Putting the fun in beauty fundamentals
HUTT VALLEY beautician Jody Wicksteed has become one of New Zealand’s rising YouTube stars, her videos attracting more than 27 million views.
The self-taught videographer’s channel, Galaxy Dreaming, full of beauty how-to’s and hilarious how-not-to’s, has attracted more than 52,000 subscribers from around the world, including the United States, Britain, India, Saudi Arabia and Canada.
Her most popular video, ‘‘How not to treat a client during a Brazilian wax’’, has had 3.3 million views.
Based in Wainuiomata, Wicksteed left her job as a call centre trainer at Inland Revenue for beauty school six years ago and has never looked back.
After scouring the net for tips and tricks, the mother of two found that there were plenty of video tutorials dedicated to makeup, but a gap when it came to beauty therapy procedures.
Never sticking to any one category, her videos cover topics from waxing to lash extensions, pedicures, massages, male grooming, eyebrow and eyeliner tattooing, and even how to make room spray and bath bombs.
‘‘I just wanted to do something different, a bit of comedy for fun but also provide some actual howto’s that budding therapists can learn from. I think that’s how Galaxy Dreaming stands apart,’’ she says.
‘‘With something like 300 videos being uploaded every minute, it’s pretty cool to have people choose mine.
‘I just wanted to do something different, a bit of comedy for fun.’
Jody Wicksteed
‘‘There are people who go viral in a day but I’ve slowly built my network.’’
Wicksteed, 38, also runs a beauty salon in Fairfield with business partner Alex Aubrey, who features in many of her videos.
‘‘I always manage to rope her in, she’s a good little actor really and we have a lot of fun with it.’’
While the videos have become her main source of income, she has no desire to leave the salon. ‘‘We built it from scratch, there’s a lot of our own love in that place.
‘‘If I continue to make videos on YouTube, I’ve got to keep my hand in it because, if you’re not in the field any more, you’re not up to date.’’
She says having 50,000 subscribers feels quite strange but surreal. ‘‘I don’t do it for fame. I’m a private person and don’t like the idea of being recognised.
‘‘It’s a privilege that some of the videos have taken off and, for me, it’s about when someone watches a video and says that they feel like it really helped them.
‘‘It is my main source of income, but it’s also a hobby.’’ @nerwende Love returning to Welly on SH1. Green walls on one side and on the other always different but dramatic sea views. #WhyWellington
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that is Much How 1. ANSWERS: @acharmofmagpies To everyone who hoped and prayed for rain in #Wellington, I blow you a big fat raspberry. Come back summer, you’re forgiven! @shiftermike Magicians/mystery performers! Planning a trip to New Zealand? Wellington Magic Convention seeks potential headliners. @WildBayNZ Dog v Man seaweed tug of war along Lyall Bay’s water edge. Something you don’t see every day #WhyWellington #lyallbay