Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki O’Brien.
Hi Nikki, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from coastal New Hampshire, where I spent the majority of my life in the beauty industry. I built my skills over 15 years in cosmetology; traveling as a makeup artist for weddings & specializing in creative hair color & cuts. It was a perfect home for the artist in me. I loved bringing the rainbow visions of my clients to their hair & I built an incredible clientele in that time. Eventually, I opened my own private studio in a quintessential New England town in an old mill building. I still feel infinitely grateful for that wonderful chapter.
I’ve always been drawn to tattooing. More specifically; cosmetic tattooing. There is something so beautiful & restorative to help someone meet their reflection with a smile. In 2019 I sought out the perfect teacher & as 2020 began, I found myself floating dreamily through Los Angeles on my way to my first microblading training – a dream come true in every way. To learn from someone so talented, to finally embark on the adventure of this new craft, I was elated & so ready to bring microblading home to my clients!
Queue the pandemic. As a small business owner, the world I built, the stability I knew, all the ‘new’ I was ready to launch came to a screeching halt. Suddenly, I was left with an incredible amount of time on my hands. That time, as it turns out, was powerful medicine; an opportunity to reevaluate the trajectory of my life. As I turned inward, it turns out I felt a deep pull to go on a grand adventure – to leave everything I’ve known, let go of hairstyling & makeup artistry & dive fully into cosmetic tattooing somewhere new & vibrant. So, after some daydreaming & deliberation, my husband & I decided to sell our home & move across the country & follow the sun to Austin, Texas. Our house sold in a week & we committed to our new home sight unseen. We packed our car with our cat, two dogs, a hoard of protein bars & a series of lo-fi playlists & headed across the 12 states that lay between us & our new home.
It’s been a wild ride of surrender, trust & putting full faith in the “no risk, no magic” mantra. But here we are! I’m currently living the dream of being surrounded by sunshine, able to make cosmetic tattooing my career while working alongside some of the best artists I’ve had the pleasure of knowing at Fresh Cosmetic Studio.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an interesting road! Littered with the highs of learning as much as I can from some of the best in the industry & the lows of uncertainty as the pandemic put a pause on my momentum over & over again. There were times where self-doubt & imposter syndrome would threaten my trajectory – who am I to walk away from a full clientele & an established business to start over in a different time zone with a brand new endeavor? Did we really just buy a house in an area we’d never been? Am I kidding myself?
In those moments of anxious doubt, it was a conscious choice to keep going & keep growing. Rather than stagnate, I focused on my education. Practicing constantly (all the bananas in our house had eyebrows!) & taking online courses kept me close to the fire. I traveled for more trainings to expand my services. I trusted in the knowing that inspired all this change: my love of this craft & of adventure.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I truly love what I do. I’m deeply passionate about cosmetic tattooing & inspired by the artistry of the craft. It’s still surreal to be able to call this my career! It’s such an incredible field that pairs extensive training & practice with the intuitive fluidity of creativity.
I feel strongly that every service should be customized to each person, complimenting their unique features & aesthetic. Microblading is such an art, it’s deeply fulfilling to create hair stroke patterns that fit each individual set of brows & enhance or rework a shape. Whether it’s recovering from an over-tweezed period of stress or bringing sparse brows to life, it lights me up to create brows that look natural, full & with just enough ‘fluff’ to accentuate one’s natural beauty.
It’s so rewarding to give a sprinkling of fresh freckles to a smiling face. It’s such an enjoyable, creative process for my clients & I to collaborate on. Recently, I’ve been crafting constellations of freckles in the pattern of astrological signs. It’s a really fun way to express yourself!
As I adore the undetectable side of cosmetic tattooing, I’ve added lash line enhancement to my skill set. Not to be confused with eyeliner, this process is an incredibly natural tattoo that darkens your eyelash line (where your eyelashes grow) & as the name implies, it truly enhances one’s eyes, giving the appearance of a fuller lash line. It’s just beautiful & such a subtle way of wearing permanent makeup.
I love when my clients beam at the sight of their own reflection & tell me how confident they feel in their own skin with these services. So much of the process is creating a safe space & I prioritize embodying that. It’s such a compliment to have people place their trust in me. I’m so thankful for every person who seeks out my artistry & puts their confidence in me, it really is such an honor & privilege to be a part of this industry.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love working with fellow artists who offer different services! It’s a beautiful thing to collaborate in creating a balanced face. I’ve worked with lash artists & lip blushing specialists to provide a glowing new aesthetic.
As I’ve said, I’m deeply passionate about cosmetic tattooing & love learning – I could talk about artistry & techniques all day! I’m always here for new or established artists to discuss this expansive field & all the varying techniques we’ve picked up.
To support me, I’m happy to provide the services I love so much to new & existing clients. I always welcome fresh faces to experience the magic of cosmetic tattooing & I would be honored to be your artist!
Pricing:
- Microblading (initial session): $350
- Microblading (second session): $200
- Microblading (refresh): $250
- Lash line enhancement: $300
- Freckles: $150
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@nikkivonfluff.com
- Website: https://www.nikkivonfluff.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkivonfluff
Image Credits
Kaleidoscope Portrait: Drew Elaine Working portrait: Mary Collins
