Meet Nichole Servin | Hair and makeup artist

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

Hi Nichole, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
This is funny because I didn’t have a plan per se; more like I had a vision.  I was recovering from surgery and bedridden for about a month.  At that time, my mom bought me lots of fashion magazines, and at the time (late 90s), W magazine used to have images from runway shows on the last couple of pages.  I became obsessed with the makeup, and there was one show in particular that inspired me: Yohji
Yamamoto. It was all this gradated color on the foreheads some were triangles and squares with this beautiful diffusion of color.  My first thought was ‘I do this when I paint watercolors.” TThat was the first time I seriously considered makeup as a career because I had a clear vision. I imagined myself traveling the world, in a high-rise in NYC, looking down at the city’s lights and celebrating my successful career as a makeup artist. I had no experience and barely wore makeup, but the feeling I had was so intense that I couldn’t ignore it. I became obsessed with beauty and fashion and started practicing on my own. I shared my aspiration to become a makeup artist with everyone I met, which opened many doors for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One thing that sets me apart from other artists is that I never assisted anyone, so I had to figure out how to begin on my own. I thought beauty school would teach me makeup, but it didn’t. I went to esthetician school, which offered only an hour of color theory to prepare for the state board exam, but no makeup instruction. So, it was all up to me and my inspiration from beauty and editorial makeup.

I wasn’t aware of the typical protocol in the industry, where you assist someone, learn from the lead, and eventually become a lead yourself. Instead, I jumped right in and fibbed about my experience, claiming I had four years of experience when I had only practiced makeup on myself for four months. I had to figure everything out for myself, from how to apply makeup to developing my own creative skills. It was similar to how I taught myself to play the piano. I never learned to read music, but I could play by ear; I even played at weddings during high school and college. Creativity and art seem to be intrinsic to who I am.

What I’ve learned is to always remain authentic to myself and listen to my intuition. And let me tell you, my intuition was loud and clear back then. When I look back at that time, I see how driven I was by a vision I had. I realize now that I manifested it because I could see it, feel it, and knew it to be true. Whenever I question my life or what to do next, I remind myself of that time and trust that I know what I need to do. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way: be kind and grateful, be a mentor, learn about others roles it’ll only make you better at what you do, most importantly have fun, and remember that I am in service. This career is team-based, and I love that about the industry—it requires all of us to create art together.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What a great question! First off, I would book a room at The Chateau Marmont. Ideally, I’d choose a time when it’s a little warmer so we can enjoy the divine pool, along with their delicious and potent rose slushies.

Next, we could hike up to the Griffith Park Observatory. After that, we’d head down to Erewhon in Silver Lake to grab a smoothie, have lunch, and do some people-watching. Then, we could stroll down Sunset Junction, stop for coffee at Intelligentsia, and visit the farmers market.

Following that, I’d treat myself to a Thai massage at Thai Sabai—extra firm, please! I love this no-frills spot where the therapists really know how to contort your body, leaving you feeling relaxed and happy. Being in the beauty industry, I also enjoy facials, and there’s only one place I go: The Skin and Body Collective in Beverly Hills. Sonia Vargas and Leah Vigdhori are my go-to’s! I’d book a DMK enzyme facial with some microcurrent, O2, and red light therapy, all while Hanu, my little dog, lays in bed with me for the entire session.

These women are incredibly talented, knowledgeable, and quite beautiful! They’ve taught me so much about skin, gut health, and overall well-being—they’re the GOATs of skincare in my eyes.

Next, we’d take a scenic drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at Matador or Leo Carrillo for a walk on the beach. For dinner, we’d go to Saffy’s, which offers some of the best Mediterranean food and natural wine—another fantastic place for people-watching.

After dinner, we could head to Rhonda for a little dancing. It’s such a fun spot, and I love how people dress up. The atmosphere is outrageous yet genuine, and the music is always great. Finally, we’d return to The Chateau to hang out, chat, and watch the sun come up. That would be my ideal weekend with a friend in LA!

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?
Yes, there are quite a few people who have significantly influenced my journey. First and foremost, my parents. My mom was a huge support system and encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a makeup artist. My dad, while always supportive of my ambitions, was initially concerned about my decision. His concern actually kept me focused and determined to succeed. He was a civil and structural engineer—highly intelligent and pragmatic. When I told him that I wanted to drop out of college to go to beauty school, he wasn’t keen on the idea. He expressed a bit of disappointment, but I heard that loud and clear and knew I had to follow my path.

I was majoring in English literature and minoring in music and pre-med. School wasn’t for my parents; I chose that path because I thought it was what I “should” do. I learned early on that making decisions based on others’ expectations isn’t the best approach. I was somewhat of a nerd in school, so he was surprised that I wanted to take a different route. Funny enough, a few years later, he told me how proud he was of me. He wasn’t quite sure what I did but was impressed that I had a career, traveling around the world teaching makeup and working on campaigns.

It’s important to have people in our lives who love us but also challenge us, and I am grateful for my dad’s honesty. Next is my grandmother, who generously offered to pay for me to attend beauty school. Then there’s Rosellen, the woman who offered me a job at the beauty shop. She introduced me to a hairstylist who was part of an artistic team for a beauty brand and informed me about an artist audition. That opportunity is how I got my foot in the door.

Lastly, there’s my mentor, Howard McLaren. I met him in 2008 when I was scouted to be a model for a Bumble and bumble show. I went to the casting, not interested in modeling but rather wanting to do the makeup for the show. I brought my portfolio and shared my vision with the team. Howard asked to see my work, and thus began my relationship with him, Bumble and bumble, and my transition into doing hair, which he encouraged.

Website: https://www.3plusmgmt.com/nichole-servin/

Instagram: @thenicholeservin

Image Credits
Robert Ashcroft (2), Alex Prager (3 & 4), Press Photo of Kim Gordon for the Grammy’s(5), Ryan McGinley(6),, Ali Mitton(7), Amy Harrity(8)