Check Out Akina Shimizu’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Akina Shimizu.

Hi Akina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to LA a year and half ago with a long-standing 15 years career behind me as a celebrity & fashion hair and makeup artist in NYC and Tokyo. I was in NYC 2017-2021. In LA, for the past year I was 1st Assistant to Patrick Ta, (I met him through Instagram when I was in NYC! I was a huge his fan! and I became his NYC assistant.)

But since covid happened, Patrick couldn’t come to NYC often so after covid has calmed down, I visited to LA from NYC to assist Patrick 4-5 times! I paid flight ticket by myself because I knew he has an assistant in LA but I didn’t care me paying the flight ticket I just wanted to learn from Patrick and wanted to show that I’m serious by flying out on my own.

And then after I assisted Patrick 4-5 times in LA He told me if I can move to LA he can hire me as his 1st assistant so here I am!

If you move, your dreams will come true!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not a smooth when I first started out in this industry, for the first 4.5 years I was an assistant at a very famous Tokyo hair salon.

Most assistants couldn’t take breaks. We didn’t have time to take lunch. I remember some days I’d scarf down chocolate in the bathroom to hold me over. I was working and practicing around the clock. 15 hour days were normal for me(us). It was hard, but my skills and confidence come from overcoming these tough times!

Also, working in the USA as an immigrant is actually not that easy, I have so many things to do to keep my work visa so it has not been a smooth!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m more than 15 years of experience as a LA based hair makeup artist, Started my career when I was in Tokyo about 15 years ago, I used to work at one of the most popular hair salon in Tokyo, and after that I started working as hair makeup artist for fashion photo shoots and celebrities, etc. and then to gain more experiences I moved to NYC and working at a hair salon also I’ve done many NYC fashion week backstages. Now I started taking my clients in LA, prefer doing makeup for my clients. I love doing makeup for someone.

Also, I feel so lucky and special that I could work with Patrick Ta. He is the best makeup artist in the world and he taught me so many things. He is my mentor!

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe that good luck and hard work go hand in hand. I was very lucky to be able to move to NY, and I was very lucky when I met Patrick and moved to LA. I know I was able to seize those opportunities when they happened because I’ve put the work in. I believe in manifestation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnese_akina