding in it. This serves as a motivation that nothing beats a burning desire to succeed.

In today’s post, I am excited to have a conversation with Themby, the most gifted makeup artist of all time. She also happens to be my friend in all aspects. And I will forever be grateful for her. Before the pandemic, we collaborated on a project for Praying In Heels 2020, and we have since been inseparable. She became the sister I never knew existed. She also graced SOG last month on the series for women sharing their experiences with body insecurities. You can read her story here.

I hope you become inspired by this interview and learn from Themby’s determination to make her dreams a reality.
Let’s go!

Who is Themby Bhebhe?
I am Sithembinkosi Bhebhe, but you may refer to me as Themby. I currently reside in Polokwane, South Africa. I was raised by a single mother, in a Christian household. My father passed away when I was in the fourth grade. My journey had not been easy at all. However, by God’s grace and mercy, we managed to make it through the challenges we faced.

Tell us about your path to becoming a makeup artist. Have you always been interested in the beauty industry?

I’ve always been artistic with everything, from clothing to trying out new facial looks. Wuuuphh, chille!!
I do not have a lot of eyebrows naturally, so you can imagine how excited I was when I heard about the trend that brows could be drawn. From then on, I made sure that I drew them every morning before I went to work. And threw a little bit of lipstick, to a point I became so good at it. The progress from the time I was practicing to date is tremendous. There is a vast improvement.

What inspired you to pursue a career as a makeup artist?
I got inspired by how good it made me feel after making my face up. My friends and family members also encouraged me to do it professionally and profitably.

How do you advertise your business?
I mostly use social media, Instagram Facebook and Whatsapp. I’ve recently joined tik tok, quite challenging because there’s so much competition there, but that’ is the thing – I am naturally competitive.

The makeup industry is quite competitive what is unique about you?
Let’s simply say my makeup is beautiful. I cater to what the client wants, I am super friendly and comfortable to be around. My make-up sessions are more like a therapy session you didn’t know you needed.

Where did you receive your training as a makeup artist?
I could say that I got my training from Youtube, hahaha. I am primarily a self-taught makeup artist. By now, I’ve probably watched a thousand YouTube videos. And it has unquestionably paid off.

Beauty Industry:

How long did it take for your company to start earning a profit?
I established my business in 2021, but I have yet to make a profit because I am currently concentrating on marketing the company and developing the Masante Glam brand, which takes time and effort.

Which of your abilities do you believe has best equipped you for a makeup artist career?
Everything I touch amusingly turns to gold, so my creativity has prepared me.

Tell us about your skin tone knowledge.
Warm, cold, and neutral are the three conventional undertones. Warm undertones include peach, yellow, and golden hues. The undertones are associated with shallow skin in some persons.
Pink and bluish undertones are examples of cool undertones. This is how you determine your skin tone:
• Examine the look of your veins beneath your skin in natural light.
You have a cool skin tone if your veins appear blue or purple. You have a warm skin tone if your veins are green or greenish-blue.
If you can’t determine if your veins are green or blue, your skin tone is probably neutral.

Ahh, that was quite insightful. Have you ever had a client express dissatisfaction with your work?
Oh my goodness, yes! Every time I think about it, it bothers me. It was way back when I had just started my business. I had a few makeup foundations, and I did not have the perfect shade for this particular client and so I told her but she insisted on having me do her makeup. She continued complaining that she appeared darker than she did before I finished. I just apologized and offered her free make-up the next time she came.
Let’s say working with people is quite difficult. Yes, it is. However, I don’t panic, I just quickly rectify my mistakes and move on.

What is your process for cleaning your makeup instruments for the safety of your clients due to Covid19?

Before and after applying make-up, I sanitize all of my tools. Everywhere I go for my bookings and appointments, I have the sanitizer with me.

What kind of hurdles did you confront at the start of your journey and along the way in the beauty industry?

Because the beauty industry is flooded, I’ve had to work extremely hard to get people to notice my work. The only way to stand out is to be excellent and keep up with new trends.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be like you?
Just do it! Don’t think about it too much, buy your products and market every day. Work on your craft daily.

In the next 5-10 years, where do you see yourself?
I envision myself as the owner of a makeup brand or a beauty salon. Running one of the top beauty salons in the world and making an impact in the Beauty industry.

When you leave this world, how do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as the kind woman who made others feel good about themselves.

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What a force to be reckoned with. May the Lord direct your steps in your endeavors, my lovely friend.

You can keep in touch with her on her various social media platforms. Her services are available in Polokwane and the surrounding. You can find her here:

Facebook: Masante Glam
Whatsapp: 0728043973
Instagram: @bthemby

Drop a kind comment in the comments section to Themby as a word of encouragement for her beautiful work.

Kudos to more successful local businesses!!

From my heart to yours
Cheers!!

• Happy Women’s Day
• The Madishas – Varsity Connects
• The Kamberes – Love at first sight
• Beauty has no limits
• Love Kinks