Careers Archives - Page 4 of 12

October 8, 2018

Careers: Tattooed Nail Technician & Cosmetic Tattooer

29-year-old Brittany Roe is a nail technician and a cosmetic tattooer, who
specialises in Microblading eyebrows from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. We chatted to Britt about her tattoos, creative nature and what she loves most about her job…

How long have you been working as a nail and brow technician? I’ve been a nail technician for about seven years and I’ve been microblading for just over a year now.

Have you always worked in the beauty industry? Is this what you trained to be? I’ve only worked in the beauty industry since training to be a nail technician. Before that I did school and uni, while working bar jobs from the age of 17. I trained to do both nails and microblading to be able to qualify and to be fully insured for both.

What does a regular day look like for you? A regular day consists of me working from home and having my clients come to me for nails, or sitting on the sofa with my dog Opie, drinking coffee. I work from my hairdresser friend’s salon Thirteen Hair and Beauty Lounge in Mansfield doing Microblading. I rent a little room from her and do that Thursdays and Saturdays.

What do you love about your job? I love my job when people come to me with exciting nail art choices, my clients are awesome so there’s always something fun to do. I also love creating my eyebrow client’s new brows, when they need a better shape and fullness. Eyebrows really shape your whole face, and it’s great to see them after especially when my clients can’t believe they get to keep them!

Your work is very creative does this spill into other aspects of your life? I think I’m a creative person in general, so probably not the most academic. My creative side definitely spills out into most of my life. The way I dress and being really into houses and interior design, I’ve decorated and designed my whole house interior. It was recently in Style at Home magazine, which was really cool, as sometimes I forget how lovely my house is, so to see it in print was great.

How would you describe your style? Do your tattoos reflect this? My style changes a lot I think, at the moment I’m really into 70s styles, floaty dresses, platforms, tassels etc. I tend to just where whatever I want, I’m not scared of a snazzy shirt or a bright colour. But I also love a band tee and a pair of vans. My tattoos reflect certain aspects of my life, but some are also just stuff I’ve fancied and not thought too much about.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo and what was it? I got my first tattoo at the age of 18. I wanted one before and always bought tattoo magazines, but I had a few friends in school who got them underage and they were shit, so I decided to wait because I didn’t want that for me! However, I am currently getting my first one covered up with a back piece I’ve just started so.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? I’m really lucky, I have some really amazing work by some great artists. I have a few faves. My chest piece by Jody Dawber, her work is amazing, and I’m super lucky to have a few pieces from her. My left sleeve by Toby Gawler, as it’s all to do with my grandparents. I don’t usually get too many tattoos that have meaning so my arm is really special, and my grandmother cried when I showed it to her and explained it all.

I have two of my dog, Opie. One on my foot by Alastair at Creepin’ Reaper Tattoo and one of me holding opie, recently by Harriet Heath. I love him so much I had to get two tattoos of him. Me and my fiancé, Joe are getting married in a few weeks in Las Vegas, and travelling to LA after, and Jody dawber is going to do us a matching wedding tattoo, so I think that could possibly be a new favourite.

Have your tattoos ever affected your work career at all or have they helped it? Being self employed my tattoos don’t affect my work. I think with Microblading my clients kind of like it, as a few of them have mentioned they feel more at ease for me to tattoo their face, because I have them myself. With nails my regular clients are really cool, some are similar and the others just know me and it doesn’t really matter. It’s other aspects of life I feel it affects more, like wearing a dress in summer and getting stared at by everyone!

August 12, 2018August 12, 2018

Tattoo Artist: Sofia Angelita

23-year-old Sofia Angelita works as a resident artist at Low Tide Tattoo in Southend-on-Sea and she also regularly guests at Kings Cross Tattoo London and Angelic Hell Brighton. We caught up with Sofia to chat about her style and influences…

How long have you been tattooing? I’ve been tattooing for two years or so.

What do you love the most about tattooing? Now that’s a tricky question, I love most things about tattooing! I love the daily creativity and freedom I’m lucky enough to have at work and that it never feels like work! But I’m sure every tattooist thinks that! I also love meeting new people and making them happy in some way!

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You work in both colour and black, which do you prefer? In all honesty I don’t think I have a preference, colour definitely takes a different kind of thought process for me personally than black work or black and grey. Colour also takes a longer time for me but I really enjoy the both!

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Who are your tattoo icons? Or artists that you admire? There are so many artists that blow my mind technically and for creativity. Rebecca Vincent will always be a huge icon to me, I met and got tattooed by her very early on when I was finishing my apprenticeship. She took so much time for me and was very informative and helpful and really gave me that extra moral boost I needed at that time, which she really didn’t have to do. Also loving Oliver Macintosh, Claudia de Sabe, Barb Rebello, Adam Ruff, Horiyoshi, Sarah Schor, so many artists, the list goes on!

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What would you love to tattoo? I would love to tattoo more lady faces and ornamental stuff.

How would you describe your style? I’m really bad at this question ! I’ve had some people say it’s illustrative but I’m really not sure what “box” my stuff goes in that would help me explain it? I also love tattooing ornamental pieces!

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July 2, 2018

Careers: Tattooed Social Media Representative

25-year-old Mikaela is a Social Media Representative at LUSH in London. We caught up with her to chat work, her tattoo collection and being vegan…

How long have you been working for Lush? How did you get your current role? I’ve been working at Lush for about three years now. I started on the shop floor at the flagship Oxford Street store, then joined the in store events and branding team. I’ve always wanted to bring my love of photography into my everyday job, so jumped at the chance at joining the social media team. I’m now a social media rep, and support events and branding when needed!

What do you love about your job? I love working for a company that’s so accepting of everyone, and encourages individuality. It’s a company that cares about their products, what goes into them, where ingredients are sourced and of course is fighting animal testing which is incredibly important to me. Lush also creates and supports a number of campaigns each year and isn’t afraid to use its voice as a popular brand to make people think, and I think that’s great. It’s also quite a tongue-in-cheek company at times so there’s always an element of fun involved.

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What sorts of stuff do you do? What projects do you get involved with? On a day-to-day basis at Lush, I do a lot of community management on the store’s social media pages, shoot photo and video content etc. Outside of work I try to do as much photography as I can, the majority of which is portrait work and it’s something I’d eventually love to be able to do full time.

I’ve also been vegan for two years now, so that’s a big part of my life. I’ve been trying to get fitter and healthier so spend a lot of time at the gym with my badass female, tattooed, vegan trainer @princessoftheunicorns!

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Can you tell us about your tattoos? Do you have any future plans? I’ve been getting tattooed since I was 19, my first one was a tiny heart on my wrist. I then ventured into getting bigger and more colourful pieces. My first ones being by Gemma, Amy Savage and Adam Ruff. They’re mostly quite traditional, lots of hearts and a few lady heads! I also have portraits of my dogs on my calves and two Fall Out Boy inspired tattoos. I also have a dotwork Maltese Cross on my ankle that I got in Malta, which is quite sentimental.

I think my favourite is still the first colour tattoo I got by Gemma, it’s a locket with my mum’s initials either side that I later had a key added to underneath. I have so many ideas for tattoos that I still want to get. I want to finish my sleeve and get my knees tattooed next, but I definitely know why I’m maybe putting that off a little bit!

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Can you show them off at work? How would you describe your fashion style? Not having to cover up my tattoos at work is another thing that I love about working at Lush. Everyone is encouraged to express their individuality and tattoos are no exception. I’m around so many tattooed people at work that I sometimes forget that they can still be a problem at other workplaces. Everyone loves seeing each other’s work as well and discovering new styles and artists as a result!

I don’t really follow any kind of fashion in particular, I mostly wear black, occasionally dipping into a little Bettie Page 50s feel when I have time to put the effort in – but mostly keep it a little bit dressed down “goth” I guess.

What kind of reception do your tattoos get? Most of the time I get a really positive reaction, people love how colourful they are and finding out why I got certain pieces. I do get the occasional negative comment or dirty look but I’m pretty used to it now, and nothing will ever make me feel bad about them when I know how happy they make me!

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Has being vegan influence your tattoos or job? Does it influence the company you work for? I would probably say that I became vegan as a result of working at Lush. I’d always had a bit of a guilty conscience when I used to eat meat but once I started working at Lush with lots of vegans, I learned so much more about the meat and dairy industries that I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

In terms of tattoos it means that I have to think about whether tattoo ink being used is vegan and aftercare, which hasn’t been too difficult so far. I don’t have any vegan-related tattoos yet, but I’m sure I will end up getting one eventually. I’ll definitely be getting more animal tattoos!

June 24, 2018

Tattoos & Yoga: Emma Vasquez

24-year-old Emma Vasquez , is a yoga teacher from Carlisle. We chatted to Emma to find out more about her daily practice, her tattoos and living a vegan lifestyle…

How old were you when you got your first tattoo and what was it? I was 18, it’s an owl on my thigh it’s about A4 size.

What drew you to the world of tattoos? Full bodysuits of tattoos. I just loved seeing so many tattoos together on one person, the colours and work just blew me away. I remember seeing a bodysuit on a lady in the swimming pools when I was about 10 or 11 and I was in awe of how awesome she looked.

What influenced your decision to get tattooed? I just liked how it looked, getting tattooed didn’t feel like a huge deal for me really, I don’t really have any that are meaningful or tell a story. It was more just get a tattoo done and that’s it. Go to a good tattooist and just enjoy the whole experience.

Can you tell us a little about your tattoos? I have both arms done, traditional and lots of colours and flowers. A nautical style piece on my back, an om on my chest, Ganesha on my stomach. I have both thighs tattooed, back of thighs, knees, shins, calves. All ten toes, insides of my feet and tops of my feet. They’re all traditional and I’ve been tattooed by many great tattooists, most were done by Megan Fell and her dad Colin Fell. Both solid tattooers.

How did your yoga journey begin? About five years, I had started meditating and wanted to see if yoga would complement that. I took my first class at the same studio I now work for, I totally fell in love with yoga from the start.

Have you been treated differently as a heavily tattooed woman in the yoga industry? I have had students tell me they were worried about coming to my classes because my tattoos make me look scary or “hard” even though I always have a huge smile on my face! People have outright told me they think my tattoos look awful and they don’t like them. But that’s their opinion and that’s fine. Sometimes I’ve had students giggle or point at my tattoos to their friends but never at the yoga studio in Carlisle where I work now, this was from other places I taught yoga. So I suppose people have said things or giggled and pointed at me to their friends because of my tattoos. I just let it be, I think the more tattoos you get the more you just don’t care about what anyone else thinks. I like them that’s all that matters.

Has your lifestyle changed since you started teaching? Not really, when I started yoga that’s when my lifestyle changed. I became vegan and made a lot of different life choices but since I started teaching it’s all just been so natural and fluid. No forcing anything, everything just flows really. It’s a great way to live, very relaxed.

Do your tattoos coincide with your yoga practice? I think as I am a strict ashtanga practitioner they do, ashtanga is a very yang style of yoga and if I go to other studios to do an ashtanga class I guarantee a few ashtangis will have tattoos! I suppose I also feel covered up with my tattoos when I practice, I feel hidden and in my own little world. I do get a lot of compliments about them though, in the studio and even people stopping me in the street.

Have they helped you to connect to yourself or the world in a different way? Actually getting tattooed made me realise we can step away from emotions and feelings, we don’t have to hold on to them or identify with them. If you’re in pain getting tattooed just accept it as your present moment experience and know that it’ll pass.

Have yoga and tattoos helped you to view your body differently, has yoga? Definitely, yoga made me completely fall in love with my body, to heal and nurture it and to be proud of it. And getting tattooed has also made me feel much more confident in my own skin.

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Where do you teach and how can people get involved?
I teach at the Yoga Studio Carlisle in Cumbria, it’s the most beautiful tranquil space. You get involved by coming along to classes! I run the ashtanga yoga programme here as well and that’s a real rarity for Cumbria! It’s fantastic to be teaching at the same studio I started my yoga journey in.

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018

Tattooed Ballerina: Alexis Lucena

24-year-old Alexis Lucena is a performer with Company XIV and recording artist from Long Island, New York. We chatted to Lexxe about her performances, how her tattoos mix with ballet and her future plans…

How long have you been dancing and singing? I think whenever music was on I had the itch to move to it from a very young age. My mom put me into dance when I was about three. I joined a professional academy when I was seven, stayed until graduating high school, then went on to get my BFA from the Purchase Conservatory. Singing was always indulgent for me, and ballet took up all my time. I played classical French horn for about 11 years in grade school. I taught myself guitar so I could sing along to Stevie Nicks. I think I’ve always had a deep appreciation for music. After graduating college I felt like I was getting older and not doing exactly what I wanted. I saw a concert and it all snapped into place- I called up music friends the next day and have been singing and writing ever since, this was in 2016.

How do you feel when you’re performing? Performing is such an incredible experience for me. Growing up dancing to these beautiful classical pieces and being able to embody the music was bliss. There’s something about sharing that moment with people you hardly know, showing them something they’ve never seen before- is magic to me. When I’m singing it’s even more exciting, because it’s way more vulnerable. I’m using my voice as an instrument. I primarily sing original music- so on top of using my voice I’m using my words and they are often deeply personal. Recently I caught someone singing along who knew the lyrics and just that one moment will resonate with me for a long time. I get the chills listening to good music, and performing to it. If I can share that experience with people if only for a moment then my life is complete.

Which do you love doing more, singing or dancing and why? This is a difficult question! If I had to choose, right now, it’s singing. I’ve danced more than half of my life, I’ve earned my 10,000 hours. It’s complete bliss, but at the moment I’ve been discovering different parts of my voice, different tones. And it’s really exciting. This morning I just got back to NY after recording in Seattle. I’m working on my EP, and I’ve been in a studio all day everyday for the past couple days. I’m so proud of the work I’m doing, I love everything, especially hard rock, but I’m a pop star at heart. I make music I can dance to, and when I dance the music moves me. It’s mostly just about that. And hey, I’m a REAL dancer. You can 100% expect me to throw down some choreography in my videos. No shade. But I’d love to bring back some REAL dancing- Madonna, Kate Bush, Lady Gaga Paula Abdul type dancing to the scene again.

Can you tell us about your tattoos? I’ve always been fascinated by tattoos. On my mom’s old computer there’s a secret folder of all traditional tattoos, that I planned on getting when I moved out and graduated. When I turned 18, I still wanted them but I was still en route to audition for broadway, the amount of tattoos I wanted is pretty much unacceptable.

The past two years I’ve met two primary artists that really helped me shape the art I’ve been wanting to have (Krista Olofsson and Jesús Arancibia). Almost all of my tattoos (née- a brilliant stick and poke done by fellow dancer and artist Krista Morgensen) are traditional. I can appreciate good realism, but to me I believe that the best tattoos are traditional. The ink sits better, the contrast against the skin is aesthetically beautiful – and honestly all the gothic reapers, roses skulls, are more my forte. I’m obsessed with Edgar Allen Poe and gothic literature. I have too many roses and I will probably not stop getting them ever. I’ve cultivated my body, like it’s a painting and I love it more everyday.

What sorts of reactions do your tattoos get? Initially- when I showed up to the college dorms with my first real piece , I was met with shock, but not surprise. Now a days, it took some getting used to on my family’s end but I’ve been pretty accepted. I think it’s because the quality of my work is incredible. I waited to find the right artists, and in turn I have artwork that I can look at everyday and fall in love with. My boyfriend is supportive and definitely helped to link me up with artists I needed to meet. Right now I barely have any color, but I have a theme of black and this morbid blue as a highlight on my arm that Krista started and it’s literally amazing.

I have really awesome music coming out on Control Records with William Control (formerly of Aiden). That’ll be out very soon. With music I could tattoo whatever I want and people wouldn’t care. It’s completely different than the reactions I get after the shows with Company XIV. There’s definitely some glances from the older generation, and it’s frustrating because I’m a professional artist- I don’t like to be not taken seriously. But at the end of the day I love my work and I’m proud of it – that’s all that matters. My body’s my temple and I hung a shit ton of awesome paintings in it.

Have your tattoos ever stopped you from getting parts or helped you to? They haven’t because I sort of removed myself from that scene when I decided it was time to be myself. I stopped auditioning for broadway shows. I was asked when I tattooed my hand if I was sure, and I was. I want to live my life as an individual. I have no plan b. I will not work a job that does not accept me.

After realizing this, I sent in my info for a company I’d auditioned for three times before. My dream company as a dancer – Company XIV. Would you believe that at around 8pm tonight I hit the stage for them for my 26th performance of their Cinderella? Austin the director is so open to culture and different styles of beauty. He’s cultivated an incredible place for us to be ourselves. I asked him if I could dye half my head black and he was confused as to why I even asked – it’s that kind of support I’ve always needed to be the best version of myself. I came in with my hand tattoos and he was elated for me. I am very blessed. One time I stayed home from an XIV audition my senior year of college because I was feeling down on my body. If you could’ve told that girl she’d be in the company years later- she would’ve laughed in your face. I almost believe becoming myself got me my dream job. It’s some heavy stuff to think about.

How do tattoos and ballet mix? Tattoos an ballet right now, don’t really mix. Although now more than ever I do see tattoos on professional dancers more often. I can 100% understand the notion that such a classical art form should perhaps stay tattoo-less, but makeup these days is too incredible to let that be a hinderance. It’s totally realistic to cover up some tattoos for stage, I’ve done it. But If I’m being honest, I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy a tattooed Odette in Swan Lake. On the other hand, I love contrast. It’s part of who I am. This ballerina with a dark side. I’ve always been more of an Odile, the black swan- and honestly she’d look pretty sick with some sleeves.

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Finger tattoos by Krista Olofsson

Do you have any future tattoo plans? I just got my fingers done, they are lovely. I coincidentally have heavily tattooed one side of my body. It’s the side where I have pink hair. I almost like it, because I am a living paradox, I’m heavily contrasted. I’ve always been attracted to the darker side of things. I’m very expressive. I plan on finishing my arm. I’ve been itching to get some more tradition depictions of artists I love. I’m looking to get a Lily Munster Marilyn Manson mashup. I’m absolutely obsessed with Frankenhooker, she’s getting on here somewhere. Oh! And more roses. Currently I’m not very interested in tattooing my chest. I just can’t see myself with it – maybe that’s the white swan in me.

Professional photos from shows are by New York photographer Mark Shelby Perry Other photos are by Tory Ruperto, Luke McAfee and Rathbunfotos.