Kelly Henderson remembers growing up influenced by many different mediums of art.
A Baton Rouge native and University alumna, Henderson brings up Louisiana festivals in particular, referencing the melding of music, fashion and art they combine to bring art overload to attendees.
“I think [Louisiana is] how I got into the whole creative world, and it’s a huge inspiration as far as wanting to be something in the arts as a job later,” Henderson said.
Today, Henderson works as a makeup, hair and wardrobe stylist. From a young age, she found “the overall image” of someone captivating,” she said.
She said she grew up sitting on her sofa watching red carpet coverage. As celebrities walked by, she took in the clothing, hair and makeup. Henderson liked how all of these elements worked together to create a cohesive image.
However, while Henderson was intrigued by the stylist career, she did not start there.
Henderson attended the University as a mass communication major, with a concentration in public relations. During her time at the University, she interned in Nashville, Tennessee, for a publicist in the music industry.
That internship is what told Henderson the Music City was the right place for her next stage in life.
“[I] kind of fell in love with the city and also just the music industry, so it was just the easiest place for me to come since I already had contacts,” Henderson said.
After graduation, Henderson moved back to the city working at a public relations firm for a modeling agency. There, she met a makeup artist.
She said she wanted to work on the creative side more than the business side and became increasingly interested in a career as a makeup artist rather than public relations.
Henderson used the knowledge she gained from public relations to help market herself in the competitive realm of makeup artists. She said her marketing ability is a large difference between herself and some other makeup artists because she’s been able to get clients a lot faster.
Becoming a stylist also helped Henderson make her way back to the music industry. Today, she primarily works with musicians on music videos, photoshoots and public appearances.
Mary Hilliard Harrington, owner of The Green Room public relations, said Henderson works for their music clients, like Jason Aldean and Kip Moore about 3-4 times per month, or depending on what the artist needs.
“Kelly is really involved in getting artists ready and prepared for media appearances,” Harrington said.
Henderson said her primary client is country singer Dierks Bentley.
She said whatever Bentley is working that day, whether it be a music video for a new song, cover art for an album or an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, she’s there.
Each scenario with Bentley and other clients leads Henderson to prepare in different ways.
If she is doing wardrobe, Henderson said everything is done beforehand. Shopping, fittings and alterations all are planned before the day clothing is brought to set.
Hair and makeup are the exact opposite. She shows up and has no idea what she’ll be doing that day. Someone shows Henderson the outfit or outfits for the day and she takes inspiration from that.
While Henderson’s job sounds like she has free creative reign, this isn’t always true. She said every styling job comes with its challenges.
“A lot of times, [the client has] an idea of what they want to look like, so I can think something looks good — I can think their hair would look the best short or long or whatever and they don’t necessarily agree,” Henderson said, “So [that’s] kind of the hardest part for me. Especially when I first started, is finding a compromise between something I felt proud of as my work but also making your client happy.”
Along with styling clients, Henderson has another creative outlet that allows her freedom: her blog.
Along with Tennessee native and interior designer, April Bermudez, Henderson started Velvet’s Edge more as a hobby instead of another career path.
“[Bermudez and I] both went through a bad breakup at the same time and we just wanted a hobby, something that would be inspiring to us … [with] all of the free time we now had,” Henderson said.
She said the blog is a place where she and Bermudez can post things that inspire them and also can inspire their readers. The blog contains posts on fashion, beauty, interior design and fitness. The two women also tweet and Instagram from accounts of the same name.
Bermudez said because both she and Henderson are women pursuing their own careers in creative fields, and both have a heavy client-base in the music industry, working together made sense.
Henderson has free reign of the makeup and hair posts while Bermudez handles interior design. However, the blog’s fashion posts are what bring the two women together.
“We both really like fashion, so that’s kind of the common bond or common denominator in the site,” Bermudez said.
While Bermudez and Henderson both have set talents that are displayed on the blog, Bermudez said she’s learned plenty from being a friend and co-blogger to Henderson.
“I’m definitely more aware of my skin and my skin tone, what types of products [to use],” Bermudez said.
Both women are always working, and Bermudez said they make sure to evenly split duties, but sometimes one blogger covers the other’s duties due to other work commitments or illness.
Henderson said her heavy blog presence is another way she uses her mass communication degree in her business every day with the heavy amount of marketing, advertising and writing that comes along with it.
Throughout every project, Henderson remembers her start came from the “distinct culture” she grew up immersed in. She pays homage to it regularly, whether it be the name of her personal website, B.R. Louise, — the B.R. stands for Baton Rouge — or how she styles someone while on set.
“I’m so proud to be from Louisiana … it is such a part of who I am and so I just wanted to take something of that with me,” Henderson said.
You can reach Meg Ryan on Twitter @The_MegRyan.

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Kelly Henderson