Salt Lake makeup artist, hair designer and groomer Paula Dahlberg was a featured speaker for James Nelson’s Communication 1500 class last Friday. Dahlberg delivered her presentation during Nelson’s 8:00 a.m. class in the Technology Building on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
Dahlberg works with professional athletes and other famous people. Her clientele has included former Utah governor and current Republican presidential nominee John Huntsman, Jr. and Sarah Palin. She has also worked with stars from the “Twilight” movies, most recently during the “Breaking Dawn Cast and Concert Tour Event” last Friday evening. She was voted Best Hairstylist by Salt Lake Magazine in 2010.
Dahlberg started out by saying that her career is an ever changing field.
“I started out in nails and then went to hair styling,” she said of her career that has spanned 20 years.
Dahlberg has taught cosmetics throughout the United States and Canada to crowds ranging from 10 to 1,000 people. About seven years ago she also went into production of photography. In this role, she prepares people to be photographed.
“When you are around politicians, movie stars and TV people, you have to be very approachable,” Dahlberg said.
She told the class that one perk of her job is handling talent because the experience is always different. She told the class about meeting a Blue Angel, which is the group that does aerial team stunts for the Air Force and how she was actually able to enter the plane.
Dahlberg also told of the downside to working with talent.
“The worst part is stalkers,” she said. “Sometimes when people find out what you do, they want to be a part of it.”
Despite that, Dahlberg is very happy in her chosen career.
“This is the perfect career for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t do anything else.”
Dahlberg went on to talk about public relations and her personal public relations.
“First and for most I am very open,” she said. “Talk about your craft constantly. A lot of times people hire you because you are you.”
She went on to say that in the last 50 years marketing has shaped our culture and how she is now able to market herself using social media.
“I absolutely loved it,” said student Kimberly Dunn of Dahlberg’s presentation. “I’ve gotten to work with artists and photographers and liked to see her perspective.”
After the class ended Dahlberg was scheduled to stay and be interviewed on the radio by Nelson’s radio class.
“It’s important for students to learn from real professionals,” instructor James Nelson said. “Paula Dahlberg is a true professional who loves sharing her lifetime experiences.”
