Meet Dzhuliia (julia) Melnik | FX and Beauty Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dzhuliia (julia) Melnik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dzhuliia (Julia), we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
“If you don’t take risks, you won’t reap the rewards.” From the very beginning of my career as a makeup artist, my strategy has always been built on taking risks. It’s not just about financial losses—though I’ll touch on that—but about the risk of failure. Why? My first risk was working as a makeup artist without any formal education. Yes, it happened that I started working first, and then decided to get an education. After I got my education, I began to take even more risks, and each time it felt like a game, testing how ready I was to step out of my comfort zone.

From the start, I agreed to work on the most challenging projects and with celebrities. Was it scary? Absolutely! But the pride I felt when I accomplished the task gave me satisfaction and made me crave that adrenaline rush even more. At 18, I started working as a makeup artist, and a week after finishing makeup school, I was already working on a TV project, doing makeup for stars. Another week later, I received an offer to showcase my signature technique in a two-page spread in a professional makeup artist magazine. At 23, I became the head of the makeup department for a feature film. And in 2016, I won a grant to study at a school I had wanted to attend for years. This too happened because I took a risk.

In 2013, I became fascinated with FX makeup, and since there were no schools or materials in Ukraine, I spent two years self-teaching via YouTube, investing heavily in my experiments and ordering materials from Los Angeles. That was when I experienced financial risk because it wasn’t clear if there was any demand for a specialist skilled in complex prosthetic makeup. There was no demand at the time, and when there was, they would invite experts from abroad. But I did it because I was very passionate about it and did it for my own pleasure, and of course, I wanted to prove that Ukrainian makeup artists are capable of creating complex makeup.

I still take risks by agreeing to work on projects that seem impossible to complete in a short amount of time. For example, creating three prosthetic makeup looks in 9 days for an ASAP Rocky music video—not everyone would want to take that on due to the risk of not finishing on time. Or doing makeup for Mike Tyson or Katheryn Winnick—some might be afraid of the responsibility, but for me, it’s a chance to climb one step higher

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can only say what people say about me and what sets me apart, as it’s difficult to assess myself. I know that I am hardworking and dedicated to my craft. I love making people beautiful, but I can also make them terrifyingly unrecognizable. I adore the reactions people have to my work. Sometimes it seems to me that praise is more important than a salary (laughs).
What sets me apart is my passion for what I do; I could work 24/7. Determination is another trait of mine. I will try to achieve my goal as many times as it takes to succeed. I won a grant for training on the second attempt, and a competition from another makeup school, I won probably on the fifth try (I even lost count of how many times I tried). It’s the same with my work; I strive to ensure the result is as envisioned. When I was self-taught in special effects makeup, I made many mistakes, but those mistakes taught me to think critically and handle similar situations better in the future. I give my students the opportunity to make mistakes so they can learn the lesson better and not panic in critical situations but find a way to fix things.
I can’t say my path was difficult, though even my parents think my work is very hard. I prefer to call it “interesting, not difficult.” Challenges help me grow; each complex project teaches me something. At 18, I was urgently sent to replace a makeup artist on a project, and it was stressful. I traveled to another city and was very scared of how it would go. I was also intimidated by the previous makeup artist, who said working with actresses was tough because they had strong personalities, but even that didn’t deter me. I completed the project, became friends with the actresses, and was proud of myself for managing it.
Throughout my career, I’ve often been sent to work with demanding stars, and it turned out that it wasn’t as terrifying as expected. I managed. When, at 23, I was offered to become the head of a department for a feature film that would be released nationwide, I was thrilled and eager to develop!
At one point, I realized I was ready to share my experience with those who wanted to be my students. I happily conducted both public and private masterclasses. Now, I’m in the process of creating my online course, which is also a challenge for me.
In short, my entire career has been full of challenges, but the most difficult one was when Russia started a war against my country. When missiles began hitting residential buildings across Ukraine, I had to move to Poland for safety. During the first months of the war, I was in a state of shock, but I started volunteering, helping Ukrainian soldiers with ammunition and equipment, as well as assisting animals in shelters and disabled children.
Afterward, I returned to Ukraine with the understanding that I needed to move forward. I needed to earn money and continue supporting the army. When I arrived in Los Angeles and received a work permit, strikes began. It was a challenging period for an immigrant who left a successful career in Ukraine to survive, only to face the difficulty of not being able to earn a living doing what I love. This situation was made even more challenging by the loss of my brother in the war and a breakup with my beloved partner.
It could be the basis for a script… I have truly been through a lot, and I am grateful for the people around me who support me

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 would give a tour of the ocean coastline, from Venice to Malibu. We could have tacos at El Barrio Neighborhood Tacos or perhaps sushi at Here Fishi Fishi. To relax and unwind, we could visit Kenneth Hahn Park. And to sit in a café and come up with creative ideas, we could go to Stories Book Cafe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I might be stating the obvious, but my family played a significant role in my development as a creative individual. My father instilled a love for creativity in me from a young age. We spent a lot of time drawing, sculpting, and making collages from whatever materials we had on hand. He often pointed out details to me and helped me develop my imagination. My mother encouraged my bravery—like going to the doctor—by promising me colored pencils or paints if I got a shot.

I was also inspired by my aunt, a talented hairstylist who constantly worked with celebrities on set. I always wanted to be like her and work on film shoots too. I fell in love with the process as a child when she would take me to work with her.

So I can say, thanks to my family, I found what I want to dedicate my life to. They gave me the freedom to choose my profession and supported my choice.

Website: https://www.fxmuartist.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fxmuartist?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dzhuliia-melnik-952a97260?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliamelnikmuafx?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@juliamelnik-fxmakeupartist2450?si=habCfWHhxbwAsVu5

Image Credits
Oksana Kulyk
Ksenia Tverdohlib
Darina Momot