Hi, I’m Carolina
People often ask me how I got my start in Permanent Makeup and are confused when I say I was working in the Administrative sector for over 10 years before all of this. I was moving from one office job to the next trying to fill my cup while maintaining a sense of financial security, but never feeling a sense of fulfillment.
After having my daughter 9 years ago I was unknowingly battling baby blues and trying to find my place in the world. The thought of leaving my new baby to go to a job where I was easily replaceable ate at me. I had a lot of sleepless nights, but on one of them I came across a Microblading video online that left me in complete awe. The idea of tattooing eyebrows on someone to give them confidence seemed so exciting! It looked challenging but I was intrigued enough to dig further. I found a school that offered a 6 day intensive course, but they were full for another 6 months and the course was expensive. I didn't register right away... I sat on the idea for a couple weeks, discussed it with my partner and finally took the leap. In the meantime, I quit my job, raised my daughter and ate up every minute with her until I had to start my course.
I completed my Permanent Makeup training in October of 2015 and left feeling excited but overwhelmed to think of the next challenge - starting a business. Shortly after I was offered a job at one of Vancouver's leading digital publication companies as an Office Manager, and such is life, I went with what was safe. I was eventually promoted to the People & Culture Manager, so I told myself to stick with it; but as time went on, I itched for more.
I wanted my own freedom... The freedom to do the kind of work I wanted, how I wanted, and be able to have a schedule that fit around my family, not the other way around.
I also wanted to explore my creative side. Growing up I always loved drawing, writing and being hands on; being in an office was stifling that creativity and I feel it played a huge part in my unhappiness.
So I started… day by day, chipping at the rock. Finding a space, buying materials, applying for licenses, designing my logo, getting business cards, and creating a website - while balancing our then 2 year old and full time job. Believe me when I say that starting is the toughest but most important part, it took me a while to get there, but when I did, things started to move fast. Fast forward to that summer, things started to really come together and I quit my job. My plan wasn’t fool proof and knew it would be hard, but I also knew I wasn’t happy with what I was doing.
And now… here I am! a few years passed, I am now a proud mom of 2 great kids, a business owner, and working on creating a course to pass on my knowledge to others - I couldn’t be happier! I have had my challenges, no doubt, but for the first time in my life, I’m working towards something that’s my own and that I can be proud of. One of my biggest fears was not finding a path that would make my family proud of me... the look my son and daughter give me when they visit me at work strongly affirms I made the right choice and motivates me to keep pushing forward.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited! I’ve never been the type of person to get too high on my own supply, but I guarantee you this - I am going to keep enjoying the process and see where it takes me!
xo Carolina