Redefining Tattooing: A Conversation on Wellness and Empowerment
What inspired you to start your business?
I decided to start my own business because I needed more privacy to do the work that truly mattered to me—especially in tattooing. It was necessary for me to find my own space and craft it into a place where people feel safe, warm, and comfortable. A lot of my clients aren’t wearing much when they’re working with me, so it’s essential that the environment offers comfort and privacy.
What do you mean by “Wellness Tattoo”?
The concept of a wellness tattoo is deeply personal and impactful. In my eyes, any tattoo can be a wellness tattoo. Tattooing, as a practice, contributes to wellness whether or not you’re conscious of it. Many people use tattooing as a healthy outlet—especially individuals in recovery. It often takes the place of other, less healthy habits and becomes a form of emotional or spiritual healing.
More specifically, wellness tattoos include medical tattooing like nipple reconstruction, scar camouflage, and permanent cosmetics. For example, women going through chemotherapy often lose their eyebrows, and those don’t always grow back. That can be devastating during an already difficult time. Tattooing those eyebrows back can be transformative—it gives people a sense of control and normalcy, helping them feel whole again.
I didn’t realize how important eyebrow tattoos would become until I started this journey. For many, it’s calming just to look in the mirror and not feel like they’re falling apart. It’s subtle but powerful, and it often aids in emotional recovery.
How do you see women shaping the future of your industry?
I believe women are significantly shaping the future of tattooing, especially in the medical and reconstructive fields. Many clients—particularly those going through breast cancer recovery—have told me they feel more comfortable working with a woman. After such a long, emotionally and physically exhausting journey, having a female artist help bring them over the finish line is comforting and empowering.
Have there been any women who inspired or mentored you along the way?
Absolutely. So many incredible women have guided me.
- Karen Roze gave me the opportunity to tattoo in the first place. She’s a huge mentor and continues to be a close friend.
- Vyvyn Lazonga is a legend—she was the first woman to own her own tattoo shop in the United States and is still practicing today. I’m lucky to call her a friend. We share ideas, and I’ve learned so much from her.
- Debbie Yarian has been tattooing for 35–40 years, and every time I talk to her, I walk away having learned something new.
- Annette Larue, based in Virginia, is another woman who means a lot to me. She’s been tattooing longer than I have, and her wisdom is invaluable.
All of these women are absolute powerhouses. They’ve shaped the path ahead of me, and I feel incredibly fortunate to stand on their shoulders and continue this work.
