Galyna Poczciwinski – the hairstylist who has risen through the ranks at ULTA Beauty; has a keen eye for the details; and who is going for gold in the hair world. Whilst this short introduction offers a glimpse into who Galyna is, her story in the hair world goes back a few chapters, to 2012.
In 2012, the then-22-year-old Galyna had been living and working in Lviv, Ukraine, as an English teacher. She had graduated with a Master’s Degree in English Literature and was enjoying post-graduate life in the cultural hub. But Galyna told us that there was a creative side to her she hadn’t yet been able to explore, and with hopes of a bright future, at the beginning of 2013 – she decided to take the leap and build a new life in America.
“I had always had a love for hair and beauty,” Galyna explained. “It was my way of expressing my creativity, and I believe there is something magic about conveying that on our physical form.
“So, when I came to America, I knew I didn’t want to be teaching English. Whilst I loved that career, I knew with this shift in my life, a new career path was necessary. Also, I thought it would be weird to be teaching English with my accent,” she giggled.
Building a Life in Hair
After setting up a new home in Connecticut, Galyna attended cosmetology school, where she explored every facet of the industry.
“It’s funny, though,” she said. “It was always hair I was drawn to. I was good at nails and makeup, but I was drawn to hair. It’s a craft that transcends borders, and you can make a real connection with your client from behind the chair.
“At cosmetology school, I was able to nourish this craft, where you can play with details, design and artistry when session styling – and also make someone feel like the true version of themselves, when working in the salon.”
The ULTA Family
Not long after Galyna graduated from cosmetology school, she made her way to ULTA Beauty – and swiftly became a firm fixture in the Ulta Beauty family.
“Not only was I a brand-new stylist, but I was new to the country, and it takes time to make those connections. So, when I joined Ulta Beauty, it was like everything fell into place for me. They have been so supportive of my journey, and they’ve encouraged growth at every step of the way,” Galyna explained.
“As a new stylist, you still need a lot of education: with building your books, your business, your knowledge. But most of all, you need to be able to understand who you are in the industry. Being with Ulta Beauty, basically from the beginning, has allowed me to really get to grips with who I am and where I want to be in the industry. They also pushed me to be better. I was able to join the Ulta Beauty Design Team in 2018, and since then – it’s felt like a whirlwind.”
Shooting for the Stars
As part of her role within ULTA Beauty’s Design Team, Galyna has worked alongside industry leaders, such as Danielle Keasling and Sean Godard, who she notes have “offered her boundless inspiration.”
She continued, saying: “It’s been amazing. I’ve fallen in love with it. I’m not only working behind the chair at the salon; I’m able to travel to different hair shows, I’m involved in photoshoots for editorial hair, and connect with the people around me. This versatility and diversity is what inspires me. It motivates me to go on to create something else amazing.”
Earlier this year, on one of these shoots, Galyna got the chance to create her very own collection – which resulted in a nomination for Hairstylist of the Year at the NAHA’s.
“It was just so exciting for me, and it came from a shoot that I felt truly represented my and my style,” she told us. “Very early on in my career, I fell in love with up-styling and braiding. There is something about the intricacy, the attention detail, and the fact you are creating it with your own two hands, that is just incredibly beautiful to me.
“When you are working in the salon, your job isn’t to showcase your own style. Your job is to have that deep consultation and create the look that perfectly represents your client at that stage of their life, not you as an artist. And when you’re session styling for another person or brand, your job is to create a vision that conveys the brief you were given. So, to be awarded for the vision that was a pure expression of myself, was amazing.”
Looking to the Future
As our conversation with the rising star came to a close, we had one last question for Galyna – what does her future hold?
She revealed: “Hopefully, there is more of everything I love! I adore being on stage educating, and I want to keep doing that. Being able to connect with other stylists and help them learn more about this wonderful craft – whilst also learning from them. I also want to keep creating editorial work, staying true to my motto of doing everything with purpose. That remains so important to me. When your work is purposeful, it’s valuable – and that is what is important in this day and age. We need to inspire each other to spread goodness and light.”