Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Lina Leikam

We recently had the chance to connect with Lina Leikam and have shared our conversation below.

Lina, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now as we approach the winter season, my days start with a simple ritual: a black coffee with a touch of cinnamon. It’s my quiet moment before diving into emails to check for important inquiries or upcoming projects. To invite focus and harmony into the morning I light an incense stick—it helps me feel calm, centered, and ready to take on the day.

From there, my schedule can vary. Some days I’m on set very early doing hair and makeup, other days I’m working on my brand, LĪNA, or connecting with clients and collaborators. Los Angeles keeps me busy, but those small morning rituals give me balance and energy to move through the day with focus.”

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a professional hair and makeup artist with over 13 years of international experience, blending European sophistication with Hollywood artistry. After training under renowned artists in Berlin and Los Angeles, I built a career that spans from transformative SFX makeup character design to clean, everyday beauty and grooming for various clients..

Another life long wish came true after moving from Germany to the USA – I founded LĪNA, a clean beauty and skincare brand born from my passion for sustainability, simplicity, and that’s just the start. What my brand LĪNA makes unique is its focus on multi-use, minimalist formulations that honor both our precious skin and the planet. For me, beauty is not just about appearance—it’s about balance, a healthy lifestyle, and the energy we carry into the world.

Right now, I’m working on expanding LĪNA’s reach through collaborations with local Makeup Artists, and partnerships with local spas and stores. My vision is to build a community around clean beauty, where artistry and wellness meet a healthy, conscious lifestyle.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was anxious and unsure of myself. I didn’t feel special, and I lacked confidence. I let others convince me they were smarter, better, more deserving, so I stayed quiet and tried to fit into the mass instead of speaking up. But that version of me was only the beginning. Over time, I learned that my uniqueness is my strength, and that my voice, my artistry, and my vision deserve space. What once felt like insecurity has become the foundation for resilience and authenticity.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
After failing hard, I changed my mind about needing to please others or follow their opinions that never led to the outcome that I actually needed or wanted. This experience taught me to finally find myself—with no hesitation, no doubt, and unapologetically. Now I go in the direction that makes me feel good in my own skin, no matter what anyone says could go wrong. Of course, I listen to concerns but I do not let these concerns interrupt my approach to go forward. I’ve realized that listening to voices of fear often comes from people who are unhappy in their own lives (I always have a detailed look into their personal happiness, balance and success in life before I take criticism), and I refuse to let that energy define mine. I have to make my own experiences in order to build my own unique future.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is authenticity. In a world that often pushes conformity or perfection, I believe in honoring individuality, honesty, and the courage to show up as yourself (with the good and the bad).

Whether it’s through my artistry or my brand, I safeguard the idea that true beauty and connection come from being in balance with yourself, not from fitting into someone else’s mold. Protecting authenticity means protecting your peace, unique talents, and the ability to live in alignment with your own values.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Both.

Growing up with three brothers and limited financial resources taught me to have a stable job is important to achieve a good standard life. Because we didn’t have much, I always had to be creative and see the value in what we had. At 18, I worked full-time as a barber/Cosmetologist in Germany, which gave me stability but left me longing for more freedom and adventure. I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life behind a salon chair, so I tried to make the best out of what was available to me and, asked friends for money which I can use to expanded my skills in hair and makeup, moved from Berlin to Munich where the economy is in general stronger and of course to explore opportunities. At age 25 I realized Germany wasn’t a hub for Beauty or film, the German guideline based culture makes it not a dream place for a creative soul who wants to reach higher levels in the industry. I always had an eye on the USA and was fascinated by the quality of American movies, successful beauty brands, the general entertainment industry and its unique personalities – bold in their Artistry! My dream of a vibrant life in Los Angeles first began to take shape in my mind…

My second job instinct was more serious: I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior and the drama of life (don’t we all have some in life..?). I once dreamed of working in crime psychology or even undercover to make the world better around me and for others, but those ideas were quickly dismissed by opinions of people around me as too risky…

Still, I love everything about the topic of crime psychology exploring why people make decisions—consciously or unconsciously and their behavior—I simply find joy in learning about human behavior but I’ve made the decision to keep working as a Hair & Makeup Artist / Founder. For now 🙂

My conclusion: I’ve found by not working in a secure job environment (like I did in Germany), it may be risky financially but if you make the right decisions from the beginning, who do you surround yourself with, how to reach your goals, what’s your lifestyle etc., you can absolutely work the dream job you always were meant to be. I get up in the morning and love the independent life I choose in the US. I get to create, explore, and live in alignment with myself—something no conventional or ‘serious’ path could have probably ever offered in Germany.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://naturewithlina.com/pages/book-me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onsitehmua/
• Linkedin: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/linaleikam&ved=2ahUKEwiW6PW8uJ2RAxXJle4BHdCSNUwQFnoECE0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3ySYVxRTx_Xm0bBBBkPSul
• Other: https://naturewithlina.com