Behind the Scenes: Loucynthia Rossi-Kittrell

The sweet sounds of success are ringing true for professional singer-turned-cosmetologist Loucynthia Rossi-Kittrell. In addition to doing nails, hair, and makeup at Promises Hair & Nail Salon in Hubbard, Ohio, Rossi-Kittrell is an educator for Nail Stuff-N-More and was recently hired by Matrix Essentials as a skin care/makeup educator and platform artist. She has even owned her own beauty supply store.

Rossi-Kittrell found out about the monetary rewards of the beauty industry during her years as a professional singer. “I was surrounded by a lot of makeup artists and I saw how much money they were making,” says Rossi-Kittrell, who started out in the industry as a makeup artist for a local television station. It wasn’t long before she aspired to do it all — makeup, hair, and nails.

“Nails are your own personal creation. It’s different every time you sit down with a client,” says Rossi-Kittrell, who also loves networking with other nail technicians and meeting people at tradeshows. “We’re getting to the point where technicians are finally sharing information with one another,” she says.

As a nail manufacturer’s educator, Rossi-Kittrell takes her work very seriously. “When I was in cosmetology school, we were mainly taught to do hair; nails were left by the wayside. I thought if we don’t get to these students who are our foundation and future, we’re going to lose them,” she says emphatically. Her responsibilities as an educator include teaching vocational, private, and adult-education classes. She also speaks on behalf of the local National Cosmetology Association in Ohio on the opportunities in the cosmetology field. “I tell people to find something they love to do and figure out a way to get paid for it,” says Rossi-Kittrell.

The importance of nail care is also rubbing off on her 3-year-old-son Troy. “He loves to buff his nails and will tell me, ‘Mama, I need a manicure,’ or ‘Mama, I have a hangnail,’” says Rossi-Kittrell, who sometimes takes Troy on the road with her to tradeshows.

The NAILS cover photo shoot was Rossi-Kittrell’s first. “I was so excited and loved every moment of it,” she says. Known to be quite the talker, at the shoot Rossi-Kittrell says she was quiet for once. “I was just soaking it all in. Yes, there was pressure, but I think it only added to the excitement.

“So far, it’s been a wonderful ride,” says Rossi-Kittrell about her career in the beauty industry. Down the road, she would like to be a nail competition director for a distributor and do more print work. Rossi-Kittrell is living life in the fast lane. Beep — beep.