Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danika Osumi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Danika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Everything I know now, one I was reluctant or fearful to do it, two I practiced and most likely sucked in the beginning. But 2 am in the bathroom with full face on so nobody seen me, hell looking back I looked ridiculous but in the moment I was killing it. I have learned to appreciate moments like that, the what I was thinking but also remembering in that moment that confidence or courage I had. You couldn’t tell me nothing haha. Over years the confidence in my work grew and the initial fear of starting something new you don’t know how you’ll do in, it’s really just that first step you have to get passed. So the most essential thing in anything you do, is don’t let fear stop you from being great.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Danika Osumi (Nikadoesskin), I am from West LA and as anyone from LA you know nobody does just one thing. I like to say I am a jack of all trades, I am an Esthetician at The Lab Arts District, Makeup artist, and assistant to artist Alfonso Garcia. Everything seems kind of different but for me everything connects perfectly, my passion started young practicing and surrounding myself with influences that I wanted my life to include. Starting off as a cashier at a makeup store to now doing freelance work and starting my own business, to simultaneously working for another artist in a whole other medium and learning how to run a business. I’ve put myself in surroundings with other creatives all with the hustle mindsets, all with the passion of doing what they love. And I believe that’s the formula, doing what you love and surrounding yourself with people that inspire you. I believe you can see and feel that in my work when you come in, we’re a family and you come in you are too! It’s not just the services it’s the vibes. I love skin from the barber shop all the way to the tattoo shop. If you know you know, if you don’t, come find out.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Don’t let fear drive you away from what you know is yours. You know, if you think you don’t, you do.
I spent years talking myself out of things I wanted to do.
I made an attempt when I was 18 to sign up for cosmetology school, I chickened out. My excuse “I wasn’t sure” *eyeroll* but I was and I talked myself out because I was scared and guess what years later I went right back to what I could have had done years prior. Once I started and got my license I’m like girl this could have been done. Trust your gut.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have always worked and in my “I’m not sure what I want to do phase” I convinced myself that this basic job I was in I could do forever and it’s what I wanted. Everyday I went home exhausted and would wake up and just do routine.I felt like a robot, I did like what I was doing and it wasn’t hard but looking back I would have never made it forever. It wasn’t fulfilling. I seen how everyone was kind of just stuck. The way things lined up for me gave me my out and suddenly other opportunities came and doors opened and lead me to where I’m doing what I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: Thelabartsdistrict.com/nika
• Instagram: Nikadoesskin , Nikaloowho

Image Credits
Shelby June @shelbyjunephotography Shelbyjunephoto.com @susanavestige @teletaco @cyeonara