The modern beauty industry demands not only impeccable technical skills from professionals, but also continuous development, years of hands-on experience, and the ability to create their own professional solutions. This experience becomes truly valuable when it is transformed into knowledge that can be shared with others. Daria Tomilin is a stylist and beauty industry expert who has worked at Paris Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival, and other international projects. Her years of experience working with different hair types became the foundation for creating her signature express styling technique, which combines speed, lasting results, and an individualized approach. Recently, Daria’s methodology was published in a scientific journal, and the next step will be its release in print on Amazon.
Daria, tell us how your journey began. When did you first realize that working with hair was much more than just a profession for you?
My journey began not as a career plan, but as a passion that very quickly turned into a life’s work. At just 16, I completed my first hairdressing course and began working professionally with hair, creating hairstyles for friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. At the same time, I studied at two higher education institutions and worked as a lawyer, but I always found myself returning to my creative profession. Over time, I realized that I felt the greatest satisfaction when I created looks and saw how a person could transform literally before my eyes. After moving to Israel, I consciously decided to pursue professional education once again in order to systematize my knowledge and work at the highest level. That was when I finally understood that working with hair was truly more than just a profession — it had become something I could no longer imagine my life without.
Your professional journey has included Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival — events associated with the highest standards. What did this experience give you as a stylist?
At the very beginning of my professional journey, I was fortunate to work at fashion shows and charity events in Israel. The fashion industry shapes trends, sets the direction for the development of beauty, and inspires professionals around the world. Working at Paris Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival only reinforced this feeling. Every detail matters there, and there is virtually no time to stop and think. These projects taught me to work extremely quickly, precisely, and responsibly, regardless of how challenging the task might be. After that experience, I became even more convinced that a true professional does not simply fulfill a client’s wishes, but creates a look that can become part of global beauty trends.
Recently, you took an important professional step — you systematized your signature express styling methodology for fashion shows and salon work and presented it in professional publications. What motivated you to systematize a methodology that you had already been using in your work?
One of those defining moments took place during a show at the Miami Institute of Marangoni. More than forty stylists were working with one hundred models under significant time constraints. I was assigned a model with Afro-textured hair that had been braided and needed to be transformed into a sleek hairstyle. The hair had been heavily set with gel, so using a flat iron would have been unsafe. I used a brush-straightening technique and completed the hairstyle in approximately twenty minutes. Afterward, my colleagues became interested in how I had managed to achieve the result. This experience confirmed the practical effectiveness of a methodology I had already been using in my professional work for several years. That was when I decided to systematize the knowledge and experience I had accumulated and describe my signature methodology in detail through professional publications.
What principles allow you to create a hairstyle quickly while maintaining quality, aesthetics, and a result that will last as long as necessary?
Since childhood, I have remembered the phrase, “Time is money.” But today, I am convinced that clients primarily pay for quality service and professionalism. Throughout all my years of work, I have analyzed every movement I make, eliminated unnecessary steps, and refined my speed without compromising quality. At the same time, I tested many different techniques to understand what actually determines the longevity of a hairstyle. As a result, three key principles emerged: properly cleansing the hair and scalp, drying the hair completely before creating the shape, and using the correct angle when directing airflow from a blow dryer or working with hot tools. These details most often determine whether a hairstyle will last for many hours. For me, speed has never meant rushing. It is the result of extensive experience, discipline, and precision.
Fashion shows and salon work may seem like two completely different professional environments. What principles from the fashion industry can be successfully transferred to salon practice?
In reality, these two worlds have much more in common than it may seem. Whether on a runway or in a salon, a person needs to feel that they are in the hands of a reliable professional. It is very important to ease the client’s or model’s anxiety from the very beginning, explain what you are doing, and give them confidence in the result. The fashion industry taught me to work quickly, maintain concentration, and find solutions even in the most challenging situations. I use these skills every day in my salon practice. Whether it is an international fashion show or preparing someone for a wedding or corporate event, the ultimate goal is the same — to create a harmonious look in which a person feels beautiful and confident.
The next step is the release of your work in print on Amazon. Who do you see as the audience for this publication? Is it primarily a book for professional stylists who want to improve their work, or can your experience and methodology be useful to a much broader audience within the beauty industry?
I really want this book to be useful to as wide an audience as possible. Of course, first and foremost, it will be a valuable tool for professional stylists and those who are just beginning their careers. But I am also confident that people who simply want to learn how to properly care for their hair and create long-lasting hairstyles at home will find plenty of useful information in it. Today, many people purchase modern styling tools, such as Dyson, but become disappointed because they do not achieve the results they expected. In reality, the issue is not the technology itself, but proper hair preparation and an understanding of the fundamental principles of styling. These are the very skills and insights I want to share with my readers in a simple and accessible way.
Daria, looking back at your entire journey, what has helped you keep growing during the moments when the next level seemed difficult or out of reach?
I always say one simple thing: I love what I do, and I do what I love. That love for my profession has helped me get through every difficult stage. When the next peak seems too high, you should not stop — you should simply keep moving forward, even if only little by little. Small steps will always lead to significant results over time. And if you really have no idea what to do next, then, as I like to joke, you can at least lie down in the direction of your dream. The most important thing is not to lose faith in yourself or give up. Persistence and genuine passion for what you do will always open new opportunities.
You have already gone from practical experience to creating and officially publishing your own methodology. What level of professional growth do you see as your next goal?
I truly have many plans, and all of them are connected with the development of education in the beauty industry. One of my biggest dreams is to create a large-scale international school where professionals from different countries can gain modern, practical knowledge. I firmly believe that knowledge should not remain with just one person — it needs to be shared. Perhaps someone’s experience can help another professional fulfill their own dream or build a successful career. I love seeing people grow professionally, start earning more, open their own studios, and transform their lives. The greatest scale I envision for myself is not simply my own development, but the opportunity to help as many people as possible realize their potential.
