Meet Yana Apolinova | Eyelash extension technician and educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yana Apolinova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yana, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Never don’t be afraid of anything or anyone. Do what you love, not what society imposes on you. Many of my students are so afraid of starting work, excusing themselves by the fact that there are already a lot of technicians in our industry. What if I don’t find clients, what if I can’t? I get a bunch of similar questions, I have one answer for all of them – if you love and fizz with doing what you love sincerely, if you put all your heart into it, you have nothing to be afraid of! Just work hard, develop, do what you have to do and success will not keep you waiting, everything comes true if you want it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been interested in the beauty industry since childhood, when I was a little girl I used to ask my mother and grandmothers to be my models, I did makeup, hairstyles and manicure for them. And I really liked that, I always knew that when I grew up I would work in this field, but at that moment I didn’t know in which way exactly. I started eyelash extension in 2007 when I was 15 years old and I was so exited by it, but my Mom insisted I should graduate and find a job with higher education. I graduated from my university and received two degrees, then I even got a job in the office, but I was very depressed by this work, and it put me into a state of depression. I felt locked within the framework and realized that my ambitions were getting lost. I wanted something else, I wanted to have my own business, not to have bosses, dress code and I wanted to have a job that would be “my thing”, where I could bring joy to people, where I could show my talent. So I left the office and continued to work with eyelashes, my mother supported me.

When I started to do eyelashes quite well, I realized that it was not enough for me, I felt the urge to share these skills and help other professionals to develop in this area. When you constantly work only with clients, you can burn out emotionally and eventually quit this business. I do love my job, but working only with clients I’ve realized that I began to get tired faster, the work became monotonous, unchanging and I’ve realized that I had to change something. Then I’ve decided to teach and it was a breath of fresh air, because the students are so different and each of them is individual, and each of my teaching process is always an emotional uplift and I’m absolutely happy that I can help and be useful

I started my business working in a small room in which I used to live, but I felt uncomfortable and wanted more. I invested in my training and education, the quality of my work improved, step by step I reached the point at which I understood that I can work in a spacious studio with a beautiful brand new design. But even now I don’t feel completely comfortable! Just at some moment I’ve realized that if you to want to develop, you should feel a bit uncomfortable, for sure, you should like what you are doing and you should enjoy it, but as soon as you feel absolutely comfortable in your sphere, you relax and you stop moving on, you get into the comfort zone which is difficult to get out from. It is cozy and warm there, but there is no development. Get into the habit of always controlling and monitoring this part of your work, and you will get and achieve more.

We are constantly being told that we have to get higher education and find a “normal” job! What does normal work mean? Sitting in the office and getting paid by the hour? Ok. Someone dreams about it and if so, then he or she must follow his/her heart! For me, a normal job is the one that brings you a feeling of happiness, no matter what kind of activity it is, just do what your heart wants. If I had not spent part of my time working in the office, but would have continued to do my job, possibly I would have developed even more in this field, but everything is good in its season, and the main point is that I understood this in time and snatched the opportunity of all my life because of the attitudes imposed by society.

At first I was inspired by the success of other people, I always thought that if they can, then I can too. And gradually, with the development of my business, I’ve started to feel inspired by myself, when I see joy in the eyes of my clients or when my students make progress in their work thanks to me, it brings me so much energy that I want to do even more, work hard and improve my skills, improve my trainings

If you want to be successful and to be recognized in any field, you have to work hard, develop, constantly learn and open something new, even now being a teacher and the author of my own techniques, I continue to learn from my colleagues, while it could seem that I know everything about eyelash extensions. I attend webinars, various trainings. It helps me to improve my knowledge, and improve the quality of my trainings, it is important for me to know that I give my students truly unique knowledge, and provide my clients with unique quality of services.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am obsessed about New York City! So I definitely would recommend to go there. I used to live in New York for 6 years and you never alone there. There are a lot of spots and places to see. All around is the scenes from our favorite movies. So you just can walk around the city and enjoy thew views. You will find restaurant with any cuisine you can imagine. I totally would recommend to go to Buddakan restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
At first I was inspired by the success of other people, I always thought that if they can, then I can too. And gradually, with the development of my business, I’ve started to feel inspired by myself, when I see joy in the eyes of my clients or when my students make progress in their work thanks to me, it brings me so much energy that I want to do even more, work hard and improve my skills, improve my trainingsI am incredibly grateful to my mother, who always supports me and who once signed me up for the first courses on eyelash extension in my life, if not for her, I would never have been where I am now. And I am also very grateful to my husband who is always there. Without his support it would be much more difficult for me to develop.

Website: yanaapolinova.com

Instagram: yana_apolinova_lashes