August 27, 2015

Israeli makeup artist Ilana Kolihanov has the global social-media scene barking with joy at her phenomenal YouTube video that shows how she transforms herself into her dog.

Since posting her video titled Siberian Husky Makeup Tutorial on August 16, Kolihanov’s clip has jumped in views by tens of thousands. Then again, it isn’t every day that a 21-year-old transforms herself into her pet with an eyebrow brush and WOW Cosmetics.

While it isn’t her first makeup tutorial video on YouTube (and the others are equally incredible), it is the first to grab the world’s attention.

The video’s popularity may have something to do with the adorable-yet-freaky photo she posted of herself made up to look like her dog while hugging her Siberian Husky, Ivy. It may have to do with the celebration of International Dog Day this past week. Or, it could just be one of those unexplainable viral happenings.

Kolihanov painted her eyelids to match her dog’s eyes. Screenshot from Ilana Kolihanov’s YouTube video
Kolihanov painted her eyelids to match her dog’s eyes. Screenshot from Ilana Kolihanov’s YouTube video

“We’re like twins,” Kolihanov tells Ivy at the end of the video.

As in her other videos, Kolihanov, a teacher at the Yarin Shahaf beauty school in Tel Aviv, talks about the process of creating her masterpiece in the video. But you don’t need to speak Hebrew to be wowed by the beauty specialist’s amazing skills.

The young married makeup guru writes on her Facebook page that in addition to her teaching gig, she does body art and professional makeup for weddings and special events.

Kolihanov demonstrating the makeup process. Screenshot from Ilana Kolihanov’s YouTube video
Kolihanov demonstrating the makeup process. Screenshot from Ilana Kolihanov’s YouTube video

In February, Kolihanov posted her first makeup video tutorial online showing how to transform into the Cheshire Cat. Next came an amazing alien tutorial, an unbelievable tiger makeup tutorial and then a scary skeleton tutorial. Most recently she posted a statue makeup tutorial.

But it was the dog video that made the Internet world sit up and take notice.

“Watch this brilliant makeup tutorial performed by Ilana Kolihanov … and see how she combines her love for makeup and animals,” Yarin Shahaf, owner of one of the country’s top makeup schools, wrote on Facebook.

Kolihanov is only the latest Israeli to show off extraordinary makeup skills online. Israeli artist Tal Peleg, who also studied with Shahaf, scored more than 15 minutes of online fame with her remarkable eye art.

Peleg’s fan base grew far beyond Israel; Kolihanov writes in the blurbs under her videos that she too hopes new fans will like her tutorials and share her work.

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