Austin Maxfield of Chicagolicious Isn’t a Slave to Trends

Chicagolicious premieres this upcoming Monday, and we had the chance to chat with the pretty face of AJ's salon, makeup artist Austin Maxfield. As the youngest newcomer to the salon, she's ready to prove herself.

Tell us a little about the show and your role. I'm the youngest makeup artist, and the youngest person in the salon period. I know this makes me instantly relatable to a lot of people since I'm constantly having to prove myself and show I'm as good as everyone else. I can do it just as good as Katrell, who's been doing it for 15 years. I'm constantly battling with myself and the salon. I'm single and trying to find a relationship. I'm hoping to successfully pull off a relationship while balancing my career since I'm never had a lot of luck with balancing those two aspects of my life.

How would you describe yourself? I'm very driven, really energetic with a big sense of humor. I just like to have fun. I don't like being somber all the time. I'm joking 24/7, but I take my work very seriously. Outside of my job, I try to be carefree and enjoy myself since stress all the time causes premature wrinkles.

What is your fashion philosophy? I've had people who tell me that I'm just all over the place. I don't like to limit myself to one look. I'm not just for one woman, I'm for every woman. I can identify with classic, tailored and sophisticated pieces one day, but then I might want to be with the younger girls who are edgier with crazy tops and statement pieces. I don't stick to any type of style. I don't ever say, "Oh, I like blazers, so that's all I'm going to wear." I switch it up. I like to try new things and see how it looks on me. If it looks good, I'll wear it.

Who are your style icons? The Kardashians. I know people hate them for various reasons, but when it comes to fashion, they are always at the top of the line. Say what you want about them, but you can't argue with the fact they have some serious style. The entire family always looks very sophisticated and nice, and I've never seen any of them look bad. They are my favorite people, and every time I see them, I think they look amazing. Anything Kim wears, I would probably wear. I like Rihanna too. She's edgy, so I appreciate what she wears most of the time. I also like Sandra Bullock and absolutely Victoria Beckham.

What summer trends are you looking forward to trying? I'm not a big trend person. I don't follow it religiously like some people do. I don't pay attention to what's coming out for fall and spring. I see something and if I like it, I buy it. If you asked me what the trends were, I wouldn't even know. I won't buy something blindly just because it was all over Fashion Week or because someone told me to wear it this season.

What is your favorite hair care tip? To go to AJ's of Chicago! We always get the absolute best for our clients.

What's your beauty routine? I'm get made up every day, and it's a very tedious process. I probably spend an hour and a half in the mirror every morning. If I'm speeding, then I only take an hour. My eyes take the most time, and it's just a long, step-by-step process.

What is one beauty product you couldn't live without? Definitely my false lashes. I'm so used to seeing myself in makeup that when I don't have makeup on I feel like a freak. I love falsies since they really emphasize your eyes and make it look like you're wearing makeup.

What do you love most about working with AJ? Because of who is, I'm constantly pushing myself to the next level since I know he expects that. Whatever you're doing is not going to be enough; that mentality has become second nature to him. It helps me as an artist and as a person to never be comfortable. If you don't have someone like AJ, you slow down on your process and you stop pushing yourself.

Be sure to catch Austin in the premiere of Chicagolicious Monday, June 11, at 9/8c, only on Style!