Conversations with Daria Kruchinina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daria Kruchinina.

Hi Daria, 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 was born and raised in Krasnodar, Russia. At the age of 18, I asked my parents to pay for my education at a makeup school. At the same time, I studied at the university gaining a degree in social work and interpreting. I joined the beauty industry due to a funny and sad incident. Prior to New Year’s Eve, I had a beauty appointment where they not only forgot about my scheduled service but also made my brows very thin, tinted them black and trimmed. I stood in front of the mirror, crying as I looked at my eyebrows, and decided to learn how to do them myself. It took me 10 months to regrow my natural brows and at the age of 20, I took my first eyebrow course in my hometown.

After successfully completing a couple of courses in 2012, I started my practice in Krasnodar. Over time I built a regular client base who recommended me to their friends, and they also came to me. I was also invited to be the official makeup and brows artist for the football club “Krasnodar.” It was a bit challenging, as some of the football players were skeptical about light makeup and brows care for photo shoots. As a result, I searched for new approaches and intuitively developed my own “Signature Brows Shape” technique – a method of achieving natural, airy, wide, and voluminous eyebrows without the use of scissors or tinting. At that time, we only had three colors for tint (light brown, dark brown, and black) and three main techniques – threading, tweezing, and waxing. However, I found that most clients didn’t need to tint their brows or trim them with scissors or razors. The more you trim, the thicker and curlier the hair becomes, creating a never-ending cycle.

Additionally, traditional methods involve specialists applying paint and henna to make hair and eyebrows look darker. My technique, on the other hand, uses long tweezers to remove the extra hair closer to the nose bridge area, making it look naturally lighter, instead of tinting the “tail” of the brows or bleaching. This method creates even, wide, and natural-looking brows improve hair growth, and creates a lifting effect for hooded eyes, making clients look younger. It is suitable for those with thin, uneven, and trimmed brows. I was fully booked with clients in Russia and continued to attend various advanced courses and professional competitions in Moscow, Yerevan, Dubai, London, and New York.

My American Dream began in 2018 with the IMATS competition that took place in NYC. I won it and met Michael Fontaine, one of the top special effects makeup artists in the field, an Emmy award-winning artist, who advised me to move to the US. Since then, I have been on the most amazing adventure of my life, which continues to this day.
My technique is recognized by renowned experts in the makeup industry. The “Signature Brows Shape” technique helped me work with famous makeup artists and A-list celebrities, including Jared Leto, Natalia Vodianova, Maria Gutic, Valentina Beli, and Valeria Dergileva, makeup designer Kazuh Hiro – Academy Awards for Best Makeup and Hairstyle for “Darkest Hour”, and Michael Fontaine.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my career path required a lot of sacrifices and hard work to reach the stars. However, the struggles I faced have taught me valuable lessons and opened many interesting opportunities for me. For example, when I moved to New York, I faced physical, mental and financial pressures. I knew only one person in NYC and he was not related to my industry. I had to find an apartment and encountered financial challenges that I was not prepared for.

Additionally, as a non-native speaker, I struggled with my English language skills. Before moving, I thought my English was perfect, but when I arrived in NYC, I felt like I didn’t know the language at all. The British English I had learned from textbooks was not the same as the English spoken on the streets of New York. I had to adapt to the cultural differences, such as understanding that when someone asks “How are you?,” in the US, it is a casual greeting and small talk rather than a genuine inquiry.

Despite these challenges, I have grown accustomed to the fast-paced lifestyle in New York. The most important thing is to excel in your job. I love what I do and that has helped me acquire new clients and build useful business connections in the city. Of course, I miss my family and friends, but I have been able to build a new community of friends through my work. New York is a place where soft skills are crucial. When I connect with clients, we often become friends and hang out outside of work.

In the beauty industry, soft skills are essential. It’s not only about being punctual or polite but also about being an interesting person who is open to learning new things, truly loves their job and uses a personal touch with each client. This helps clients relax and enjoy the beauty process, making them want to return. A brow artist should also be able to inspire others and handle unexpected situations, such as when something goes wrong on set or a client is unhappy. My goal is to build a long-term relationship with each client by understanding their needs and providing the best service possible.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
​​I am a New York-based celebrity makeup and brow artist, licensed by MUA. With 11 years of experience in the industry, I have worked with over 30,000 clients, helping them achieve their best natural look and restoring their confidence. My editorial work has been featured in publications such as Tatler Russia, Vogue UK, Vogue China, Vogue Russia, Harper’s Bazaar Russia, L’Officiel Lithuania, L’Officiel Baltics, L’Officiel Kazakhstan, Nylon Spain, Rose & Ivy, and Top Beauty. In addition, I am the founder of KRUCHININA beauty studio in New York, which serves an international clientele, and the creator of my own “Signature Brows Shape” technique.

There are several projects that I am particularly proud of. One of these is my work with Jared Leto during the filming of the TV series “We Crushed”. I was asked to use my skills as a natural brow artist as part of the Hair and Makeup Department. This was a new experience for me, as it was different from the fashion sets I had worked on before. I was tasked with transforming Jared Leto’s eyebrows to make them look like the natural brows of Adam Neumann. After creating a step-by-step presentation of how it would look using my “Signature Brows Shape” technique, I had a meeting with the team: Jared Leto, makeup artists Kazu Hiro and Mike Fontaine. We discussed responsibilities and potential risks. In two weeks, I was confirmed as the first natural brows artist on set, responsible for Lamination, “Signature Brows Shape” technique, and lash tint work. One of my responsibilities was also to provide post-care instructions and tools, such as eyebrow ointments and tinted gels, for Jared Leto and the Hair and Makeup Department, so that his eyebrows stayed in perfect condition during the three-month period of TV series shooting in New York. This project was a valuable and interesting experience for me. Jared Leto and the team of “We Crushed” are amazing, impeccable, and very professional. I had a great responsibility, as the image of Adam Newman depended on my work.

Another project I am proud of is my work with Natalia Vodianova during the “amfAR” project, “Sleep No More”. I was invited by the main makeup artist to this event, where I did makeup for key guests of the show who participated in the immersive theater with Natalia. One of the most notable personalities I worked with during this show was Valeria Dergileva.

What makes you happy?
This is an interesting question to ponder. After giving it some thought over the past year, I have come to realize that there are a few things that can instantly lift my mood, especially on days when things aren’t going well. For example, a delicious cup of coffee, a chat with a friend, petting dogs, or catching a glimpse of the beautiful Manhattan skyline can all make me feel better. When it comes to true happiness, however, I believe that it comes from experiences. Activities such as paddle boarding in the ocean, traveling to new and breathtaking places, working to end ocean captivity, collaborating with A-list celebrities, helping others become the best version of themselves, teaching students, and sharing my professional knowledge all give me a sense of purpose and happiness. At the end of the day, I try to focus on being grateful for what I have and creating a list of things that made the day good. This helps me to appreciate the present and find joy in everyday life.

Pricing:

• Signature Brows Shape from $70

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kruchinina.com/schedule
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kruchinina.pro/