Image Source: Getty/NBC / Contributor
Ali Scharf always loved makeup, but she never thought that she'd become a makeup artist for one of the biggest pop stars right now, Chappell Roan.
"When I was in seventh grade, my friend's mom was a TV and film makeup artist and for my birthday she took me to the MAC store, got me a makeover, and let me have all the products that they used," Scharf tells PS. This is a core memory for the self-taught makeup artist, who attributes the majority of her skills to YouTube. Scharf initially thought she would go into the corporate side of the beauty space in public relations. "I was always an artsy person but my high school was extremely academic-focused so I didn't realize that I had an option to pursue careers outside of core subjects," she says. "Still, the first PR job I got in the space, I quit after two weeks, so I knew it wasn't for me." During that time, Scharf was doing small makeup projects when she was approached by Roan's tour manager, who was also one of her best friends. "I was already a really huge fan of Chappell's and when my friend Sophia started working with her, I wondered if we would eventually cross paths, but I didn't have my hopes up," Scharf says. However, one day that all changed.
"Sophia texted me out of the blue and told me that Chappell wanted me to do her makeup for a show at The Wiltern," Scharf says, referring to a theater in LA. "That specific occasion didn't work out but one month later, I finally got the chance to work with her." That was in 2023 and since then, Scharf has worked with the singer for multiple shows and magazine covers, including Boston Calling and Nylon. "Prior to working with Chappell, I'd describe my makeup style as natural galm with an editorial flair," Scharf says. "Doing her makeup has basically re-wired my brain."
"Doing her makeup has basically re-wired my brain."
Roan, who has become known for her avant-garde and over-the-top makeup looks is an incredible makeup artist in her own right, according to Scharf. The singer is well-versed in what products work for her and knows how to execute a vision. As such, she's able to communicate clearly what she wants to Scharf while also being open to the artist's own interpretations. "There are some aspects of her makeup that are just logistical, like keeping her face extremely matte for performances so that her makeup doesn't slide off, but when it comes to ideating on a look, she's super open to suggestions."
Image Source: Courtesy of Ali Scharf
Some of the duo's favorite products include the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($40) and the Trixie Cosmetics Play Pigments ($16). "We are also massive fans of the E.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer ($10)," Scharf says. There have been times when the duo had to get creative in other aspects of the singer's getting-ready routine. "We've used this exact primer to lube up Chappel and other performers's latex outfits," Scharf says. "That material only looks good when it's super shiny, so sometimes when they run out of actual lubricant, they go digging through my makeup kit."
While Scharf has an impressive list of beauty-industry icons that she looks up to (Mario Dedivanovic and Donni Davy are a few that she named), she ultimately credits Chappell for pushing her creative boundaries. "Working with her for different projects, from festivals to photoshoots, has pushed me to get creative and think on my toes," she says. "The circumstances that we're working under change so drastically every time that I've really just come to trust myself and my skills even more over the last few months." With the looks that they've done together so far, there's no doubt that the duo's names will be in the beauty history books in the near future.
Ariel Baker is the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.