Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kait DiDominica, Founder of Kait Paige Beauty, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm Kait Paige of Kait Paige Beauty. I am a cosmetic tattoo artist that specializes in Microfeathering. Rather than the old-school permanent brows that were tattooed on and faded to gray/blue. Micro feathering is a very light technique that is a bit more subtle than Microblading. My work involves a tiny blade and hand tool (not a tattoo machine) that create hair-like strokes within the eyebrow to make it appear fuller. And to fill in any spareness or gaps in the brows. Instead of ink, I use micro-pigments that match the clients' natural brow shade. My goal is to mimic the actual brow hair and strategically place them within the brow. The result is natural-looking fuller brows that look so real… no one can tell you had anything done! The best part? They aren't permanent! They will fade off within a year. Not everyone is a candidate for Microfeathering. So I also offer a few other services that are less invasive such as brow tinting and brow lamination. The majority of my customers want their eyebrows to appear fuller and are sick of wearing makeup every day to achieve that. But they also want it to look extremely natural. At the same time, others have lost brows due to medical conditions or over-plucking. No matter what, I work individually with every client to get them to their brow goals. I like to call it "Brow Magic."

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in NY. I've been fascinated with cosmetics since I could walk. One of my fondest memories was watching my grandmother sitting at her vanity and "put on her face." I was amazed how one can transform themselves by adding some lipstick or a brow pencil. Flash forward, after college, I worked for brands like Estée Lauder and L'Oréal. But when the 2008 recession hit, I was laid off. I did, however, develop a passion for skincare. So I enrolled in Medical Esthetician school and then became a Medical Esthetician. In addition, I also noticed the laser industry was becoming popular, so I got my laser license as well. I worked for 12 years with some of NYC's best dermatologists and at a few medical spas. And I got to train with different laser companies and learned many different modalities from skin tightening to laser hair removal. I loved it, but I'll admit that it was a nice perk to get all of the treatments! More importantly, it really helped me figure out that I loved making people feel better about themselves.

In 2016 a dermatologist I worked for actually introduced me to cosmetic tattooing and thought I would be great at it. She was also my first brow client and still is to this day! After some research about different courses, I went to a school for micro-pigmentation. I trained for about a year and started developing my own techniques. I actually thought I would do this as a side hustle along with aesthetics. But to my surprise, my books kept growing, and I decided that I wanted to pursue cosmetic tattooing and start my own company. I'm happy to say that it's the best decision I've ever made. It's rewarding to work with clients and see the process. I love basically getting to make art every day. I am a perfectionist so what motivates me is to create and perfect my work, so the client loves it as much as I do. This is a service that lasts a year, so I want to make sure that it's exactly what the client wants.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Definitely figuring out my own style of Microfeathering/ Microblading. My goal was always to develop a style that enhanced what the client had but wasn't noticeable. The best compliment I get is, "It looks so natural, you can't even tell." I'm happy to have found a way to bring the look I envisioned to life.

I also wanted people to feel great when they arrive and when they leave. The first time clients come in; they can be understandably intimidated. So creating a welcoming environment was always a priority for me. I want the client to feel like they're at home and that they can have fun during the process. I joke that I see some clients more than my own family. But honestly, you become very close to some, and they are putting their trust in you. So I want to reciprocate that and make everyone feel at ease.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Taxes!! Especially in New York City. That's been one of the most difficult things to navigate. Thankfully I found a great accountant. And was able to get advice from other business owners along the way.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Figure out what interests you. What's your passion?
  2. Actually like what you do. I've seen businesses fail because they didn't have any heart in them.
  3. Take a day off! I've overworked myself at times and realized I should have taken time off for myself. You don't perform as well if you burn yourself out.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kaitpaigebeauty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitpaigebeauty/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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