Meet Shannon M

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannon M. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Shannon, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

It took me probably 35 years to really understand this. When I talk about confidence, I tell people that (confidence) is when you walk into a room it’s possessing whatever quality that makes you stand up straight, chin up and have an easy in your steps.
This can be looks, or possessing some kind of knowledge, skill. Or even just a flow about you that makes stand 10 toes down that you are so sure about this fact about yourself, no one can shake it from you.

Mine came from a lot of introspection. And when I say a lot, I mean a lifetimes worth of really reflecting on every emotion good, bad and ugly I would have. I have spent many years on my own alone and having to be VERY self-reliant. (And a lot of that was not by choice) So I learned pretty quick my relationship was self was the most important one to develop. People are going to come and go from my life but I end of the day I couldn’t never escape the person I was, so I needed to really get to know and respect her.

I wanted to know the difference between being alone and lonely. I wanted to be able to fill my own cup and like my own company. I see my friends use relationships and substances to avoid taking accountability or do the shadow work. I never wanted to be like that, they felt stunted and robbed of the ability to develop wisdom and confidence in themselves. We all are faced with hardships at some point, but when we do shortcuts in life to deal with it, ( or not deal with it) you only deprive yourself. And does catch up to you!

And as corny and cliche as this might sound, doing all this introspection and personal investing I just remember one day, it all finally clicked! I literally was looking in the mirror and was like “what the hell was wrong with me? All these years being so hard on myself for what? I really like myself!”. Ever since then I find myself never wanting to change places with anyone. I can walk into a room and not wish to have this figure, or this persona, or this lifestyle, I truly like myself and it’s so freeing!

I wish there was a more elegantly way for me to say all of this. Confidence is so hard to put into worlds ‘cause it’s a feeling that’s so unique to one’s self. But if I could have one wish for everyone, it’s simply I just wish everyone could feel good about themselves, in their own skin. Because it is like being freed from your own purgatory.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a paramedical & cosmetic tattooer. I specialize in restoring one’s features. I am known for Areola Re Pigmentation, a style of cosmetic brows I call “Floofie Brows” Microblading, combo brows, and lip blushing . I think what might separate me from other artists is that I like to focus on keeping the personality in the features of who I’m tattooing.

Before I got into tattooing, I was an illustrator, and I specialized in anatomy. This I believe, comes out a lot with my clients because I focus on how the muscle and the skin drapes the features of my clients, and from there we design the brow, or areola, etc.

What is most exciting about my job is that I feel like I’m getting paid to hang out with my friends. I genuinely love getting to know my clients and I’m always just so honored no matter how long I’ve been doing this that they choose me to perform these services on them. Like mentioned previously about confidence, I just want the one major thing for people seeing me, is to make damn sure everybody feels good in their skin after they spent time with me. Often this is the first time my client are being vulnerable about how they feel about themselves. Since I am part of that journey for them I take it as a high honor.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1: comparison really is the thief of creativity. It’s OK to be aware of what others are doing, but just take the things that you appreciate about them and keep moving. We all bloom at the points that were supposed to.

2: my favorite piece of advice I ever got when I was a tattoo apprentice, was when you lose one bad client, you gain two good ones. Basically treat everyone with respect, be kind, but don’t get taken advantage of and don’t chase your money. For everyone person that might not care for you, there will always be at least two more that will.

3: When I first told people I want to learn areola tattooing, I was laughed at, I was told there’s no way I can make a living off that. 9 years later, I am living and working bi costal doing what I love. I realized not to take people’s perspective to heart, Because often they were operating out of fear. Unfortunately in life there are many people who hold position of comfort, instead of pursuing what they were passionate about. And sometimes that just leaves some stunted, unable to see the bigger picture of what I was trying achieve.

I was doing a service at the time that wasn’t well-known and I was going to be taking a huge risk by pursuing it.
Though I’m sure the people that were saying this to me had good intentions, and wanted to see me do well, I learned to be careful who you share your goals ambitions with. If you don’t have a strong self sense of self, you might get discouraged and talked out of being the next great thing!

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

I think the biggest challenge I’m facing and I think it’s a very common challenge many are facing in 2024 is unfortunately small businesses has taken a huge hit these last few years. The economy hasn’t been strong for many years and being reflected now more than ever people are having to make ultimatums. In this last few months I’ve seen several friends and colleagues have to close down. Though being self-employed does come to peaks and valleys, it can be scary on how to keep things afloat. I am very grateful and I’m very fortunate that I have the client base that I do to help keep working.
I just hope with this upcoming holiday season people support small businesses for gifts and needs. Like during Covid a bunch of my clients bought gift cards that were discounted for a Black Friday special at my Philly location ( Forever Valentine Beauty )
Those gift cards kept me busy for at least 3 or 4 months. Because it was small instantiate that got people to come in, and it saved mine, and the studios butt!
So something as simple as just buying a gift card from a small business can really save the day for someone. We’re all hurting this year!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @TheBrowRecluse

Image Credits

Photo of Shannon by
Alexandra Kacha Photography