Published October 2000 

THE TRUE ESSENCE OF COLOUR

FACE PAINTING

Edited by
Herb Boyd
Doubleday,
$42.95

REVIEWED BY RITA SIMONETTA

"You're going to give me that book once you're finished with it, right?" was the comment from a friend of mine upon showing her Reggie Wells' Face Painting book. In it, the Emmy award-winning make-up artist has collected his 20 years of experience, which include work with Whitney Houston, Naomi Campbell, and Oprah Winfrey, as well Essence and Glamour magazine covers.

Drawing from his extensive client list, Reggie Wells discusses the beauty secrets of celebrities such as Vanessa Williams who arches her eyebrows to accentuate the contours of her eyes, or Robin Givens who shades her cheekbones to highlight their structure.

But more importantly he points out in easy steps how any woman of colour can utilize her make-up to suit her specific needs. Believing that make-up application shouldn't be a complicated matter, Wells has simplified the process with "easy instructions you can follow without feeling intimidated or confused." Accompanied by large, helpful illustrations, the book is devoted to teaching black women a wide range of tips including which colour palettes coordinate with various skin tones, and how to accentuate different features.

But this book is much more than just a make-up guide. It is also the story of a personal journey. Born and raised in Baltimore in a family of seven children, Wells found a bastion of support and encouragement for his talent in Mrs. Mintz, the owner of a grocery store in his neighbourhood where he got a job.

After years of setbacks and disappointment, Wells started a modelling and grooming club where he taught girls how to dress, wear make-up, and do their hair. Realizing his need to pursue his dream, in 1979 he set off for New York with no job prospect, nowhere to stay and no money.

It was while selling make-up at a department store that he heard about a prestigious benefit fashion show taking place one evening. With determination and bravado, he went down that night posing as one of the event's make-up artists.

Soon after Wells built a loyal following and landed his first big job for Jordache jeans. Years of hard work resulted in an impressive portfolio which got him signed on at a model agency where he worked on large ad campaigns with top-name models.

In 1983 he decided to work for Essence magazine, but when editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor skimmed through his portfolio she told him to come back when he had more make-up experience with black women. This gave Wells a new goal, which would also prove to be the root of his current success. A savvy businessman and a talented make-up artist, he realized that he would work with black women and offer them "something they'd never had before make-up blended specifically for their skinWorking with an artist's palette, I came up with things that weren't even on the market there was a whole ethnic population of women who needed me."

Essence soon hired him on, and today his client list reads like a who's who of African-American celebrities, causing Wells to note, " I believe that no matter how many false directions we may be pulled in during our lives, eventually we end up in the place where we belong."