Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuichi Ishida.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Yuichi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Wakayama, Japan as the only son with two older sisters. It was through my sister I learned my love of hair. In Japan – the schools are very strict with hairstyles and lengths and I would always watch my sisters do their hair. Over the years, I perfected the styles, and it eventually led me to beauty school. After graduating with a license in cosmetology, I worked over ten years in different salons. I eventually got the opportunity to work in Hawaii after a year, I then decided to move to LA.
While working in a salon in LA, I was lucky enough to get some amazing makeup artists and models to be my clients. As my relationships developed with them, I started working with them – as well as with some of the most beautiful faces in the industry. After that, I decided to follow my dreams and freelance, and to be honest I still don’t know how I got where I am today….but if there is anything I may recommend, it would be always be humble and always work hard. Talent is one thing, but having a professional work ethic and being forever grateful is what really gets you far.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
For me, my biggest insecurity is my English. English is not my first language and for a while, I use to be afraid to speak, and it really held me back. I would be afraid to input my ideas or give my perspective cause frankly I didn’t know how to say what I wanted to say. I am a self-taught English speaker (the tv show FRIENDS in Japan was really popular) and that was how I learned my English.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Well, I am the owner – and so far the only employee as a freelance hair artist. I would say I specialize in everything. As a hairstylist to me, it is important to know each and every hair texture, style, color and cut to make your job possible. For me, I would say just being able to stay booked would be what makes me proud, having the ability to work for myself and choose the type of jobs I want to be apart of.
My talent for one, but also, I would say my personality. I have the ability to be present, but also to be quiet – what people don’t realize that as a hairstylist, we are also therapist…but there are times where it’s better if we keep quiet- especially if you are working with a client, who just finished working a 12-hour shoot.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would travel and live abroad to learn different trends and styles to better help me be a trend setter with my hairstyles. To get more inspiration and help curate my creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hairbyyuichi.com
- Email: hairbyyuichi@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hairbyyuichi
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