What makes someone memorable in the beauty industry is rarely just talent. Plenty of people are talented. What stays with you is energy, professionalism, presence, and the way someone makes you feel. This is what defines Shindesu, one of Dubai’s most respected makeup artists and hairstylists. Beyond the polished work and an impressive portfolio, there is a calm, sincere approach to beauty, shaped by emotional intelligence and experience. We step into the world behind the makeup brush and hair chair — where pressure, intuition, and human connection shape the work more than trends ever do.
1. What first drew you to makeup & hair artistry, and how did Dubai’s energy expand the roots you carry from Malaysia?
Shindesu: Makeup and hair artistry first drew me in because I’ve always been fascinated by transformation, not only changing how someone looks, but how they feel. Growing up in Malaysia, I was surrounded by different cultures, colours, traditions, and beauty ideals, which gave me a deep appreciation for individuality. Moving to Dubai expanded my vision even more. The city is international, fast-moving, and full of creativity.
Working here has allowed me to meet people from many different backgrounds and understand beauty through a much wider lens. It helped me grow as an artist, become more adaptable, and bring my own perspective into a global environment.
2. You’ve worked with so many big names internationally (Dior, Bobbi Brown, MAC, L’OREAL, Swarovski, L’Officiel, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue). How do you adapt your approach when creating looks for different clients, cultures, or events?
Shindesu: I always believe every client, culture, and event has its own identity, so I never approach every look in the same way. I first try to understand the brief, the person, the outfit, the lighting, and the purpose of the event or shoot. Working internationally has taught me to be very adaptable. Some clients prefer a very polished and glamorous look, while others may want something more natural, modern, or culturally respectful. My role is to balance my professional eye with the client’s personality and the story we want to create.
For me, the best result is when the makeup and hair enhance the person without overpowering them. It should feel beautiful, appropriate, and confident for that specific moment.
3. How would you describe your signature style in makeup, and how has it evolved over the years?
I would describe my signature style as polished, refined, and timeless, with a strong focus on enhancing natural beauty. I like skin to look beautiful and fresh, and I always pay attention to balance, details, and how the whole look comes together.
Over the years, my style has become more mature and effortless. Earlier in my career, I explored many different trends and techniques, but with experience, I’ve learned that the most powerful looks are not always the heaviest ones. Now, I focus more on creating beauty that feels elegant, confident, and true to the person.
4. Over your career, what challenges or obstacles have taught you the most, and how did they shape you as an artist and person? We worked so well together, and I remember you for being so calm and professional, with great energy.
Over my career, the biggest challenges have often come from high-pressure situations, tight timings, last-minute changes, different personalities, and the need to deliver the best result no matter what is happening around me.
These experiences taught me patience, discipline, and how important it is to stay calm and professional. In this industry, talent is important, but attitude, energy, and the way you handle pressure are just as important. I’ve learned that being calm helps everyone around me feel more comfortable, especially clients and teams. It shaped me not only as an artist, but also as a person, more grounded, understanding, and focused on finding solutions instead of reacting to problems.
5. Makeup and hair can transform appearances, but also confidence. How do you use your artistry to help clients feel empowered and express themselves?
For me, makeup and hair are not only about making someone look beautiful, they are also about helping them feel seen, confident, and comfortable in themselves. I always try to understand the person in front of me: their personality, their comfort level, and how they want to feel. Some clients want to feel powerful and glamorous, while others want to feel soft, natural, or simply like the best version of themselves.
My goal is to enhance their beauty without changing who they are. When someone looks in the mirror and feels confident, relaxed, and happy, that is the most meaningful part of my work.
6. Can you walk us through your creative process when creating a look — from concept to finished result? Where do you find inspiration? What makes a project or client especially inspiring?
My creative process always starts with understanding the concept, the client, and the purpose of the look. I look at the mood board, outfit, lighting, location, and overall direction before deciding what kind of makeup and hair will work best. From there, I think about balance, how the skin, eyes, lips, hair, styling, and personality all come together. I don’t believe in forcing a look onto someone; I prefer to create something that enhances them and fits the story.
I find inspiration everywhere: fashion, art, culture, photography, films, nature, and also from the person sitting in front of me. A project becomes especially inspiring when there is trust, good energy, and creative freedom. When the client or team is open to collaboration, the final result always feels more powerful and authentic.
7. Has makeup & hair artistry ever acted as a form of healing for you, not in a therapeutic sense, but as a way of processing experiences that words could not hold?
Yes, in many ways, makeup and hair artistry have been a form of healing for me. Not in a therapeutic sense, but as a way to express emotions, experiences, and parts of myself that I may not always be able to put into words. When I create, I can turn feelings into beauty, shape, colour, and energy. Sometimes the process of working with my hands, focusing on details, and creating something beautiful brings a sense of peace and clarity.
Artistry has given me a space to process life quietly. It reminds me that even difficult experiences can become part of something meaningful, creative, and beautiful.
8. What do you often discover about a person while working on their face and hair? Do you feel someone’s inner world becomes visible through the beauty process?
When I work on someone’s face and hair, I often discover their personality, their confidence, their softness, and sometimes even their insecurities. Beauty work is very personal because someone is allowing you to be close to them and to see them in a very honest way. I do feel that a person’s inner world can become visible through the beauty process. The way they react, the way they look at themselves in the mirror, and the way they slowly relax can say a lot.
For me, it’s not only about creating a beautiful look. It’s also about creating a safe and comfortable space where the person can feel understood, respected, and confident in their own beauty.
9. What’s the most inspiring piece of art for you?
For me, the most inspiring piece of art is not only one specific painting or object, it is the human face itself. Every face carries a different story, emotion, character, and beauty. As a makeup and hair artist, I find inspiration in real people: their features, their energy, their expressions, and the way beauty changes from person to person. The human face is like a living canvas. It is always different, always personal, and always full of possibilities. That is what continues to inspire me after so many years in this industry.
SHINDESU
10. Looking ahead, what’s next for Shindesu? And what advice would you give aspiring makeup artists?
Shindesu: Looking ahead, I would like to continue working with clients and people who value me, trust me, and respect my artistry, while staying true to my style and values. I am simple, friendly, and without ego, happy to work with anyone who appreciates me and my work. I hope to work on more meaningful projects, collaborate with inspiring people, and keep creating beauty that feels timeless, confident, and personal.
My advice to aspiring makeup artists is to stay humble, keep learning, and never underestimate the importance of professionalism. Talent is important, but attitude, discipline, patience, and good energy will take you very far. Also, don’t just follow trends, learn the basics, understand faces, respect every client, and develop your own eye. Your signature style will come naturally with time, experience, and consistency.
Florenta: What a great pleasure connecting again for this interview, and thank you for the inspiration.
