Meet Tecia Jackson Native Hair & Make up Artist

Tecia Jackson says she was always the one in high school fixing hair for the prom or other special events. Making people feel good about the way they look was her passion and it’s led her to a career that continues to give her amazing opportunities.

Right after she graduated from high school, however, Tecia left her passion behind her. For the next ten years she worked other jobs which didn’t satisfy her. It was her father, artist Tommy Jackson, who put her back on the path to following her dream. Tecia recalls him telling her “this is what you’re passionate about so why don’t you go back to it?” Since her father had left his work as a teacher to follow his own dream of being an artist, she figured he knew what he was talking about.

With her father’s encouragement, Tecia left her small hometown of Tsaile, Arizona and moved to Albuquerque to attend cosmetology school. Today she believes it was the best decision she ever made. School afforded her the chance to grow her skills and Albuquerque offered the place to use them.

Right after she graduated from high school, however, Tecia left her passion behind her. For the next ten years she worked other jobs which didn’t satisfy her. It was her father, artist Tommy Jackson, who put her back on the path to following her dream. Tecia recalls him telling her “this is what you’re passionate about so why don’t you go back to it?” Since her father had left his work as a teacher to follow his own dream of being an artist, she figured he knew what he was talking about.

With her father’s encouragement, Tecia left her small hometown of Tsaile, Arizona and moved to Albuquerque to attend cosmetology school. Today she believes it was the best decision she ever made. School afforded her the chance to grow her skills and Albuquerque offered the place to use them.

After honing her skills, she used the school’s focus on providing their students opportunities to network in the industry to get her name out there. As a student she participated in the Santa Fe Fashion Week. There she met models, photographers, designers and others in the industry. She also found work that reignited her passion. Networking became her doorway into the industry she loves.

Tecia worked on photo shoots, in a salon and on several television pilots. The more work she found, the more she realized that many of those looking for someone to do hair also needed a make-up person. So she began to hone those skills as well to make herself more marketable. In spite of the fact that most designers have an idea in mind for what they want, she likes to be able to create avant-garde looks, using her imagination and her skill to create beauty.

Her work for the salon brought her more bridal shoots, something she loves. In spite of the fact that there’s often more pressure for these types of shoots, making someone feel beautiful on their special day gives her a good feeling.

Today Tecia likes the direction she’s heading. Taking the risk to follow her dream has given her an exciting life and work she loves. Her ability to network and interact with people took her farther faster than she expected and to her that is only the beginning. “I see myself growing even more. The industry is wide open. I want to do a little of everything.”

Tecia has some words for others who are wondering whether or not they should take the leap and follow their passion: “Do it! Don’t wait, just do it.” People always want to look great and to feel great, she says, so hers is an industry that will never fade. “You’ll always have a job”, she laughs.  She’s still out there networking. Her work can be seen on Instagram and on other social media under the name she’s chosen for herself: Rock You Pretty. That’s her motto and her dream.