The Wheelbarrow Of... Juliette den Ouden

International hair and makeup artist Juliette den Ouden travels around the world, has been at the top of the industry for ten years and is founder of the JDO Group. The JDO Group consists of the JDO Academy, Salon and Management. In addition, Den Ouden drag(ed) in several prestigious awards, including last year's Coiffure Award "Hairdresser of the Year," was in the top 10 best makeup artists in the world and is far from finished. Who was her wheelbarrow?Text: Mical Joseph
Image header presentation Coiffure Award: Fotovrouwtje

What was your very first side job?

"I had a huge ambition to work in fashion later where I wanted to focus on magazines and shows. I wanted to be a makeup artist, hair stylist or fashion designer. The drive to work young came from within me because I had to pay for my own hairdressing training. Therefore, as a 13-year-old adolescent, I had a newspaper route and worked in the greenhouses around Rotterdam to pay for my education."

Always keep working?

"My all-round hairdressing training consisted of working out and learning, I started in a small salon in Rozenburg, South Holland, but soon I noticed that this was not my thing, I was super eager to learn and wanted more! After this period I traveled an hour and a half to Rotterdam every day to work at my 'dream salon'. At the same time, I trained as a makeup artist in Amsterdam. At the age of 17, in 2001, I assisted at my first big show for Schwarzkopf. This moment meant a lot to me, then I knew: this industry was my destiny!"

"While working in the salon in Rotterdam, I started investing tremendously: I expanded my network, invested in photo shoots and gave my portfolio a lot of attention. This routine went well until a certain point, but by 2009 my whole body was full of injuries. Being constantly on both mind and body required total rest. This was very difficult for me, because I am and remain a busy bee. "Juliette | Photo: Hans de Vries

And then it was 2011 ... What happened next?

"Yes, I had been compulsorily sitting at home for two years and left the salon. This was because I could no longer cut with my body due to chronic injuries. In the end, this decision was a good move because it made me decide to start completely for myself. It was time for a comeback.

I went to South Africa in 2012 to work on my portfolio and upon my return, my career took off: I won award after award. This put me back on the radar in the industry, but because I won many awards in the makeup industry, had a makeup school and did many jobs as a makeup artist, people thought I was just a makeup artist, whereas I specialize in both!

This was also one of the reasons for me to enter the Coiffure Awards, this was the only connection I still had with the hairdressing profession.In recent years I have won many awards at the Coiffure awards and 2020-21 I became the Hairdresser of the Year! A dream come true. "Nowadays I work internationally as a hair and makeup artist, I have the JDO Salon so the 'hair' is unmissable."

In 2013 you started a makeup school together with an associate, in 2015 this became your own academy and in 2017 you changed the name to JDO Academy (Juliette den Ouden Academy). What does the academy stand for?

"I set up the academy from my own experience and vision as an international hair and makeup artist.I have missed a lot and had many setbacks to get where I am today and I want to prevent that from happening to others, this has been my goal to start JDO Academy. This is why we do a lot differently than other schools. For example, we work with very small classes for extra personal guidance. And a nice working atmosphere is one of the most important aspects besides the quality we obviously deliver. We are also a bit of a coach on a personal level, we work with people and everyone has their own personal backpack. It is important to respond to this and know how to guide this so that a student gets more out of his education. We have also been a safety net for many good artists and have been able to give many people that extra push in the industry. Whereupon they are now flitting about on their own as hair and makeup artists!"Hair & Make-up: Juliette den Ouden @ JDO Management
Photographer: Michelle van Dijk @ JDO Management
Retouch: Zilla van den Born @ JDO Management
Styling: Anat Dychtwald

In addition, you are involved with various charities. Tell!

"I am now setting up a foundation which is dedicated to supporting projects for people with Albinism in Africa. In Africa there are many more people with Albinism than in the rest of the world, because of the lack of Melanin in the skin they have an increased risk of skin cancer. And even in some parts they are not safe because of the hunters used by the witch doctors, who believe that you can make medication with blood and limbs of people with albinism.This has affected us so much that we would like to get involved in this. So I started a fundraiser to support a safe house in Tanzania with good nutrition for over 100 children who are safe there. Not only from hunters but many are repelled by their parents. I also want to raise money to support another foundation, they want to fight skin cancer by providing sunscreen, but they get sunscreen sponsored but no financial support to ship the container to Africa. This is where I would like to get involved with fundraising. My ultimate goal is the "feed yourself project" in which a piece of land is bought on which food can be grown and on which the livestock can live but where mutual collaborations with other communities can also arise so that the economy also improves.In addition, I am committed to Hairdressers without Borders as an ambassador.And we give training to women in third world countries in hairdressing and makeup so that they can generate money themselves and support their families."

Who was your wheelbarrow?

"In the past people have promised me so many things, which made me run extra hard to make good on those promises, but in the end nothing ever came of it. That was the answer for me that if you want something you have to do it yourself, which is why I have never had a wheelbarrow. From the first moment I went for it myself and always followed my intuition."

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

"I get up every day to create, help people and take my business to higher levels time and time again. Through my entrepreneurship, I have also started to dedicate myself to charity. Lately I notice that the latter has also become a big passion of mine. "Hair & Make-up: Juliette den Ouden @ JDO Management
Photographer: Michelle van Dijk @ JDO Management
Retouch: Zilla van den Born @ JDO Management
Styling: Anat Dychtwald

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

"A big turning point for me was the time when I suffered injuries and was out for two years. This period gave me tremendous insights and, crazy enough, opportunities that still benefit me every day to this day."

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

"Believe and stay close to yourself. To me, these are one of the most important things. Because everyone is so much looking at what others are doing, comparing each other all the time. On the contrary, I think it's good that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Try to embrace that."

Have you been a wheelbarrow for anyone?

"I am sometimes called 'The Tree' because I myself am very grounded and I reach out my hand to those who need it. I enjoy helping people and this is also one of the reasons I started the JDO Academy, to be a wheelbarrow for those who need it where it's about giving proper training to the individual. The same goes for JDO Salon and JDO Management, by the way."