Elles Nijkamp
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE COUNTRY
Although her career is long, rich, varied, and successful, she has never given an interview. She is a ‘backstage person’, a ‘binder’ who enjoys making others shine. But now that Daphne Deckers dedicated her Beauty Astir Style Award to her, she steps, for once, briefly into the spotlight. Hair and Make-up Artist Elles Nijkamp. “When I create a sparkle in the eye I am at my happiest.”
“I am happy in the background. But where it happens, that’s for sure.”
A gray person
She walks into the Amsterdam hotel The Dylan in her signature stylish sporty look. Black leather pants from Arma (“I have a gray and a black pair, and every day it's one or the other, they are so comfortable”), a gray jacket (Filippa K), Rika bag, and trendy Nikes underneath. Elles Nijkamp, she calls herself a gray person. But in the most beautiful sense of the word. “I don’t need the spotlight on me, I’m happy in the background. But where it happens, that’s for sure.
Carmen set against the cold
She is caring. “I always have my Carmen set on and give models who are shivering in the cold a few to hold to stay warm. That’s just how I am.”
Commotion on the head
That she has never given an interview before is, for someone who has been in the business since 1986, at least remarkable. But when you say Elles, you say discretion and modesty. For once, she enjoys talking about her profession. “I still love what I do every day. Make-up and hair. At night I can lie awake because I’m thinking of hairstyles and, almost in a chemical way, inventing all the products and methods to make a hairdo succeed. I find that amazing. I love hair? and I also try to pull the people I ’do‘ out of their comfort zone comfort zone. A little commotion on the head is good.”
Hairstyles with a flip
“I always drew as a child and really made hairstyles with a flip. A l'Oréal flip, I would say. Eventually, I did the costume design training but got into this profession through a boyfriend who was a photographer in Milan and New York. “I worked with a photographer who told me; ’if you understand light, you understand make-up’. I still draw. Recently, I received some beauty products from Ellis Faas with a note saying ‘play with them’ and that’s exactly how I feel. I draw, I play.”
Bond with Daphne
During the last Astir Awards, Daphne Deckers, quite rightly, won the Astir Beauty Style Award and dedicated it to her dear friend and Hair and Make-up Artist Elles. ‘Just a quick wash’ Daphne always affectionately says when she gets ‘done’ by Elles before a performance or event. “Marilyn Monroe said that diamonds are a girl's best friend but I can tell you; a good make-up artist is your best friend,” said Daphne during the awards. For years, Elles has been coming to Daphne's home with her suitcase to take care of her hair and make-up. “The funny thing is that every woman whose hair and make-up I do becomes a girl when she sees my suitcase. All those products make women happy. And one by one they say a. I wish I had this every day, b. I wish I had those products too, and c. Do you use all of them yourself? I find that hilarious, as if I display everything at home and sit down to do my make-up extensively.”
Home is home. “It can happen that I come home after a big shoot and immediately walk in to be with the kids. Then I only realize in the evening that it’s freezing and that my make-up suitcase is still in the car. All my foundations ruined.’
“I have been doing the bigger moments for Queen Maxima for eight years and have never told anyone”
On the skin
Elles does hair and make-up for fashion and beauty productions and has, besides Daphne, a group of women who regularly book her. With those women, she has a strong bond. “I really look at them. When you are literally on someone's skin, you see and feel how someone is really doing. It’s nice when we can be honest and I can open them up. The nice thing about me is that I have no trouble keeping secrets. That’s who I am.”
A handshake from the queen
The question burns on my lips. It is sometimes whispered that this sweet, honest, modest Elles has been taking care of our queen's hair and make-up (Maxima that is, not Beatrix) for years. For some reason, I find it intensely exciting to ask this question. Such a one handshake from the queen moment feels humbling. But I have to ask it because she will never, ever, mai, jamais say it herself.
“Elles...” I gather courage. “It is sometimes said... I have heard... that you do the hair and make-up of our queen.”
A few extremely long seconds of silence follow. Elles keeps looking down and says; ”That’s correct. I have been doing the bigger moments for eight years and have never told anyone. Actually, this is the only thing I want to say about it because our working relationship is dear to me.”
That doesn’t mean she isn’t extremely proud of the three hairstyles and make-up she created on April 30 last year, the day of the coronation. And she also wants to tell me that she was indeed nervous that day. But then her mouth goes shut again and Elles dives back into the wings. I bow to this beautiful woman and wish her the fame she deserves and, go ahead, also a medal.
Elles’ five tips in the morning:
- concealer makes disappear what you don’t want to see (Shiseido Sheer Eyezone corrector and Ellis Faas Concealer S203)
- light shine on your eyeball for an open fresh look (Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color) with plenty of mascara for eyes like stars (Lancome Doll Eyes)
- brush your eyebrows well up, pluck where necessary (Free-Facelift) and set this with clear mascara (Hema, really!!)
- Blush in caramel for the sunkissed glow (Shiseido Face Color Enhancing Trio) and peach pink on the cheeks (Francois Nars Orgasm) smile in the mirror and please on the cheekbones.
- Lipgloss/balm/anything (Other Stories, Shiseido)
After a hangover :))
Shiseido Wrinkle resist Pure Retinol express eye mask
Want a healthy glow the next day?
Before sleeping Kanebo Sensai Cellular Performance Mask over your night cream. Double effect.
Tip:
In a hurry and forgot blush? Squeeze your cheeks a few times :)) And conjure a smile on your face! Voilá!
Tip from Elles
Seek out the light! That’s what makes you look your best. So when you go out to eat with your loved one, make sure you sit in the light. This also applies to photos and actually all moments in life. Grab the light!
