www.kloow.com

Poet, artist and philosopher Kahlil Gibran wrote in his book The Prophet “Beauty is
life when life unveils her holy face. But you are the life and you are the veil. Beauty
is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror.”
In these words he speaks of an age-old human struggle we have all faced, the
struggle to see our own inherent beauty. Part of the Universal human experience is
to learn how to love, appreciate and enjoy the way we look; our faces and our
bodies are often judged by others when it is only our own opinion that truly
matters. Loving the way you look can be a spiritual and healing experience, it can
change the way you move and speak. It transforms the energy you project to
others.

The Vanity Myth

There are many misconceptions when it comes to the practice of permanent makeup
or cosmetic tattooing. It is the same myth that pervades the medical field of
cosmetic and plastic surgery. There is a belief in America that if a person engages
in procedures such as permanent eyeliner, permanent lipstick or other cosmetic
changes that they are driven by vanity or are shallow inside. Although I agree that
there is a portion of people who will never be satisfied with their appearance, I do
not believe these people are the majority. Most of the clients I see in my practice
are men and women who are in the process of learning to love themselves more and
through this process they eventually gain more confidence and experience a better
quality of life.

Let Your Natural Beauty Emerge

There are many reasons to have permanent makeup. Illness, injury and a desire for
practicality, efficiency or increased confidence are just a few. All of these
motivations have less to do with vanity and more to do with building self-esteem
and self-appreciation. Loving yourself is a healing process and I am lucky to work
in a field where I can participate in this process with my clientele. I work, not only
with their faces but I also connect with their individual energy. I use my artistic eye
for color and symmetry to apply the permanent cosmetics, but I also access my
intuition in order to see what they see and to understand what they feel needs to
change about their appearance.

A wonderful example of this process is a former client named Becky, a college
professor and author. “I have looked at myself in the mirror each day since you did
my eyeliner and I am so happy with what looks back at me, “Becky states, “I knew I
wanted to have the procedure done for esthetics and got a bonus of enhanced self
esteem.” “Thank you for your artistic, beautiful work that walks around with me
everyday, collecting compliments whenever I reveal my secret,” she continues. In
the end the goal is to create a look that doesn’t compensate for flaws or
imperfections, but enhances what is most beautiful about the person naturally.
Natural beauty exists within all people and bringing it to the forefront is the key to a
great look. Then each day you look in the mirror to see your best facial features
highlighted. This allows you to walk with your head high, to feel more comfortable
in your own skin and to move forward in ways you may have avoided n the past.

Believe in Your Own Beauty

To achieve a beauty that you can believe in you must make choices to enhance the
beauty that is already there. Everyone deserves to leave home feeling confident and
excited about their own appearance. Permanent makeup is not a way to cover up
the problems; it is way to help your best facial qualities and features to emerge. As
you see this previously hidden part of you walk out into the light of day healing
takes place and this healing energy can spread through the rest of your life.

Dawn Willard’s twenty-three year career in the fine and applied arts has included
lettering, illustrations and photo and film styling. She has learned an array of artistic
skills, one being makeup. Ms. Willard currently owns the Permanent Makeup Studio in
Asheville North Carolina. She can be reached at http://www.DawnColors.com or
starjump@gmail.com.

Share This

Ask anyone which facial feature they most often notice first and many times the
answer is the eyes. Eyes are the most expressive feature on the human face;
through them we see emotion, thoughts, secrets and reflections of ourselves. To
illustrate the power of permanent makeup and the art of eyeliner let me tell you
about one of my clients. The star feature of her face was fabulous almond shaped
eyes. Following cosmetic surgery to take her back in time a bit, her eyes healed into
a different shape, which made the outer corners awkwardly rounded and one lower
eyelid partially drooped. Before agreeing to another surgery to fix it, she searched
for an alternative way to regain the almond shape. With a little design strategy and
meticulously placed pigment all around her eyes, we lifted the droop and then by
marking into puckered scar tissue, we re-created the almond-type point at the
outer corner of each eye. My client was amazed at how precise and subtle the
permanent makeup appeared and she was thrilled to be able to go without topical
makeup once again.

When I think of the power of permanent eye makeup, another client always comes to
mind. Advanced in years, she wanted the outer her to reflect the youthfulness of
the inner her. The blue color of her eyes was stunning, and definitely worth
flaunting; however, a few wisps of blonde eyelashes and a total absence of eyebrows
did nothing towards the cause. She started out conservatively with very soft,
natural-looking permanent eyebrows and lash enhancement. A year later she
returned, asking for a bolder look. Here is what she had to say: “Even with the
plastic surgery (3 facelifts), the permanent makeup is what gave me the most self
esteem. I wish I’d known about it and done it years ago.”

Consider the Advantages

Permanent makeup appeals to a wide variety of people. Busy moms, athletes,
travelers, equestrians, chefs, models, doctors, dancers, police officers, busy career
people and busily retired people have all been clients of mine. In my experience the
best argument for a cosmetic tattoo is simply convenience. Individuals who suffer
from allergies, toxicity issues, poor vision, hair loss or disabilities that limit manual
dexterity have benefited from permanent makeup. Of course, the most rewarding
aspect of permanent makeup is the most obvious: it stays put! Permanent eyeliner
will never smear or rub away through watery eyes, perspiration, wind, snow, rain,
fatigue, or a long night’s sleep. For those of you who like the compliment of eyeliner
to your face, permanent makeup can give you the look you want without the extra
work or cost involved with traditional makeup.

The Difference Between Lash Enhancement and Eyeliner

Skillfully applied lash enhancement looks very natural, not at all like makeup. For a
lash enhancement, one or more shades of color are placed in a sprinkle or a line at
the base of the eyelash hairs only, making the lashes appear darker and thicker.
Rather than eyeliner, I recommend lash enhancement to women, or men, who want
a lift to their face “naturally”. It makes a good argument for “less is more”.

Eyeliner begins with lash enhancement and then widens above or below the
eyelashes. Permanent eyeliner can have a hard edge, a softened edge, or even a
smudgy, shadow look placed where it most enhances you. It can be very precise,
with delicate, crisp endings to the lines; or it can be a soft powdery look. Eyeliner
really rocks as a way to bring a flattering color lift to the face. Sometimes a subtle
blend of multiple colors creates the perfect effect. I recommend you think
conservative, tasteful, and classic. Although this is not totally permanent, it is long
lasting. Choose cosmetic tattoos that will wear well through changes in mind,
lifestyle and age. To bring out the trendy, glamorous or outrageous expressions of
you just add topical cosmetics.

Like Makeup Only Better!

Permanent makeup is an excellent way to enhance your natural facial features.
Permanent eyeliner works especially to perfect the balance, shape and overall look
of the eyes. Time and again, I witness permanent eyeliner, or simple lash
enhancement, lend power, alertness, confidence and youthfulness to the faces of
both men and women. To read more about the art of permanent makeup please visit
my web site www.DawnColors.com.

Dawn Willard’s extensive career in the fine and applied arts has included lettering,
illustrations and photo and film styling. Twenty-three years as a photo and film
stylist taught Dawn and array of artistic skills, one being makeup. Ms. Willard’s
foray into permanent makeup began in 1996. She currently owns the Permanent
Makeup Studio in Asheville North Carolina. She has explored a variety of techniques
and has clients coming to her from Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, New
Hampshire, New Mexico and numerous towns in western and central North Carolina.
She can be reached at http://www.DawnColors.com or starjump@gmail.com.

Share This

The importance of eyebrows as a powerful beauty asset is often overlooked.
Eyebrows can be shaped to pull together all of the elements of the face into balance,
giving your best features glory and the flaws respectful supporting roles. People
with thin, partial or no eyebrows often choose to use pencil or powder to create
their eyebrows daily and even multiple times daily since this makeup tends to
smudge or disappear. Many of these people are ending that daily ritual with
permanent makeup. Permanent makeup, also known as cosmetic tattoo or micro
pigmentation, is used to create a variety of changes in the face. Eyebrow
enhancement is an extremely popular permanent makeup procedure.

Eyebrow Design Need Only Be Done Once

In her book Bobbi Brown Beauty, Ms. Brown writes, “….a well-groomed, well-defined
brow can be extremely flattering and add considerable strength to a woman’s eyes.
It can open up her face so that she actually needs less makeup. A well-shaped brow
can also help lift deep-set eyes or maximize small eyes. There are even instances
where a lifted, manicured brow has had the same effect as a surgical eyelift.” Good
brows are rarely accomplished by guesswork. A permanent makeup artist must be
adept in the art and the science of designing the shape, color and placement for
beautiful symmetrical eyebrows that enhance through the decades. A well-chosen
neutral eyebrow will flatter you through all your hair color changes. Adjustments in
the color of your permanent makeup can be made, if necessary, when you have a
touch up on it every one to five years.

Cosmetic Tattoo, A Versatile Solution

The causes of missing hair in the eyebrows are many-genes, illness, over-plucked,
age related hair loss and physical trauma for instance. An inspired and talented
cosmetic tattoo artist can work with the “landscape” of the brow area be it totally
blank, scarred or deeply wrinkled. A lifting arch can be put into straight or droopy
eyebrows, width into thin ones, length into short ones and symmetry into
asymmetrical ones. Whatever the case may be, tattoo offers a precision that is
difficult to obtain and keep with regular makeup. Tattooed eyebrows stay put
whether the design is strong and precise or subtle and natural looking. Eyebrows
can be applied in delicate hair strokes, a powder fill or a combination of the two,
always using more than one color of pigment to create the illusion of dimension. As
much as possible of one’s natural brow hair is incorporated into the design. The
solution of permanent eyebrows is used by men, as well as women.

Make A Statement

Eyebrows not only frame the eyes, but when shaped appropriately for a face they
bring the entire face into focus, giving a person more presence. The eyebrow
design may even serve to qualify that presence as, for instance, down-to-earth,
glamorous, soft or assertive. In other words, eyebrows can influence the way people
perceive you. In fact, eyebrows can influence the way you perceive yourself. Even
when you know beauty is on the inside, you want to look your best. Confidence can
change the impression you leave in all of your social and professional interaction.
Positive, healthy self-esteem allows you to focus on important goals, instead of
stress about looking old, tired or unattractive. Legendary makeup artist Kevyn
Aucoin said, “the most dramatic thing you could do to change your look is to shape
your eyebrows.”

Always Plan Ahead

A permanent makeup procedure is a process that most commonly requires two
sessions, usually three or four weeks apart for permanent eyebrows. In the first
session the design is applied and in the second session color, shape and detail is
refines. Building the eyebrows in stages can minimize or eliminate altogether that
oh-so-scary dark eyebrow stage. You need not feel self-conscious about your
appearance at any point in the process. If you are planning to have surgery to lift
the brow, eyes or full face complete the surgery and the healing process before
adding permanent cosmetics to your face. When planning to have Botox,
chemotherapy or radiation therapy get your cosmetic tattoos applied first. In
regards to laser treatments, discuss these during your consultation.

Dawn Willard’s extensive career in the fine and applied arts has included lettering,
illustrations and photo and film styling. Twenty-three years as a photo and film
stylist taught Dawn and array of artistic skills, one being makeup. Ms. Willard’s
foray into permanent makeup began in 1996. She currently owns the Permanent
Makeup Studio in Asheville North Carolina. She has explored a variety of techniques
and has clients coming to her from Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, New
Hampshire, New Mexico and numerous towns in western and central North Carolina.
She can be reached at http://www.DawnColors.com or starjump@gmail.com.

Share This