PHOTO PROVIDED Markeisha Valentine operates Lash By Keisha Beauty Studio.

On the surface, Lash By Keisha Beauty Studio may seem like a simple beauty shop, but owner and operator Markeisha Valentine has her eye on improving more than just the confidence of her clients.

As a senior in high school in 2012, Valentine wasn’t sure of what direction her life would take post-graduation until a talk with her guidance counselor would lead to enroll in a special effects school in Douglas Education Center in Pittsburg, where she would obtain a degree in specialized business 16 months later.

“I was really into art, painting and especially sculpting. I never thought about movie makeup or anything like that, but it had everything that I love to do all in one,” Valentine said.

As part of her schooling, Valentine learned the art of creating prosthetics, props and airbrushing.

After returning to Williamsport, she transitioned to the beauty side of makeup, delving into weddings, birthdays, proms and other special events.

Valentine said the transition was a great learning experience.

“With movie makeup, it’s okay if there’s flaws, especially when it comes to certain looks, like Halloween looks. It was different because nothing was really pretty, so I had to learn how to keep people kind of still look like themselves, but just enhance their features. It took me years to find the techniques that I felt comfortable using, but I finally mastered that,” she explained.

Valentine would initially set up shop in The Pajama Factory, where she would stay for three years, though unfortunately, that time would not be seamless.

“When I went to the special effects school, they never told us to be able to do makeup in Pa, we had to have a cosmetology or esthetician license. They taught us that you can be a freelance makeup artist, but you can’t be stationed anywhere. The moment you’re stationed somewhere, that’s when you have to have a license,” she explained.

After someone reported Valentine to the state, she would be receive a $500 fine, though she was determined to make the best of the situation.

“With him investigating me, I made sure to ask all the questions, and he told me what I need to be legit. Everything happens for a reason, because if he wouldn’t have come, I would have never gone to school,” she said.

That school Valentine speaks of is the Altoona Beauty School, to where Valentine would spend five months commuting every day, ultimately earning her esthetician license.

“That was a tough road. I’m not going to lie, because I do have two kids, so getting them up at 4 a.m. every day and getting them to daycare by like six so I can hit the highway and get to school by eight was a struggle,” she said, adding that she plans on going back to school to earn her teaching degree, calling it her plan B.

“If this doesn’t work out, I would be able to open up a beauty school in Williamsport, which is the ultimate goal. I’d be able to have interns and teach legally and have it count for people,” she said.

After graduating, Valentine would move into her current space at 315 Pine Street, in 2022, specializing in lash extensions, but offering several other services as well.

“I do facials, body waxing, eyebrow tinting, as well as traditional makeup for a number of special occasions,” she said.

“I’ve done almost every type of makeup you can think of, on any color, shape and size, I’ve done it all,” Valentine said.

In fact being so diverse in her abilities is something Valentine is most proud of.

“I can do makeup on anyone, any skin tone. I’m very good at color matching,” she said, adding she is the first, and so far, only black makeup artist in the downtown area.

“When I was in high school and going to prom or other special occasions, I didn’t know of any makeup artist in the area, and I have yet to meet another black makeup artist down here that’s been doing it for this long locally,” Valentine said, while noting that her clientele is made up people from all races.

Valentine hopes that her success will motivate other black business owners to make themselves better known in the community, with knowledge that they will be accepted.

“That’s why I joined the Chamber committee, because I love going to other people’s businesses and just seeing what they have to offer, and helping them find their resources to be successful,” she said.

“I love trying to push people to see their potential and giving them ideas,” Valentine said.

Valentine is also passionate about helping with other businesses’ community outreach efforts, with one of her goals being to organize a “Mr. Aaron’s Day,” in order to raise funds for Aaron Johnson, of Aaron’s Water Ice fame’s annual backpack giveaway.

Other events in the world to benefit the community include plans for a 5k run.

This spirit of giving is something Valentine hopes to impart onto her children.

“I started a lemonade stand for my boys, called Little Bros. Lemonade, and we started raising money for nonprofits in our city,” she said.

Through summer pop-ups throughout the city, the family ended up raising $500, which they donated to the YWCA.

“That was huge for them, because it taught them money management, giving back to your city, and it’s fun too,,” Valentine said.

“I let them pick the nonprofit, and my oldest son was like, “I’d rather help the women and children, and I almost teared up a little bit because I was so happy that he wanted to do that for them,” she said.

The lemonade stand will make its return this summer with the goal of raising funds for Habitat for Humanity.

The family also handed out stickers and 300 cups of lemonade to downtown trick or treaters, Valentine said.

Whether working with nonprofits, other businesses or her clients, Valentine has one goal, and that is to help people.

“I always guarantee compliments, like, ‘just to let you know, you’re going to get a lot of compliments tonight, so don’t be embarrassed or feel uncomfortable, because you look good,” she said of her customers.

“When you look good, you feel good. That’s always been my biggest thing, just trying to help people be comfortable in their skin and embrace who they are,” she said.

“That’s why I always loved makeup. Because once they get out of my chair and they’re cheesing, they’re picture ready, and they’re taking a whole bunch of selfies that night, I feel like a proud mom, almost,” Valentine said.

“That’s my purpose in life, to help other people feel good about themselves,” she said.

To learn more about the services offered by Lash By Keisha Beauty Studio, which are available by appointment only, please visit www.lashbykeisha.com or across social media.