What inspired me most in my career
I am in general a creative person and get inspired by so many different sources. In my early days I was obsessed with punk and also new wave from London. Everything was new – from colors and forms, there were no rules. It was colorful and exciting.
At the same time back then, and now also, I was impressed and excited by the masters of classical hairstyling. I was able to watch Alexandre de Paris on stage in Paris. To see how he worked the hair with the brush was magical –playful and strong. I wanted to learn to create waves with the ease he did and so I dedicated my time to learning all the classical techniques.
I think that anyone who wants to excel (in most creative fields) actually has to master the classics. You have to know the rules to understand how, if and when to break them in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and fresh.
Hair versus makeup
I love to experiment with makeup, to beautify with little accents and color. I have done jobs where I only did makeup and I loved it. But I come from hair, so if I was forced to pick between the two, that’s where I’d go.
The most distinctive and memorable parts of my career
When I was 14 years old, I read something about a makeup artist in a magazine. From then on, it was clear that that would be my future profession. I was fortunate to start my barber education at a hairdresser school which was active worldwide. So I got involved in hair shows, participating and winning hair contests very early on. Later I moved to Hamburg and started working for Marlies Möller, eventually taking over to lead her salon, Identity. My next move was to head to Miami, to train myself in makeup as well. 1992 I joined the Hamburg based Closeup agency. I lived and worked in New York and London (where I assisted Charlotte Tilbury on runway shows), but Hamburg was always my home. In 2019, I decided to leave the agency and I am excited to go on by my own now.
Finding balance
This is something that can’t be overlooked, especially when you work in a creative field. As contrast to my delicate work, I love to be in my now quite large garden – gloves off, hands in the soil.
My character
Well, here is the good part of me anyway - I am loyal and very reliable. I can listen and be flexible but still have a point of view. I love to play and try new things. Friends say I have a lot of compassion – that’s for humans and animals
My new exciting project
Over the years I collected so much experience, now I decided to share it. In January 2019 I started my youtube channel KarinGade. From the script to the postproduction, the videos are all done by myself and love this new challenge. Go and check