When we met this talented creative about 6 years ago, her personality already made an impression on us. Behind her stunning appearance hides a funny, adrenaline junkie that travels the world for her job. She has won multiple awards in the hair and make up world and last month she won another two Coiffure awards, the oscars of hairdressing. Time to talk! This is the Wanderlust of.. Juliette den Ouden.
Hi Juliette! Could you tell our readers who you are and what you do?
Hi girls! I am Juliette den Ouden, an international Hair and Make-up artist and owner of JDO Academy Hair and Make-up artists based in Amsterdam. At the Academy we train people to become hair and makeup artist or advanced students to the next level. After their training, we guide them at the start of their career by building a portfolio and experience in the beauty and fashion industry to increase the flow to work. Besides that, I work on national and mainly international campaign shoots so I travel a lot. I am also one of the local advocate for a completely new hair brand called the Authentic Beauty Concept and the Ambassador of Denman (the largest hairbrush brand from the UK). This September I will be traveling to Nepal to provide education as the ambassador for Hairdressers Without Borders.
Juliette den Ouden at work at the JDO Academy
Congratulations with your 2 Coiffure awards! How many have you won so far?
Phoehhhh… A lot! I have won more than 15 Make-up Artist and Hairdressers Awards in the last few years. In 2014 I’ve become in the top 10 best Make-up artist of the world and in 2017 number 3 best Hairdressers of the world. A few weeks a go I won 2 awards and a nomination for Hairdresser of the year for he Coiffure awards.
I love the adrenaline, the variety and I can continue to develop and set new goals.
Nice! So how did you get into hair and make-up and why do you love it so much?
I knew what I wanted at a young age and I did everything to get there. For example, from the age of 13 I had jobs to pay my schools. Through hard work, discipline and investment I came to where I am now. As a result, I have won many awards in recent years and have done great projects as a hair and makeup artist. Why I love it so much? It’s hard to explain, but do you know the feeling of falling in love? I have that feeling every day when I think about my work and do my work.
Juliette wins her Coiffure award
You travel the world for fashion shoots, which trip has been your most memorable so far?
I always have very nice experiences with the trips that I do but I think that Morocco has also been one of my Magical trips. We’ve been a total of 3 days in this country and the experiences vary. Our first shoot was at a beautiful resort, then we arrived at a dessert camp where we shot with a herd of shelves. In the night I had to prep the hair and makeup without electricity or light with minus 11 degrees. But the photos have become amazing! The last day we shot in a great villa of a warm family. I was biased about Morocco by all the stories I always heard, but developed great love for this country. Nice and warm people, magical happened in Morocco.
Which destination has your heart and why?
Cape Town is one of my favourite countries and has stolen my heart. I get a lot of inspiration from nature and nature is beautiful there. When i’m hiking and look around, the creative ideas pop into my head. After my comeback of two years of injuries, Cape Town was the first country where I went to shoot. Then my career started as an international hair and makeup artist. In recent years I have been in Cape Town every year with my best friend and partner in crime. She is a photographer and together we create the most beautiful images. Last year, for example, we shot our winning collection for the coiffure award with our project Authentic beauty. With this project we photograph strong souls with an authentic beauty such as albinos and people with vitiligo. Which is very close to our heart and our passion.
You’ve worked with many talented people, is there anyone left that you dream of working with?
I have been lucky enough to have worked with many talented people such asWesley Snipes, George Clooney and many others. But I would love to do a shoot with Winnie Harlow!
Helping out on shoot
Cape Town, this is the place where I feel free and I develop my drive and creativity the most!
Amsterdam is your hometown, is there another country you could or want to live?
There are many, but if I have to pick one, I choose Cape Town. I have developed an emotional bond with cape town, cape town was once the start of my career and after years the change in my career. Last year I also shot my winning collection for the Coiffure Awards in Cape Town.
Tell us a little bit about your latest charity project Hairdressers Without Borders?
Hairdressers Without Borders is a nonprofit organisation based on charity and education purposes. We inspire people around Asia on the profession of hairdressing, by teaching them the technical aspect through professional training courses. With our contribution we are seeing the growth in our students self-esteem and creating real opportunities for changing their lives. Our goal is to give our students the chance to learn a profession, to motivate, inspire and unlock their own energy and creativity. The level of the Hairdressers Without Borders training is high in order to equip students for paid professional employment in the real world.
If it’s possible, I would love to start my own agency and publish a book to inspire people in life.
What can the world expect from Juliette over the next few years?
I will continue to follow my passion and my heart as a traveling Hair and Make-up Artist that will hopefully win more awards! I would also like to grow with the JDO Academy so that we will be able to open a second location in the Netherlands or abroad. Because I love charity, I will set up a project for refugees and unemployed people in the future. And of course I hope for more travels, projects and international shoots.
And last but not least, What kind of traveler would you consider yourself to be?
You may not expect it, but I’m a real biker chick, I love to hike and I’m addicted to Adrenaline!
You can take at look at Juliette’s work and her JDO Academy via www.jdo-academy.nl.
Love,
Wander-Lust
Check who else we interviewed!