Makeup Like a Man! Upon our arrival at Ricky Kazaf ’s makeup academy, the receptionist signalled to us to wait for a moment before starting the interview. On the big day, I was matching my go-to outfit while freshening up. As the weather gets cooler, a denim jacket is the perfect choice for the autumn breeze. What should I wear inside my jacket? It would end up being a white Breton shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Besides keeping me warm in this chilly season, this outfit is also eternally trendy. For the rest of my outfit, I chose a bright top and matched it with a pair of black jeans. I put on my burgundy Dr. Martens ankle boots, combed my hair, and finally left home. Sometimes, I happen to keep my friends waiting on a date. The forty-five-minute delay between “I am leaving home” and actually stepping out of my doorstep makes them complain after my late arrival. “Can’t you get changed and leave in a split second?Do you have to take so much time, just like a woman?” Well, no offense taken for the comment “like a woman.” This may in fact illustrate others’ impression of me, instead of being a derogatory phrase. The academy is surrounded by mirrors. This reminds me of Narcissus in Greek mythologies, the metrosexual who was deeply in love with his own reflection.
Interview: Louie Yan, Wong Pak Hei Written by Wong Pek Hei Translated by Karen Tang (article from Novemeber Edition,2017)
Drifting Away From the “Schmuck” Hairstyle Sunlight shone on Ricky’s face while I was interviewing him by the window. His hair was neatly combed back, naturally dyed after a few bleaches. Even the bright highlights were mostly covered by solid brown, and his eyes were gleaming while talking about his passion for makeup. Ricky Kazaf is a male makeup artist in Hong Kong. He has established an academy to teach men about makeup and styling. On top of that, he has a whopping 130,000 subscribers on YouTube. His series of transforming males from “schmucks” to photogenic guys itches his subscribers to give it a try. “I cared about my appearance a lot in high school, and I even had long hair. But my teacher would think that my hair covered my brows (which is typically frowned upon in Hong Kong schools).” Ricky recalled his memories as a student, to which many teenage boys may relate. “Teachers would never know how much I cared about my looks, and self awareness was important for my teenage growth.”
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