Meet Cat Sherwin | Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Groomer

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

Hi Cat, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
One thing I’ve learned is that growth and risk are inseparable. Every major chapter of my life and career began with a leap of faith.
I left a successful corporate career in the UK to completely reinvent myself in Australia and retrain in the beauty industry from scratch. That meant stepping into the unknown, reaching out to people I didn’t know, building new connections, and trusting my instincts even when nothing felt guaranteed.
Later, I took another huge leap by moving to the USA and starting over again as a makeup and hair artist in one of the most competitive creative industries in the world. That required resilience, courage, and a willingness to hear “no” without giving up.
Even now, risk plays a role in my career every day – whether that’s reaching out to new collaborators, saying yes to opportunities outside my comfort zone, or trusting myself before I feel fully “ready.”
I think some of the biggest breakthroughs in life happen when you move before you have all the certainty.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart most is probably the energy I bring to people as much as the artistry itself.
I’m a Makeup Artist, Hair Artist, Groomer, and also a Reiki Master, and I believe beauty is something people feel, not just something they see. Creating a calm, grounded, uplifting experience for clients is incredibly important to me. A client told me recently that I have a gift for making people feel special, and honestly, that meant as much to me as any career achievement.
Professionally, my journey has been built through a lot of hard work, risk-taking, long hours, and saying “yes” to opportunities – often at the last minute and with very little sleep. It definitely hasn’t been easy, but I think challenges build resilience, adaptability, and character.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is not to stand in your own way. So many talented people hold themselves back because of self-doubt, while others succeed simply because they had the confidence to go for it. I’ve learned that courage is often more powerful than perfection.
What I want the world to know about my brand and story is that I believe in authentic, elevated beauty – beauty that feels luxurious, but still deeply human. My work is about enhancing people, not masking them. I want people to feel radiant, confident, seen, and connected to themselves when they sit in my chair.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting LA for a week, I’d want them to experience both the glamour and the magic of the city.
We’d start slowly with amazing local coffee spots, morning walks, and beach sunsets before diving into some iconic LA experiences. A dinner at Nobu Malibu is always special – the ocean views are incredible and it really captures that dreamy California energy.
I’d definitely do rooftop bars in West Hollywood or Downtown LA because the city lights at night are such a vibe. We’d hike Runyon Canyon Park for the Hollywood views, spend time around Santa Monica, and maybe do a scenic drive up the coast.
A day trip to Santa Barbara for wine tasting would also be on the list – it’s beautiful, relaxed, and feels like a mini escape from LA. And honestly, no LA experience is complete without at least one stop at Erewhon just for the full wellness-meets-Hollywood experience.
What I love most about LA is that it’s a city full of dreamers, creatives, reinvention, and possibility. There’s always an interesting person to meet, an inspiring conversation to have, or a beautiful hidden place to discover.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many things and people have inspired me creatively along the way.
As a child, Star Wars completely captured my imagination – the fantasy worlds, characters, makeup effects, and storytelling made me fall in love with transformation and cinematic beauty.
I also remember reading a magazine article years ago about a woman who completely changed careers to become a makeup artist. At the time, that story gave me permission to believe I could reinvent my own life too.
Books also played a huge role in shaping my mindset. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers had a massive impact on me because it taught me that courage doesn’t mean not being afraid – it means moving forward anyway. Around the same time, I was also inspired by Richard Branson’s Losing My Virginity and the idea of taking bold risks and creating your own path.

Website: https://www.catsherwin.com

Instagram: @catsherwin

Linkedin: catsherwin

Image Credits
Black and White profile picture Monica Orozco