In her classy black pants, black earrings and black blouse Lanna Kamilina is looking very French. She has so much style and elegance that you wish you could borrow some from her. Besides, she has a fantastic knack for managing time and people, turning everything and everyone around her into an ideal picture of success, harmony and wellness. In fact, she has the ability to change moods.
As I walked into her eponymous beauty salon Lanna Kamilina, I was impressed by the quality of the atmosphere. It was an aura of creativity mixed with a touch of great care and professionalism. Without a doubt, the joyousness of Kamilina’s character, the generosity of her soul, and the warmth of her spirit make part of that special atmosphere.
"I think that the hardest thing is to find your place in the world," Kamilina said. Strange as it might seem, her childhood dream was to become either a queen, a princess or an actress. She’s always had big dreams and somehow she’s managed to make most of them come true.
After she finished school, she took hairdressing courses. A talented student, Kamilina participated in numerous professional contests and finally won the championship of Russia. Later she was offered a managerial position at the Jacques Dessange salons in France. When Kamilina returned to Moscow, she opened her own salon and now her name is a well-known brand.
Her clients are famous designers, journalists, actors and TV hosts, all of whom come to visit Kamilina in search of perfection and beauty. Kamilina, herself, expresses magnetic beauty too. And this is the kind of beauty that comes from inside. "What makes a person beautiful," Kamilina explains, "is what makes him or her human."
Kamilina’s philosophy is to enjoy life, shaping and reshaping her character all the time. According to her, the worst thing to do is nothing at all. We often find ourselves standing in front of the mirror, thinking about the number of problems we have with our hair, skin and makeup. Kamilina’s salons, one of which is next to the Tretyakov Gallery, and the other at the Moscow Golf Club on Dovghenko Ul., offer a completely new approach to problem solving. Kamilina’s stylists, colorists, manicurists, coiffure specialists and beauty experts will take care of you like no one else before. She gave us so much information that we’ve decided to use Kamilina’s advice in two different installments, so look out for more style tips in the next issue.

What’s the best way to change your image for autumn?
Nowadays women are in for makeovers not only in spring, but in autumn, as well. A new haircut is a perfect means of changing your mood for the better. But I personally recommend changing the color of your hair, and a good colorist can help emphasize your hair’s beauty. By the way, I like it when men dye their hair, just as I like it when women dye theirs.

Do you really like dyed hair on men?
I like it when men can dye their hair or do without dying it. I regard it as their freedom of choice. I definitely dislike men who are afraid of dying their hair. It’s tunnel vision. I have clients who want to change their image, but think of other people’s opinions too much. It takes time to convince them to trust our professional taste and follow our recommendations. The perfectly chosen color of one’s hair can accentuate the eyes, skin and other features.
What do you think about men who give their girlfriends friendly advice, like "I think you’d better stop wearing red lipstick" or whatever?
If your boyfriend’s ideas sound good, then why not try to implement some of them? Remember, though, if it’s just a pretext for him to show who is the real leader in your relationship, then don’t be led by him. Maybe the guy just wants you to remind him of his ex-girlfriend! Shame, then you’ll have to send him to a professional psychologist, and you’ll go to a professional stylist.
What does it mean for you to be a good, professional stylist?
A professional stylist is someone who can say "no" when he realizes that what a client asks him to do is tasteless, weird or silly. A stylist, an artist, is the one who is supposed to influence your taste, not to connive at stupidity and "le mauvais gout." Therefore, the concept behind Lanna Kamilina salons is that we back everything natural and are against everything artificial. Thus, we don’t add on nails and hair here because it’s fake. Our primary task is not to imitate false things, but to take care and develop something that already exists and is real.
What’s vital to you? Is there something you can’t live without?
To be myself is vital to me. And to grow up spiritually, I need to read books. If I don’t meet a refined person during the day, I feel the need to read an interesting book in the evening. That’s how I live.