Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Harris.
Hi Kali, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In the tattoo/piercing industry, it’s a lot about who knows who in terms of how you get your “in.” In 2005, I was lucky to see an artist through a family member whose shop needed counter help. From there, they needed a piercer. I was in my early 20s, freshly moved out from home, and recently dropped out of college, so I was looking for the next journey in my life. As a punk rock chick, this was up my alley. While my “in” to the industry was easy, my journey to today was not. In Texas, there is no formal schooling for our industry. I took advantage of all the piercers around me and soaked up any knowledge they would give. This was also before smartphones, and there was limited information on the internet. For the first year, I would hand out flyers at the local malls, work second jobs to make rent, and work 6-7 days a week to get my name out there. I was fortunate to work at a well-known shop in the suburbs of Dallas. I built up a clientele over my first couple of years and rode that out until about 2018. Job burnout is a reality, and it hit hard in 2018. Work seemed repetitive, and it was no longer exciting. Everything seemed so robotic – the same thing every day. My tattooer husband and I decided a change of scenery was needed. We moved to Austin in 2019, and I started piercing at The Austin Tattoo Company.
ATC had never had a piercer on staff, and I was back to starting over. Ground Zero. I was in a big city with no clientele and tattoo shops on every corner. While this was stressful, I was ready for the challenge. I was now working alongside my husband, my awesome boss Keith Underwood and a crew that was more like family than coworkers. At the new shop, I was 100% in control over what jewelry I ordered. I got to curate two jewelry cases, starting with ten pieces to pick from to hundreds. Instagram and social media helped give me a win, for sure. I stayed current on posting piercings I had done to our jewelry in stock. I researched what hashtags, what times to post, and who to tag. Before long, my following grew, and I was being booked out most days. Starting a new piercing business wasn’t enough – in 2020, fellow tattoo community members and myself formed a 501c3 non-profit: Art Relief From Tattooers. As President of ART, we focus on fundraising through events and getting that money back into the public school art programs. I was fortunate to know the right people at the right time to start my career and move forward. But without hard work and time, I could never have been where I am today – and that’s happy. I have found a tattoo family who accepts me for who I am. I have the best clientele who trust me in designing their ears and piercing their bodies. And I have pride in telling people who I am and where I work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like anything in life, there were some bumps in the road. It’s an industry that can be inconsistent with money coming in. One week it’s busy, and the next, it’s not. I sat at the shop for ten hours only to do one piercing. I would need to work 5-6 and even 7 days a week. Take on part-time jobs. I would even learn how to knit and make resin jewelry and leather purses to sell on the side. Many piercing careers die off because people are unwilling to put in the time and hard work to promote themselves or want to worry about part-time jobs to get them through a slow spell. The tattoo industry has its fair share of sexism. I have dealt with coworkers and customers who didn’t take me seriously because of my gender. I have also experienced my share of unsolicited ass grabs while piercing male clients. Going hand in hand with the rock and roll lifestyle, I have also lost many friends due to drug addiction and alcoholism. I even had my share of dependency issues to overcome in the early years.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I always get asked, “what is your favorite piercing to do?” Most piercings are performed the same way. I enjoy designing a client’s ear. Picking out which combination of piercings will look good together. Which jewelry options would complement each other? I will even photoshop a client’s ear to ensure they like the final outcome before we pierce them. One client responded with “like an interior designer,” and they aren’t wrong! What sets me apart from others is my 16 years of experience, and always eager to learn new tips, attend seminars or meet up with other piercers to talk about the trade. You are never too old to stop learning. I also pride myself on taking my time with clients. While most piercings can be done quickly, some clients require more time to go over the experience, pick out jewelry, and go over aftercare. I love that I can give my clients that time and not have them feel like we are in a “get them in and out” environment.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’ve always been told I’m a drummer who marches to the beat of her drum. I add that I wear many hats when I do it.
Pricing:
- $25 & up
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaliharrisbeauty.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Kali.harris.beauty
- Other: www.artrelieffromtattooers.com
