
“I have been a free lance make- up artist since 1990 : I have seen many fashions changing and so many styles , but what has not changed is the fact that I never had a Cantoni makeup station of my own. The reason? It is because every time I work with Anna (Cantoni) and Ettore I can use theirs, so I simply take advantage of that!” – Cristina begins with a smile.
I’m going to introduce Maria Cristina Laghi, make-up artist with a biker soul, working since 1992 on Cantoni photo backstages.
Cristina is a free lance make-up artist and she’s always working on the move and in a variety of different situations: TV backstages, dressing rooms, fashion shows. But also in the make-up school classes, where she is a teacher.
Who is a free lance make up artist for true?
“I love my work” -Cristina tells me- “every day is different. I have been defined “colour pixie” and this is so funny! Imagine myself with a magic wand and dressed in lace? I have never worn a skirt in my life and I feel more comfortable on a Honda than with little wings on my shoulders.
But the definition fits very well to my artistic sensibility indeed : being a make-up artist is beeing able to bring to the surface the most fascinating essence of each one. Instead of the wand I have the brushes. The problem is that I truly have a lot of them!”
How have you organized yourself to carry around all your make-up stuff?
We have asked to Maria Cristina to describe us how she carries around all she needs for working on the move, finding out that she has thought up a really smart and practical way to use a pair of Cantoni makeup boxes she has.
She tells us, in fact, she has set up three different assets and she choose the one or the other on the base of the work she is going into.
Than Cristina explains us better: “I have an Highbox make-up trolley and a make-up beauty BB2. “These products are light, easy to transport and capacious and, above all, they are thermal. I work in Bologna often (N.d.R: Cristina is a RAI make-up artist and works for the Main Theatre of Bologna), and temperatures are always bad there, very high in summer and very low during the winter. Having em> thermal boxes is important to mantain my make-up products in good conditions.
I have found out that the two boxes are compatible, so I manage my spaces differently according to the need:
– if I have to face a complex work and I am in need of a lot of stuff, I bring with me the Highbox trolley + BB2. Inserting the BB2 on the trolley handle of Highbox I can carry around everything with one hand only. I can put in everything: make-up, hairdryer, brushes, hair-brushes and so on.
– if I have to face a make-up work needing not too much products , instead, I take with me only the BB2 beauty. I move the Highbox drawers in the BB2, full as they are: they fit in perfectly. This is also very hygienic: you can whip out the drawers and put them on the surface you are working on instead of putting all the dirty bag on the table. Working this way it’s also quite impossible to forget my stuff when I have to leave.
– If I have to face a hair styling work only, I bring with me the simple BB2 beauty case: it’s spacious enough to put in hairdryer, irons, hair brushes, styling products and so on.”
Projects and ideas for your make up artist future?
Cristina works a lot: she belongs to theatre, fashion, school and photography make-up worlds. She has worked a lot with Cantoni as makeup artist and hair stylist for many photo shooting. Preparing a face in front of the unique lights of a Cantoni make-up case is really simplier: the look of make-up, as you can see on the mirror, is exactly the same you have on the photographic image, so the realization times are strongly shortened. This, for a make up artist, implies more earnings.
I love working this smart, stylish and quick way, this is the reason I have a lot of projects in partnership with Cantoni in my next future. Colourful and original projects stimulating my creativity.: to see them come to life follow me on my FB page!”
Photo credits: Ettore dall’Ara, Luciano Siviero
Maria Cristina Laghi lives in Ravenna and she is Professional Make-up artist.
She works with the Main Theatre of Bologna, she is RAI TV Make-up artist and she is MUP teacher for ENGIM school.
Specialized in theatrical and photo make-up works, she does also fashion make-up jobs.
Bikers Honda in her soul, loves sports and travel by bike.
Works with Cantoni as a make-up artist since 1992