Hairstylist Davey Matthew and MUAs Sierra Matthews and Dani Parkes

B Side

Traditionally, the B side refers to the flip side of a record. The A side contains the more front-facing hits—the singles—but on the B side, you can get in a bit deeper with the artist. And quite honestly, there’s no better metaphor we can think of for the creative team behind a beauty look. They pull the references, scour the archives, and paint the picture you see on the big screen. The celebrity, model, or actor is the single with the most airtime. But the glam team? They’re the producers, conductors, friends, and family members. For lack of a less ubiquitous phrase, they make it work.

It has always been our mission to shine a light on the BTS of beauty, as the artistry of hair and makeup is an intricate, detailed exploration that lies at the cross section of aesthetics and culture. Why? Because the origin of a look is just as important as the look itself. The backstory deserves its hard-earned glory.

This time around, we’re introducing you to hairstylist Davey Matthew, and makeup artists Sierra Matthews and Dani Parkes. Together, they’re masterminds behind the beauty looks for Byrdie’s Muse Issue featuring Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo. Below, join us in taking a peek behind the curtain.

Hairstylist Davey Matthew

On the inspiration for Hannah’s hair looks…

“The shoot a lot about Paige and Hannah themselves, and how different but compatible they are. We talked a lot about diptych photography styles and showing how two separate entities can work together beautifully as one. The first look tapped into Paige’s style sensibilities, with a side part for both of them. We all know how Hannah feels about side parts, but she was willing to take the risk and step outside of her comfort zone. The second look is more of Hannah’s vibe, with a pinstripe middle part. The third look combined a little of both of them. Hannah wore a half-up, half-down look with a sporty feeling.”

On working with Hannah…

“Hannah is so fun to work with. She’s exactly how you’d expect—so fun, so collaborative, and honestly, full of laughs.”

On his early years and starting his career in beauty…

“I was going to school to be a veterinarian, and was complaining to my hairdresser about how much I hated it. She suggested I try [hair] because she knew I had an interest in it. Turns out, she was right!

“I grew up in Florida and worked behind the chair for a number of years in a salon. Eventually, I started working with a brand in sales and education, and started to understand the breadth of the industry. Then, at 33, decided to dive all the way in and move to New York. For me, it was like a now-or-never sort of thing, you know? Either do it now, or it’s not going to happen.”

On his career highlights…

“I’ve been fortunate enough to live out so many of my wildest dreams, like working with iconic artists for the Met Gala, and working with brands I grew up with. I could never imagine keying a show at New York Fashion Week. That was a major dream come true.”

On what beauty means to him and how it’s empowered him throughout his life…

“To me, beauty is a celebration of what makes everyone unique. To recognize and celebrate uniqueness has helped my confidence, and I find beauty in everything.”

On his mentors and icons…

“I had some truly incredible opportunities as I was coming up in the industry. Notably assisting Charlie Le Mindu and the late Latisha Chong. Charlie taught me how to see beauty outside of the traditional [confines], while Latisha left a lifelong impression about what hard work can give you. Still to this day, I hear Latisha’s voice pushing me to do better and be better.”

Advice for those coming up in the industry…

“Don’t rush growth. You can’t build a palace without the proper foundation. Assist everyone and take any opportunity to its fullest potential. Also, I don’t believe in the word ‘no’ professionally; I hear it as not yet. Also, ask for what you want—closed mouths don’t get fed. If it doesn’t work out, you’re no further from where you started.”

Makeup Artist Sierra Matthews

On the inspiration for Paige’s makeup looks…

The first was very quintessential Paige. Glowy, natural, yet snatched. A little faux freckle and a pretty lip. For the second, it was fun to see Paige in a different lip than her staple pink nude. We used a berry liner with a sheer berry gloss on top to enhance the color without making it too bold. For the third look, we added a baby wing, which is also very signature to Paige’s signature glam.”

On working with Paige…

“Working with Paige is so chill. She has a calm energy; she’s hilarious and very trusting.” 

On her early years and starting her career in beauty…

“I grew up right outside of New York City in northern New Jersey. Now that I’m older, I really appreciate the fact that I lived in such a little storybook town. I’ve always been very artsy, and grew up surrounded by fashion and beauty. I acted for most of my life, and after graduating from the Lee Strasberg Institute for Theatre & Film in NYC, I had this realization that the only character I truly wanted to play was myself. Around that time, I decided to take a few makeup classes and something clicked. This was during the rise of the YouTube beauty gurus, and I became obsessed with experimenting on myself. Eventually, I got the itch to work on other people.

“The first eight years of my career were spent working for brands, and those years were a nonstop grind. I wore many different hats: I did artistry and education, product development, lead training at Sephoras all across the country, and led an artistry department. I am grateful to have experienced so much!”

On her career highlights…

“I feel very grateful to have had many career highlights so far, but one that will always stand out is the moment I saw my makeup for the first time on display at Sephora. Sephora was my first job in beauty. I spent countless hours there cleaning gondolas, learning about every brand, and testing products. I promised myself that one day I would see my own work displayed there. Seeing that come full circle was such a rewarding feeling. 

On what beauty means to her and how it’s empowered her throughout her life…

“Beauty, to me, starts from the inside out. It’s about self-expression, confidence, and the way you carry yourself. Growing up, I always admired my grandmothers—they never left the house without their makeup done, hair perfectly in place, and nails polished. It wasn’t about vanity, it was about the joy they felt in presenting their best selves. Watching them taught me that beauty can be empowering in even the smallest rituals. When you take the time to feel good on the outside, it reflects what you’re carrying within, no matter what that looks like.”

On his mentors and icons…

“People whose beauty I’ve admired often embody a kind of obscure, unconventional elegance—like Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, or iconic ’90s supermodels. Professionally, I’ve had the privilege of working with and being mentored by legends like Pat McGrath and Mario Dedivanovic , whose artistry and vision have deeply impacted how I understand beauty.”

Advice for those coming up in the industry…

“Say yes to as many opportunities as you can in the beginning. Be a sponge and learn as much as possible from everyone around you, but know your worth and set healthy boundaries.”

Makeup Artist Dani Parkes

On the inspiration for Hannah’s makeup looks…

“For the first look, we wanted to keep the skin natural and glowy. For the second, we kept the fresh skin, but added a dark liner on the lip. We always do a chocolate brown Tower 28 liner, so it was fun to translate that classic to set. Finally, we brought out the winged liner for the third look, only this time, we had it coming out from under the eye, instead of on the lid. It was so fun creating this look because it was a [departure] from what we normally do.”

On working with Hannah…

“Hannah is one of my favorite clients. We’ve been working together for a couple of years now, and I look forward to it every time. She has the greatest energy, and I love every second I get to work with her.”

On her early years and starting her career in beauty…

“Moving to New York really changed my perspective on this industry. I’m originally from Toronto, and I’ve been doing makeup since I was eight years old. At 16, I created an Instagram page, and was doing makeup on all the girls in school. At 18, I moved to New York City for college and it opened my eyes to how much more this industry has to offer. In school, I did everything I could to get my name out there. I did makeup for the school magazine and reached out to a lot of people who inspired me, and did anything and everything to build my portfolio.

“I had an aha moment when I hit my seven year mark in New York. I did a lot of reflecting, and realized how far I’ve come since moving to the U.S.”

On her career highlights…

“Overall, getting to work with people I’ve admired for years is a big pinch-me moment. This has had a big impact on me, and reminds me to keep trying to reach my goals.”

On what beauty means to her and how it’s empowered her throughout her life…

“Doing makeup is free therapy to me. I’m so lucky I get to do something I love with my career. Making people feel like the most beautiful version of themselves is the most rewarding part of my entire career.”

On his mentors and icons…

“I really admire Nina Park’s work. Nina’s makeup style is effortless, and I believe she truly understands her clients. She never overdoes it, even when creating a more dramatic look. Her clients always look like themselves, no matter what.”

Advice for those coming up in the industry…

“Take every opportunity you can. Reach out to people whose work you admire, and try to put yourself out there. I also think it’s really important to practice on all complexions and skin types. You have to be able to work with anyone and practicing on models or friends will further your knowledge in the industry.