The adage “it takes a village…” definitely applies in the entertainment industry. Behind every star and every personality, there is a team of professionals who ensure the brand remains intact and on point — from film crews, managers, and agents to publicists, image consultants and caregivers.

To give you a glimpse into this world, Under The Dryer pops in on recording artiste Ce’Cile, at the start of a typical day — brewed coffee in hand — as she gets her hair and make-up done by her personal make-up artist and stylist Dexter ‘3D’ Pottinger and hairstylist Latoya Reid.

Today is a day like any other for the recording artiste, packed with recording label and studio obligations, events to attend and a baby to care for with the help of a trusty nanny.

Her beauty team is in the house, which can only mean one thing — it’s ‘rise and shine’ time. For Ce’Cile, she’s at the point in her career that sitting in a room bursting with endless kits of palette cases and make-up tools, plus curling and flat irons, and styling products is quite normal — if not essential.

“Having your own hair and make-up team makes moving around so much easier as it frees me up to concentrate on the million other things that come with this career and lifestyle,” she points out.

This Trinity began in 2007, when Pottinger was hired by the music video director to do the make-up for one of Ce’Cile’s video shoots. Before this encounter, the artiste was at the mercy of random beauty teams. The service was not personalised and, as a result, failed to effectively highlight her unique beauty and features.

A few years later Pottinger introduced Ce’Cile to Reid and recommended that Reid would be a great fit to the team — the final piece to the puzzle. The rest, as they say, is history. The trio has been inseparable ever since.

“On that Take It Off shoot years ago, not only did he do an exceptional job with the hair — which, by the way someone else was hired to do — and make-up, [but] it was the best I had ever looked in a music video, at that point — but without my even asking, he gave me advice on how to improve my beauty techniques and how to enhance my features. He was so knowledgeable, professional and complimentary.

I was impressed. I enjoyed my chat with him more than the shoot itself. We just clicked,” Ce’Cile recalls. Reid remembers when she got the call: “I was like ‘Really, I’m going to do Ce’Cile’s hair? … that’s so fabulous!’ My first day on the job was great. She loved the first hairdo I ever gave her. We have the same personality and she’s very comfortable with me.”

The collaboration works very well in this creative trio. When approaching a big event or project such as a red-carpet affair or music video, meetings are held to iron out beauty concepts to the letter. “We don’t follow trends, but instead we use inspiration through Old Hollywood images or current beauty editorials — but with a Ce’Cile twist.

Pottinger and Reid then develop complementary hairstyle and make-up palette so that everything comes together perfectly into one strong look,” the recording artiste tells Under the Dryer.

Even on the road and overseas, Ce’Cile relies on her team’s ingenuity and talents — not only to travel with her — but to also rally with plans B and C, which they are always capable of providing, when the going gets tough.

“With all the stress of flights being delayed or cancelled, they are lifesavers. We have had instances where Dexter has had to do my make-up on the plane and as we landed I went straight on a stage to perform,” she reminisces. “Also, having people around you that you trust is superimportant — there are days where I may have four or five interviews.

Dexter will do my make-up and Latoya will tackle my hair and literally I don’t have time or the need to look in the mirror — that’s if one is even available, as there are a lot of times, depending on where I am, that one isn’t. That speaks to their amazing talent and the confidence I have in them; they are a blessing.”

As a result of the trust, security and comfort she feels with them, the recording artiste is confident that she has improved as an artiste: “You know you have a great makeup artiste when rumours are going around that I’ve had a nose job or work done. That’s how much my brand has improved versus when I had to use just whoever was available to me.” The three have also helped each other to grow in their different professional areas.

“They understand the importance of brand Ce’Cile and they also have their own personal brands to protect as well, which they do excellently. It’s not only about me; they take pride in whatever they do and the projects they’re associated with. I surround myself with people who are careful with their own brand, because as an extension, they won’t mess up mine.”

“I can call on my team at four in the morning and know they’ll be there for me. I cannot work with people who don’t understand who they are working with, and the demands of the job. Dexter’s job, Latoya’s job and mine are jobs that work without much notice; opportunities are constantly popping up! We just have to go when we have to go. My team is fabulous and I would have it no other way.”

But what makes this highly disciplined and dedicated team work so well together? For Ce’Cile, it is not only enough that her glam squad is good at what they do, they are also the kind of people she counts as close friends. “It’s about the vibe that we have.

The music industry is very stressful. I don’t want a team that I can’t go out with and chill with. The three of us party a lot and have fun together, whether in a hotel room, an airport terminal or on the dance floor — we kill it,” reveals Ce’Cile. “We have even taken over Instagram and Twitter with our off-duty adventures and behind-the-scenes updates.”

“We are big fans of cinema and the beach, as well,“ adds Pottinger. Looking forward to 2014, Pottinger and Reid have already started brainstorming new looks to try out on their hot-ticket client. “We have never done goth with Ce’Cile; we have always stuck to high glamour, sweet or sultry palettes.

“I think it’s high time now we turn it up some more and try some goth,” shares Pottinger. His hair colleague adds, “For her next music video, I want to add deep blue or green highlights to the ends of her hair, and colour the rest of the coif jet black.”