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Beauty

An Emerging Star Turned Entrepreneur

by Tamima Islam

If you’re searching for a top-rated makeover salon in Dhaka, chances are, among all the most renowned names, you’ll come across Shareef Artistry – a fairly new salon, owned by a young, self-taught makeup artist. Read on as Safa Shareef shares her journey to becoming a young, female entrepreneur.

The talented Safa Shareef at her studio, Shareef Artistry

Being a makeup artist was never really what Safa imagined herself doing. In fact, growing up in a conservative society, it wasn’t something she gave much thought to. However, her knack for makeup sparked within her from a young age. 

“I was always the girl who wore a little gloss or eyeliner to school despite it being against the rules, making sure it was subtle enough to go unnoticed,” she explained.

Back in 2013, she recalled, when the concept of social media influencing was still fairly new in Bangladesh, Safa came across a makeup video that simply left her in awe. As she watched more such videos from makeup influencers of the west, Safa decided to try it out herself. 

Through her personal Instagram handle, she posted her looks which, to her surprise, got more appraisal than she had expected. Her newfound hobby soon turned her into a beauty guru of the social media world. Her following grew at a fast pace and she became a fan-favorite among the youth of Bangladesh. 

Safa quickly learned how expensive this hobby can be, with all the tools and techniques she was tempted to invest in. Luckily, she always had a good hold on managing her finances. Working as a tutor from a young age, Safa saved up her own money to buy the latest makeup and tools, using them to create unique looks for her page.

“If there’s one thing I can confidently say I’m good at, it’s saving money,” shares Safa. “And I think this is a very important attribute of an entrepreneur.”

It was from here that Safa began taking home appointments; from party-looks to bridal makeovers, Safa began getting a good number of appointments a day. Soon she was able to rent out a small space and establish her brand with her younger sister, Saila Shareef, by her side.

Today, Shareef Artistry owns its very own space situated at Dhanmondi. The aesthetically pleasing salon, with a theme of royal blue, white and a dash of golden, is the ideal setting for a soon-to-be bride. What’s more is the separate ‘Bride’s room’ that Safa prides herself in accommodating at Shareef Artistry. 

“I feel it’s important to have an intimate space between the artist and the bride right before her big moment. Otherwise, it can be a nerve-wracking experience getting ready in a room filled with five other brides on your big day.” 

Safa also takes a limited number of appointments a day because her biggest policy is quality over quantity. Rather than accommodating more brides in a day, she explained, she would rather give enough time to each bride to ensure she’s delivering her best work.

Getting here was definitely not an easy ride for the young celebrity. Safa faced many challenges on her journey to becoming a young, female entrepreneur in Bangladesh. She recalls how tough it was pulling everything together for her new salon simply because she was a girl.

“Even though I was investing my own hard-earned money, no one I approached really took me seriously at first, simply because I was young and I was a girl,” she explained. 

It was through the help of her partner, Siyam, and her father, who both had to make numerous appearances in order for her authority to be taken into consideration. 

In spite of that, Safa advises all young, aspiring makeup artists to keep pushing and doing what they love despite the challenges they may face. It takes a lot of determination and consistency to finally gain the attention and respect one deserves for their work, but it is all worth it in the end. 

“The most rewarding part about my job is the appreciation I get for my work at the end of the day,” remarks Safa. “That’s when you know the struggles were all worth it!”

Shareef Artistry is certainly one of the praiseworthy salons to exist in Dhaka. Being run by such a young and self-made artist could look like an intimidating factor for potential customers. However, on any given day, this little salon is almost always fully booked up, and this alone is a testament to the quality of work and skills that the Shareef girls provide at Shareef artistry.

Here are 3 Shareef Artistry inspired Valentine’s Day looks you can try this Valentine’s Day;

If you’re going with the classic pink this Valentine, choose to be bold. Here, Safa used an electric pink eyeshadow, complemented by a brown cut crease, and crystals on either side to add the zing to this look. Finish it off with a light pink highlight on the inner corners of your lid for that glowy touch.

For a more subtle yet romantic look, Safa used a shimmery golden shadow, blended in the outer corners with a black shade, for a smokey look. Add some wings, flattering lashes, and nude lipstick, and you’ve got yourself the perfect smokey-eyed look to go with any outfit.

Purple may not be your go-to for Valentine’s day, but this look might make you think again. Here, Safa used a lavender eye-shade, outlined with a darker purple cut crease. To add a lasting glow, the inner corners are dusted with a lavender highlighter. A pair of luscious eyelashes, a touch of subtle-pink blush paired with a nude pink gloss make this soft yet bold look all the more fit for a romantic date.

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