About Jira

• Founder and Head Makeup Artist at Wowpretty
• Owner and founder of Jira Couture cosmetic line

After working in the Cosmetics and Makeup industry for over 18 years all over the globe, including Asia and Europe, Jira settled down in the Bay Area in 2000, making a new home for Wowpretty. The rest is history.

Work

Jira's work has been published in Today's Bride, The Knot, Modern Bride, Real Wedding, Cosmopolitan Bride in Hong Kong and China, Mocha Bride, Style Unveiled, Aisle Dash, Style me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Wedding Wire, Project Wedding, Wedding Bell, Wedding Channel, Wedding Bee, Wedding Mapper, Moment Ville, Pingg, Celebrations, Wedding Bee, Wedding Aces, Best of City, Bridal Buds, Gay Wedding, and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International(WWPI)

Notable Awards

Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Awards’, 2009-2011, Best of Project Wedding, Bay List of City Voter, and Bay Bells Bridal Best of The Bay

Details

Jira is a freelance professional makeup artist and hairstylist in the San Francisco/ Bay Area. She has almost than two decades of experience covering weddings, anniversaries, and other important events. Fourteen years ago she discovered that all women have imperfections, however, they can look beautiful and unique in their own special way. According to her, "It’s about knowing my clients lifestyle and personality. Its because every woman has her own unique characteristics and individuality that I can create the perfect look. The challenge is to meet every clients expectation and desire by listening to them. That's what makes me a successful stylist."

Jira continues, "Each woman's skin tone, bone structure and hair color are different from everyone else, but by applying the perfect color, shade, and giving her the right hairstyle to fit her personality, it will bring out the best in her. Being in the business for many years as a professional makeup artist and hairstylist, she defines an effective makeup artist as someone who knows that it's all about applying the right color on a woman face. Creating a new look for her clients is a challenge for every artist/stylist. As a stylist you need to know your client. Once you get to know them, you understand what techniques to use and an idea of how to create a wonderful new look. This new look will give her the confidence to face the world."

Despite numerous degrees and certificates, Jira continues to learn her craft, giving her clients an experience and beauty they will treasure for a lifetime. She is currently working with more than 15 stylists under her supervision. In addition, Wowpretty is soon expanding to Southern California and Asia.

Education

While working on her Masters degree in Communication Arts, Jira realized her inclinations towards makeup and signed up at Makeup Techniques International Co., Ltd 1993 (MTI). She then studied hair updo and hairstyles in Taiwan in 1994. In 1999, she went to study advanced make-up in Lille, France. In 2000, she decided to come to the United States to study makeup for theater, film and TV. While in the United States, Jira studied Advanced Air brush at Kett cosmetics in San Francisco at Kryolan Makeup School. She also joined Face and Body Art International for Hands On Training

Jira also received a hair stylist license in cosmetology, and taken advanced classes from Vidal Sassoon in Los Angeles. She has also won a hairstyling contest in Santa Cruz, California and received recognition of excellence from Zensi's Cosmetology.