BEHIND THE SCENES

WITH MAKEUP ARTIST ISAIAH SAVOY

Q&A with Kristina Charles

Meet Isaiah Savoy (“Nyck Bentley” to his friends). The Lafayette makeup artist of two years was introduced to Morgan (with AFW) at a photoshoot, originally looking to be a model for Fashion Week, but makeup is his prime passion.

How did you get into makeup artistry?

About three years ago in December, I went into a depressive stage. Honestly, I wanted to commit suicide. My outlet was makeup. I ended up getting into makeup, though I was not good at it, at the time (lol). I kept bettering myself and after one year I could turn myself into an avatar.

Tell us about your makeup journey.

When I first started, one of my cousins made the joke that I used eyeliner to do her eyebrows. It was black eyeliner so it looked horrible! First, I started off with mascara doing eyebrows and then I moved into eyeliner. After eyeliner, I tried using Halloween costume makeup (red, black, and white). I started to use the black to fill in my eyebrows! I would always practice on my cousin and then I started getting into myself and practicing cut creasing. As I continually did it to other people, I got better over time.

Season 4 was my first year at Acadiana fashion week. I was there all three days just working and putting my all into it. Waking up at 5am to be there for 8am. Going to sleep at 3am to be back up and ready for 8am. It was hard but I thank God I made that move.

Over the hundreds of people I met, I only knew about two models (besides the owners and executives). That morning when I woke up, I had about 3,000 followers. By the time I left Fashion Week I checked my Instagram that was about 4,000!

You seememd very comfortable throughout the show and seemed to have a knack for making others feel good. Tell me about that.

I try to make anyone feel comfortable in any situation. You can open up to me and become close to me. I want you to feel welcomed when I’m doing your makeup. I want you to feel empowered, confident, and like you can be yourself. I met a model who was scared and shaking in my chair. She was really terrified. I assured her it’s ok and I’m not going to hurt you. I'm just here to make you pretty. By the end of that night she was networking with everyone!

Technique backstage: what was the AFW makeup look?

Kids night was mostly eyeshadow and an eyebrow. The next two nights are wild! I was limited to 10 minutes for each model and different designers wanted different looks like cut crease liners. This would typically take me 30 minutes to but I managed to pull it off in 10 minutes. I even accomplished a full glam in less than thirty minutes. It was crazy! I mean, smokey eye and all of the dramatics...and I had to make it work. I made a promise to Morgan that I would have everything done and under control.

I give it most at 20 minutes. I was RUNNING, LITERALLY. Once I did the eyebrows, I would have to conceal them! I was moving quickly! This was my first time being rushed for each individual. It was model after model after model.

How did you come up with the makeup styles for AFW?

Some designers wanted a particular look. Others we could freestyle it just with certain colors. My go-to makeup look is not natural, haha! I would rather do a cut-crease, wing liner, double wing liner. I’m not for the “Don’t put any eyeshadow on.” No, I don’t like that!

I’m really big on sanitizing. Every lip and mascara my brushes had were switched to disposable ones. With COVID, it’s hard because for those who want eyeshadow you're literally in their face. So, I had to wear my mask and rely on it. It’s not easy but it’s what we have to do.

Makeup breakdown:

First night: Glitter and geometric liners Second night: Natural, bronzes and gold, full face Kids night: Mostly eyeshadow and browns, blended out with pink and gold inside.

See Nyck in action again at AFW 5!