He is gorgeous, sexy and savvy. Born in the UK of a Jamaican Mother and Guyanese father, Darren Scott is one of the most sought after makeup artists and hair stylists in the world. His list of clients include celebrities like Lil Kim, Faith Evans and Katy Perry. During Katy’s Prismatic World Tour, he launched new beauty and hair trends around the globe.
Entering his London salon, the delicious scents of Shu Uemura hair products would delight anyone’s senses. With a gentle smile, Darren greeted us with a glass of wine as we sat on black leather chairs softly lit by the sun behind them.
We started the interview by asking Darren what drives him to be the successful artist that he is? Darren responded…
“I always want to make sure my client looks amazing. When you are doing something with passion the fun never stops. I literally eat, drink and think hair and makeup.”
An early love for what he was doing led him to Vidal Sassoon, but he yearned for the freedom to work outside the salon. His travels took him to Trinidad, where he learned to work with black hair and also had the good fortune of being taught makeup from a top artist. Soon Darren would be lending his skills at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.
“That is when I became hooked on glamour.”
When Darren returned to London, he began his formal qualification in makeup artistry tutored by Sherrie Dixon. Dixon has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry and Darren soon found himself on a photoshoot with Whitney Houston. He would then work as a mobile makeup artist for Stilla Cosmetics and Iman’s makeup line.
“I met and worked with great makeup artists, but as a Gemini, I felt the need to keep moving. I wanted to go freelance full time.”
Darren would meet his challenges along the way, but he always kept his mother’s words close, “If there is a door that is closed, you find a way around it.”
His love for the music industry allowed him to work with great photographers to help build his portfolio. This gave him the freedom of creativity and renewed his love of hair once again. Over time Darren would work with many soap opera stars, TV Shows, Olympics, and many record labels such as Universal and Virgin. He also met many great new friends along the way.
“Whether it was my fate, destiny or good luck, my best always came from someone helping me. I was working one day a week for Mac Cosmetics and while doing an overtime shift, a friend in the music industry told me she was doing a commercial for Philadelphia and Katy Perry’s makeup and hair people didn’t show up. She asked me if I would do the job. I was supposed to have an hour and a half to work on Katy’s hair and makeup but, due to her schedule I ended up having only 30 minutes. I spent 25 minutes on her makeup and 5 on her hair and she said she loved what I did! I received a call back the next day to do Katy and her backup singers. During a chat about a year later, Katy Perry told me she wanted me to come on her world tour to take care of her hair. You can imagine my excitement when 2 years later I actually got the call to go. Katy’s 2014 World Tour was an amazing experience. Working with Lil Kim, Faith Evans, SWV and Total was a dream come true. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would be doing exactly what I am doing right now.”
Darren wanted to make sure he mentioned a few other people that were key influences on his career. They’re makeup artists; Sam Fine, Kevin Aucoin and Kim Kimble, and hair stylists Oscar James and Tré Major.
Read Darren’s Interview in Elle Magazine.
