We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oxana Americana. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oxana below.
Hi Oxana, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
I like to wake up earlier before work and give myself time. Coffee, a yummy breakfast, than put on makeup and do my hair, as it brings up my mood and gives confidence. When I feel worn out at the end of a day, I do at home beauty procedures, like hair and skincare routines. Before going to bed, everyday, I think of 10 good things that happened that day, it really helps me to stay positive, and make any hard day seem not as bad.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a USA based professional makeup artist, hairstylist and beauty educator. After studying makeup and hairstyling in Moscow and Seattle, I went on to pursue my love for beauty as a career.
Now on my 13th year in the beauty industry, my portfolio includes celebrity clients, a large experience in editorial photography, commercials, music videos, fashion shows and masterclasses for beauty brands such as Givenchy, MAC Cosmetics, Kevin Murphy, Jane Iredale, Sensai, Kiko Milano and many others. In 2016 I became the winner of the Givenchy Beauty Club competition.
I’m actively engaged in educating. My masterclasses and courses include: makeup and hairstyles for yourself, beginner and advanced levels pro courses for makeup artists and hairstylists. Working with brides is an essential and one of my favorite jobs!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Patience and hardwork is always the key for me. The beauty industry is not always as soft and fun as it seems, politeness, good service I would say helped me stand out from the beginning. I love communicating and often become friends with a lot of my clients. And of course, no matter how skilled I feel like I am, I love to keep learning, as there are no boundaries for perfection. The more you put yourself into it, the better you become. The better you get at your skills, the more enjoyable they become. When I felt like giving up, especially in the beginning, I reminded myself how much I’ve already done to get to where I would like to be. When I felt burnt out, I took a pause, than continued. Continue until you succeed, like a warrior, but remind to be gentle to yourself at times. And never compare yourself with others, by my experience it can lead you to a slight depression, instead compare yourself to the earlier you, and get inspired, instead of comparing yourself to others.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I recently moved back to the States, after working overseas for most of my career. Even though I survived the huge competition in Moscow, which seems a lot bigger in the beauty industry, it’s always hard to start in a new country, especially with a child. But I’m finding opportunities through networking, bringing myself out there. Collaborating with wedding agencies, beauty brands, salons. One step at a time with patience brings huge effectiveness. Looking back, I feel like I have reached a high level in the past half a year since I came, but have so much more to go and I’m so excited!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oamericana.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxana_americana
Image Credits
Photographers: Ilona Shevchenko, Eugeniya Sinkevich, Alex Nazarov
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