The pastel world of the Fort Worth beauty and makeup scene is electric, with makeup artists proving more often than other Cowtown creatives why the city is called "Funky Town."
Among them is local makeup artist Halley Hamer, who has worked with the entertainment and media industries, applying a signature dewy glow to the faces of campaign models and recording artists.
In 2016, she created House of Tesla, a one-stop shop providing makeup services for photoshoots, ads, and special events.
This September, the brand will add Pretty Powerful Co., with a storefront that sells gifts, beauty products, and tools to benefit those quietly dealing with the effects of human trafficking, a growing problem in Fort Worth.
Halley partnered with a local non-profit, The Net Fort Worth and Worthy Co., and its founder, Melissa Ice, to donate part of the store's revenue to its many programs supporting trafficking survivors.
She's worked with The Net before, quickly learning much about the underground industry she describes as a horrible reality.
After launching, she hopes her shop will be an example of pain alchemizing into strength, a righteous redemptive struggle described even in the Bible when good people act in the face of unspeakable evil.
"It's such an important charity," she said. "I volunteered with them a lot, sometimes helping as an event advocate. I have provided makeup for survivors and their photoshoots. Trafficking is a problem in Fort Worth, and these survivors need our support. Anyone with a gift or talent and a heart to share it is welcome at The Net."
The business owner and philanthropist has come a long way in her career, which began as her little sister's personal makeup artist. She clearly had talent though, and not just in her sister's eyes, as friends and extended family also began asking her for help.
So, as a high schooler, Halley matched eye shadow to prom dresses and created soft wedding looks for brides-to-be, a makeup kit dragging behind her as she went from house to house.
"I had to start charging them," she laughed. "So, I could keep buying the products I used back then."
The early exposure gave her confidence in her skills and taught her the power of makeup, feeding a passion that became a stable freelance career, including a stint at the Fort Worth Primp Beauty Bar.
Her knowledge increased with every experience, culminating in House of Tesla.
The branding increased her exposure, and soon, she was styling models for popular boot company ads and performers, but the artist still craved more and began developing beauty products.
She struggled with where to start, debating between lashes and lipsticks, when she ultimately, and fortunately, decided on lashes, right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, imposing face mask ordinances that covered everyone's mouths.
"I wanted lipstick because I was known for getting women out of their comfort zone," she recalled. "But lashes turned out to be perfect, allowing women to look ready with minimal makeup, especially with half their face covered."
The lash line was a hit, quickly growing in popularity and encouraging Halley to produce more.
Today, she boasts a complete beauty line, including her first creation, lashes, a slightly belated range of lipsticks, liners, and foundation.
Halley thinks her next step after establishing Pretty Powerful Co. will include more teaching and education, offering makeup lessons now that help clients use her products with ones they bring from home.
"People can get confused about how to apply a product," she said. "I'll have clients bring in their makeup bag and guide them with what they already own and introduce them to new techniques and products from my line."
She recently hosted an event at the Amon Carter Museum that challenged her to pick volunteers from the crowd to model makeup styles she applied in real-time from different decades, blending history with artistry.
"I loved it so much," she said excitedly. “I showed different techniques and gave information on beauty from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was so much fun and allowed me to geek out about beauty history."
At her core, Halley likes working with people, including collaborations with her peers.
As the Fort Worth beauty industry grows, it can feel intensely competitive, but Halley believes collaboration improves talent overall.
"I learn so much from working with other makeup artists," she revealed. "I’ve always been a cheerleader for people in the industry and want it to be open for everyone.”
She describes her idols, including Lisa Eldridge, but admits she admires her friends more.
"They may not know they are my idols," she laughed. "But I lean on them so much for business advice. They are so kind when I have a question. We'll go out for coffee and discuss what I'm struggling with. They are successful but remain grounded. So, yeah, that inspires me."
Halley's belief in women supporting women echoes in her business name.
"Nikola Tesla wasn't exactly advocating for women's rights," she joked. "But in one of his quotes, he says that society keeps women uneducated because the moment we are, we'll be a force to reckon with and more powerful than the men."
The quote also appears in her tagline 'Beauty is Power," even though Halley's power seems to come from collaboration, inclusivity, and charity, proving success follows a kind heart, the most beautiful thing of all.