Lina Leikam Is The Beauty Professional Elevating Looks Through Hair, Makeup and Skincare

Lina Leikam is a grooming & beauty professional that’s experienced in SFX makeup artistry with professional wig installation and facial hair attachments such as beards & mustaches.

Originally from Germany, Lina has made her way in the United States with a plethora of certifications and organization memberships within the beauty industry. It’s safe to say her work speaks for itself as it’s appeared in movies, TV shows, weddings, and editorials, even including working with The Fox Magazine.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lina and her courageous journey through beauty. Read below as she discusses her upbringing, starting her own company, working on set, beauty tips, and more!

Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany

What got you into hair & makeup?

That confident and happy look in the client’s eyes after getting their makeup done – That is my motivation and the reason why I want to work in this industry. If I can be the reason to improve someone’s appearance and boost their confidence for a speech or to jump into a certain character, it is a fulfilling job for me where I can see myself working for the rest of my life.

What was the inspiration for starting your own company?

I’ve worked at major beauty brands in Berlin and Munich for over 8 years. Every company had their own guidelines and philosophies to handle clients and I was an ambassador of the company’s vision. 

After servicing clients for many years and working with tons of different products, I felt that sticking to company guidelines was a dead end since clients were ultimately looking to feel better about themselves. The prescribed product portfolio and rigid processes simply did not support that enough and thus limited the customer experience.  

I’ve always wanted to recommend the PERFECT, tailored product routine for each individual client in order to give them the best outcome for their needs, but guidelines prevented me from using other brands’ products.  At the same time, I was a passionate salesperson and found creative solutions despite all limitations. I’ve pushed my beauty counter to be #1 sales in Germany and won several other sales challenges. “Work hard and over deliver” was and is always anchored in my soul. 

I had so much fire in me and unique ideas to improve services which all too often got struck down by my former bosses due to internal guidelines. I felt stuck and sometimes even had tears in my eyes in the middle of my shift. It was devastating to visualize how much better it could be but – particularly in Germany – everybody preferred to avert risks and avoided challenging the status quo to instead let guidelines rule over their lives.   I felt like I was in the wrong place and wondered why I was not feeling happy and fulfilled after receiving outstanding customer feedback (100%!) and overperforming for the companies I had worked for.  

I was constantly thinking about what the solution could be. One day I was planning a makeup in-store event for one of my favorite beauty brands. I placed the makeup chair right at the entrance of the store next to my makeup table and had my makeup powder in my hand. Every client who came into that store was stopped by me asking for a complimentary beauty touch up. I sold every single powder of that brand within 2 hours, meanwhile I was thinking: OMG what just happened? 

At that day some of these clients started inquiring about my services for their upcoming weddings or events and asked how they could hire my services. I told them: “I am working over there at the beauty counter and you can stop by every day for a touch up if you like!” and one client responded why I was working at a beauty counter at all: “Girl, you are meant for more!”. I just made her day,she said because she was feeling down before my little unexpected treatment changed her well-being. It felt great to lift somebody’s mood just because I decided to do so! 

I thought: THIS is what I want to do every day – all day! 

The idea of working as a self-employed makeup artist was born! Offering makeup services for my clients implementing EVERYTHING I learned and combining all the products for the perfect customer experience. Finally, I would be able to choose the beauty products which I find most beneficial for the client and situation. No more company decisions or guidelines! 

I felt so free about this idea and here I am working in beautiful Los Angeles as an independent on-location Hair and Makeup Artist for film & TV, celebrities, corporations and weddings since I moved to the USA four years ago. 

I cannot imagine to ever going back and working for someone else! 

What was one thing you did that exceeded your expectations when you began developing your business?

I didn’t expect people to be so supportive in the US. No matter where I lived, Ohio or California, when I told somebody that I was a makeup artist they immediately connected me with other industry professionals and it still blows me away how much work I got through these referrals and connections. 

Shout out to the brilliant Cleveland Film Commission in Ohio and the wonderful Ve Neil Legends Makeup School in Los Angeles who both do a fabulous job in developing and supporting talents in the film & TV industry! You guys rock! 

What does success mean to you? What are your rules for success?

Word of mouth is the way to go in the US when you want to stay busy with work and get re-booked by clients. Before I moved to the US I thought for an immigrant like me it would probably take 20 years before I get a big opportunity out there and that it would take 100 certificates to stand out, but it is something else that brings success and attracts clients: it is about how YOU are as a person and about your work ethic! 

The magic formula of making your dream become reality and getting booked in this industry is to be diligent, hard-working, respectful and passionate about the services you provide. Of course, it also pays to be a certified professional which builds trust and delivers reliable results (it comes back to work ethic: I had to re-do all my German certificates in Ohio and then again in California!). 

My first official client was for a corporate interview. She booked me right after that for her wedding and now for all her events she is attending. 

The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?

My inspiration for working in this industry are people who successfully deal with all the challenges that are thrown at them. There is nothing more inspiring to me than when I am doing an onsite makeup for an actor who had to go through hours and hours of shooting with little or no sleep pulling off stunts while still being patient and polite when sitting in my makeup chair; or a CEO of an international company who performs on such a professional level. I have so much respect for them since they are able to keep a company together while carrying all the responsibilities on their shoulders with the expectation to deliver. 

I simply admire hard-working people which stay grounded and professional. It’s an honor to provide my services to them. 

I’m sure there are a lot of great projects you’ve worked on. What’s been your favorite so far?

One of the most exciting jobs I have worked on was in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the movie “Alto Knights” directed by Barry Levinson and expected to be in the theatres later this year. It was my first major IATSE gig for a “Hollywood” movie, and it was in the middle of winter during December and January with freezing cold temperatures! 

The whole film crew was dressed in so many layers of jackets and hats to keep their bodies warm I didn’t always recognize who was actually standing next to me. When I was standing next to a pond and watching some geese meanwhile they set up for the next scene, all the sudden, the one and only Mister Robert De Niro stood right next to me, he was smiling at me. Even though it was so cold, he still had smile to offer for an “assistant hairstylist”. That was so inspiring! 

It looks so easy on screen, but the circumstances actors must go through are tremendous and to watch them performing on a high level is incredible!

Any tips for people in the hair and makeup industry?

I’ve learned that I am happier when I just try things out myself instead of just adopting others’ ideas. 

My tip to any hair and makeup artist is to keep your distance from nay-sayers and people who constantly complain. They suck all the good energy out of you! Connect to people who bring you forward, are like-minded and success driven.

“Nobody is perfect in everything so let’s support each other to become even better and better!”

Always go the extra mile and refer your peers – yes, it is a competitive market – but people remember who helped them out to make their projects a success. 

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I feel there have always been only two options for me in life: either work in the beauty industry or become an undercover agent. I know, I know, it is quite a bit different! There was this one time in my life where I got a little more serious about that and applied for the police academy, bought the academy books and started training for the police test but then destiny called with the opportunity to move to the US. 

When I reflected about what brings me true happiness, moving to the USA was an easy choice even if it took a few more years before I actually ended up in Hollywood! Since I am not a natural-born US citizen I can’t work for the real cool Intelligence Services anyway, and moreover, I enjoy a lively and fun workplace. So, I am happy with the route I’ve picked 😉 

What is your favorite or original beauty-related motto, quote, or words to live by?

I am a big believer in nature and self-consciousness. We are inextricably connected to nature and an inherent part of it. Concepts from Buddhism and the Aloha lifestyle offer me tools that I try to implement in my everyday life. It helps to keep my mind in balance and to be nice to each other – Om and Mahalo! 

---

Connect With Lina!