We recently connected with Carolina Yasukawa and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carolina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

First off I think everyone’s version of success is different. So how to get there is also different. For me getting there was about drive and passion. I set small goals and big goals for myself. I celebrated myself when I reached those goals and set new ones. I talk about my goals as if they are already happening. “I do celebrity hair and make up” I think if you want to be successful you have to allow yourself to fail and you have to believe in yourself whole heartedly before anyone else can believe in you.

Carolina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Carolina Yasukawa. I am a hairstylist and make up artist. I work doing hair and make up for photo shoots , red carpet, runway , and events. I also do hair in a salon. I have been a hairstylist since 2000 and got into the fashion industry in 2004. I worked for a company named Toni and Guy. Their education at the time was the most innovative and pertinent to current trends. I became an educator for them and went through more education then most people get in their whole careers. They introduced me to photo shoots and I fell in love with the fashion industry. It was something I wanted to do more and more. I finally went to a salon who supported that journey and built my clientele.

The thing that sets me apart from most artists is that I am a hairstylist turned hair and makeup artists. Most hair and makeup artists learn makeup first then hair. I was very self conscious about my makeup for a long time so I practiced and practiced every chance I could. I still practice. There is always new trends in my business and new looks. I will never stop learning. I genuinely enjoy it. It brings me so much joy.

The thing I’m most proud of is my whole journey. Being able to build my business on my own. I never assisted. I was always learning as I went on. I didn’t have a mentor. I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes. I asked questions. Even if they sounded dumb. I still ask questions. I don’t know everything but I’m always striving to learn whatever I can.

There are so many things to do in the fashion industry for hair and makeup artists. I know people doing TV, red carpet , movies , fashion , runway etc. I would like to specialize in red carpet and high fashion campaigns. I love fashion and editorials. But also the glitz and glam of the red carpet. My Instagram feed is a compilation of my work and of my personality. I think it’s important for clients to see who you are and what you are capable of doing. My feed is great for inspiration, art and a good laugh sometimes.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Working in my industry is very cut throat. You can be hot then not. Too much time off and your clients will move on and find new people. It’s very competitive. In 2012 I got into a car accidents. It left me with 4 herniated discs in my neck. It was so painful to stand for two hours. Sit for two hours. Lay for two hours. It was hard to put my hands over my head and work on a model. I started to wonder if this is what I was meant to do. I fell into a depression and it was so hard mentally and physically.

One day I just said to myself “ if you want this you have to force yourself to do it even if your body doesn’t want to do it. “ so if I wanted certain jobs I needed to work on my skills. I was doing hair in my apt for money and I was doing photo shoots for free to practice my skills. I was in so much pain everyday but I knew I could not just sit there. I knew I needed to remind myself how much I loved it. Once I healed enough to work comfortably I started to network. My book was stronger and I was ready to work. Work started to come in and before you knew it I was busier than ever.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media changes every day. I’m in my mid forties so sometimes I feel silly doing it. But I know in my business , an image based business, I HAVE TO do it if I want a presence in this industry. I first start by researching. Normally while I’m researching my brain is going wild with ideas. I have ADHD so sometimes my brain gets overwhelmed. So I start writing ideas down. Reels are the current form of social media right now. I wanna give my audience something they enjoy but also something they haven’t seen before which is hard. So I’m doing makeover videos inspired by red carpet looks. I felt like so many people see these people on the carpet and wanna know what they can do to accomplish that look. It has been successful in building my following and likes. People wanna see you and your personality even if you don’t wanna see you. It’s a way they can connect with you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Yasulina
• Other: Tik Tok @yasulina

Image Credits
Photography Dawn Dicarlo Model Gracie McKnight with Freedom models LA Portrait: Photography Raen Badua Mens grooming : photography Raen Badua Model JP Morray Woman in leather dress: Photography Raen Badua Wardrobe Horactio Agulair Makeup Elisabet De Los Reyes