Why I Have 6 Years of Experience but Only 2K Followers

I normally don’t share stories like this — I’m a pretty private person. But I think I’m finally ready to tell you mine.

Back in 2019, I started my cosmetic tattoo journey in Los Angeles. I trained and worked at a salon in Rosemead, and for a while, everything felt aligned. It was the beginning of a career I felt deeply passionate about — helping people feel confident and beautiful through permanent makeup.

The beginning was good. I was learning, growing, and slowly building a solid client base. But over time, I realized the environment no longer supported me the way it once did. I started feeling drained instead of inspired. I’d wake up dreading the day, and what used to bring me joy began to feel heavy.

The priorities of the business no longer aligned with how I wanted to show up for my clients. I’ve always believed in offering intentional, quality work — not rushing through art just to keep up with volume. At the time, it just wasn’t the right fit anymore.

I gave it several years, even moved out of state for them, and took on additional responsibilities behind the scenes. Eventually, I decided to leave.

Promises were made that weren’t kept. I was told I’d be given access to an Instagram page that featured my work and clients, something I had poured my time and effort into. But that promise came with unexpected strings attached.

When I refused terms that didn’t protect or benefit me, that platform — and my clientele — were used as leverage. There were also moments where I felt like my effort and even my earnings weren’t fully respected.

In the end, I walked away and let it go. I chose peace over conflict. A clean cut. And while it hurt to see everything I built handed off like that, I knew my integrity mattered more.

I won’t lie, I lost a lot. But I’ve gained a lot, too.

I’ve been in this industry for six years. I’ve worked hard, evolved, and poured myself into every service I give.

Rebuilding from scratch hasn’t been easy. I had to start over — in a new state, with a new page, and a new clientele base. I had over 5,000 followers then. Today, I’m closer to 3,000.

Social media doesn’t always reflect the full story, and that’s okay. I’m here to do good work, to continue learning, and to create art that makes people feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.

But here’s what I do have: six years of real experience. Countless clients served with care. Continued education. Art I’m proud of. And a love for what I do that’s deeper than ever.

I’ve built relationships with clients that I truly cherish. I’ve grown. I’ve healed. I’ve learned.

If you’re in a season of rebuilding, or if growth feels slow even though you’re showing up every day, you’re not alone. Keep going. Stay grounded. Your work will speak for itself, even if the algorithm doesn’t. The people who need your art will find you.

Today marks three years since I left that challenging environment.
It’s taken me this long to find my voice and finally share my story.

I’m definitely happier now.

And to be honest, I’m not sure we ever fully get “out” of things like this…but we do get stronger. A little older, a little wiser — and way more grounded in who we are.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It truly means a lot.