As a woman in business and a PMU Artist the relationships I form with other artists are super important to me, being self employed can be lonely at times, never mind in a business that not that many people actually understand the stresses of it!
But how do we form these relationships? When I first entered the beauty industry I remember it being toxic, the first salon I worked in was fine, but then I encountered the bad side of the beauty industry. The competition, bullying, blocking on instagram, and also that feeling seeping into my client experiences - not pleasant!
I got caught up in my environment and found myself being quite nasty about other businesses and individuals, something that now I do regret because generally that isn't my attitude, and it's also not how I raise my children!
I have also fallen foul of toxic relationships and been on the receiving end of the bullying - it was so bad and so upsetting that I closed my business, I didn't have the energy to deal with it aymore and for a period in 2021 I found a job and worked in an industry I didn't care about. But hey - I wasn't being victimised anymore.
After that experience it really hit me how my own attitude can affect other people and also their businesses - a hard lesson to learn! I decided at that point that I would always try to be kind and encourage others.
Competition. Yes - we all have competitors in our market, the brow industry is busy and there are people qualifying all the time but competition isn't a word that registers anymore for me in work. Instead I call them friends, because in a cut throat industry why on earth would I make my life any more difficult? Instead of keeping the girls that offer the same treatments as you at arms length, invite them into your PMU circle, it feels good!
Not only is it nice to make these connections but you can also speak to someone who knows exactly what you're going through! Had that client that makes you feel bad? not sure why one of your clients isnt retaining colour? Not sure how to map someone? Then you contact your PMU mates!
I'm very lucky that I have a lovely bunch of PMU artists all accross the UK that I can count on for help, or to provide me with therapy when I need it, this extends to tattoo artists and beauticians too! I collab with them on projects, we share product tips, and we have an absolute laugh!
Life is much nicer when you're nice to others, so message the girl from the other salon to tell her you like her style!
katie xxx
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