When Smarty Mom Candace Montelone introduced herself to us, we couldn’t help but pick up on her positive energy! She’s a super talented mom of two who believes so much in making all women feel beautiful and confident that she made it her business. We are thrilled to introduce you to this local hair and make up artist and Charlotte native. Enjoy getting to know her better AND taking advantage of her tips (those MAC lipsticks might already be in my shopping cart ;-)).
Smarties, meet Candace Montelone!
Smarty Mom: Candace Monteleone
Married to: Joey Monteleone, we are coming up on 10 years this December!
Children: JJ, 7 years old. Jackson, he will be 2 in september.
Hometown: Charlotte, NC (one of the few)
Years in Charlotte: I was born here but my family moved around NC and then I lived in SC for all of my high school and then moved back to Charlotte after college!
‘Hood: Ballantyne/Blakeney
Alma Mater: Utah State University
Occupation: Hair & Makeup Artist and owner of Colour by Candace
You’re a local makeup and hair artists. What got you into the business? I have always LOVED Makeup, Hair and all things beauty! that I always played beauty shop with when we were growing up! While I was in college I began my career by working with companies such as Estee Lauder and MAC cosmetics. It wasn’t until 2008 that I started my own Hair & Makeup artistry business, Colour by Candace.
What made you decide to start your own business? I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit so when I had my first son, I knew I wanted to be able to stay at home with him, while still being able to do what I love!
What type of events do you do? I do mainly weddings but I have done pretty much everything including Hair & Makeup for the band O.A.R. one year for Halloween here at the Fillmore! I also specialize in beauty events including pageants, photo shoots, etc.
Where does your creativity come from? What inspires you? Creativity can come from many different places. I am inspired constantly by fellow artists, friends and family that I admire and current trends that I try to stay up to date with! I love skimming beauty magazines to see what’s hot.
What’s your all-time favorite hairstyle to do on someone else? I don’t really have just 1 favorite hairstyle because everyone is different! I love to just assess each individual person and see what works best for them! I do love doing a messy updo though.
What’s your own go-to hairstyle? I have A TON of hair so I am huge fan of big soft sexy waves, you know that effortless look that is in fact NOT effortless haha!
What’s your fave makeup brand? I am a total MAC girl!
Any tips for other Smarty moms on everyday glamour? Healthy skin is the foundation for any makeup look!! Invest in some good skin care. No amount of makeup is going to conceal neglected unhealthy skin. As a busy mom, I am usually crunched for time especially during the week! 3 products that go a long way in your look when you have little to no time is Mascara, Bronzer and Lipgloss!!! I NEVER leave home without these at a minimum. In addition to nice skin, well kept eyebrows are also super important for your look and frames your whole face so ladies do not neglect your brows!!!
What’s the best part of owning your own business? Flexibility to make my own schedule has been invaluable to me as a mom! I can work as much or as little as I want.
The most challenging? Most of my work requires me to be away on the weekends so while I am able to stay home with my boys during the week, I do have to be away from the family most of the weekend. I try not to work every weekend in order to maintain some balance and I do love what I do so I consider myself to be extremely lucky and blessed!
Tips for juggling family and work? I would say the main thing for me is just continuously trying to maintain balance! My husband has a very demanding job, so I have to be cautious to not put too much on my plate!
And some questions to get to know you a little better…
Favorite lipstick color? I have 2: My fave neutral lip is called “Blankety” lipstick and “Prr” gloss by MAC; My fave pigmented lip is a fushica color by MAC called “Girl About Town.”
Best hairspray? I LOVE hairspray!!!!! Hands down best hairspray is Chi Helmet Head!! Smells amazing too!
Best wedding reception venue in town? Oh man, this is tough.. I have had the pleasure of being able to spend a lot of time at many awesome venues beautifying brides and bridal parties. There are so many gorgeous venues in Charlotte and surrounding that it is too hard to pick just one!
Favorite place to take the family for dinner? Well… I currently have an almost 2 year old so going out to dinner with him is kind of a nightmare lol! We usually end up eating takeout from Chipotle, or grabbing a pizza! Chick fil a is always a family favorite too! I look forward to the day when we can go somewhere as a family that does not have a playplace 🙂
Family’s favorite home cooked meal? My husband’s family is Italian so I have learned how to make a delish homemade pasta sauce! On Sundays I like to cook pasta with homemade sauce and Italian sausages; it’s a big hit with my boys!
Best date night spot in town? We love Nikko’s sushi!
Best place to visit within four hours of Charlotte? My favorite place ever is Charleston, SC! I just love everything about that charming little city.
Panini or bagel? Smoked salmon bagel for sure!!
Starbucks order? Tall, nonfat, Hazelnut steamer with 5 pumps:)
Last book read? ABC…123 lol (mom life)
How do you feel about where you are in life right now? I love what I do and being a mom and feel so incredibly lucky to get to do both! I love being able to spend one of the most important days with a beautiful bride making her look and feel beautiful! I am proud to be a Charlotte native and I absolutely love my city and all of the wonderful people I meet! This is my 11th year doing hair & makeup and 7th year owning my own business! I plan to continue doing what I love while striving to maintain a balance at home as well!
Finish this sentence…”I feel most beautiful when….” I’m happy and taking care of myself both on the inside and out!
