We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Candi Little. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Candi below.
Candi, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
While I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, Eye Candi was born out of a newfound passion for life and my art. In Jan 2023 I celebrated my 4th year of sobriety. I began my journey in Permanent Makeup just 1 year into my sobriety. The initial years for most individuals in recovery are filled with self doubt, bouts of depression, guilt, and a general sense of just being lost & unsure of what steps to take to recreate a life and figuring out what that life even looks like?
I was no exception. I battled these issues and more.
I have always had a passion for makeup & quickly fell in love with the art of permanent makeup as I researched. I dove into the Industry head first when it seemed I had nothing to lose. With each new skill I mastered my self doubt was swayed. With every client whose life I touched by boosting their confidence, my own confidence grew.
Embracing my creativity and harnessing it in this field and in other aspects of my business has really been an amazing outlet and been therapeutic for me. Expressing myself creatively has allowed me to process emotions, find inner strength, and discover new perspectives.
Building a support system of amazing family, friends, and professionals has been crucial. Their confidence in me and my vision for my business and it’s future have been crucial.
Practicing self compassion by being kind to myself has also been essential. Embracing and acknowledging my past, while constantly looking at each milestone and hardship I’ve overcome has helped me stay resilient and maintain a positive mindset.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I I was born and raised in Mebane NC and currently reside in Holly Springs NC. I am a mother of two amazing daughters, Makayla and Madelynn ages 21 & 14. My studio Eye Candi Permanent Makeup is located in Cary NC, and offers cosmetic tattooing such as Microblading, Nanoblading, Powder Brows, Permanent Eyeliner, Scalp Micropigmentation, Lip Blushing & Faux Freckles. I also offer Paramedical Tattooing services such as Areola Restoration for Post Mastectomy patients, Scar Camoflouging, and Stretch Mark Revision. Eye Candi PMU added a new service a little over year ago that has been so fun and exciting to learn and watch take off, and that’s Body art tattooing. We primarily focus on Tiny Tattoo’s, delicate work and Fine Line tattooing.
The studio just got an amazing addition in Danielle Hom a fine line tattoo Artist who has joined the team this past year. She and I have just began having Tattoo Flash pop-ups and they are catching on and booking up faster than we anticipated.Not to mention they are so fun for us as well as our clients!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back the areas that were most impactful on my journey were proper training and practice, researching and investing in superior products, and knowing my target client base and being able to truly relate and listen to their needs and deliver. If you are early on in your journey with Permanent Makeup or another craft I recommend researching your training and being open to diversifying your training. I began training under one artist who was phenomenal. I didn’t stop there, I wanted to learn other styles and methods to see which I liked the best and which my clients preferred. Through a culmination of different trainers and methods I am now well suited to perform all the different styles offered in my industry. I began with brows. My first year in studio I only did brows. 542 pairs of brows to be exact. Once I felt totally at ease with brows I moved on to Lip Blushing, once I mastered that, I went on to Eyeliner and so on. It’s ok and I think smart to Niche in for many artists. Personally I want to do it all. I think it’s totally attainable especially when done 1 skill at a time.
Learning your product or medium is essential for any artist and the PMU field is no different. I did my own research and relied on the suggestions of my instructors for my initial investments in product. It took a lot of trial and error and investing everything I made that first year back into my business to find products that suited mine and my clients needs best. I advise being patient and not anticipating a big return your fist year especially if you are starting out on your own and not working under or with other artists. Be realistic in your business planning model of with what you will need to reinvest in the beginning.
The most instrumental part of my business is knowing and understanding the needs and wants of my client base. Before I even opened my doors being able to identify my ideal clientele was imperative for marketing and branding. My clients will all tell you my studio is over sharing central. And I love it! We laugh together, we cry together they are truly a second family to me and make my business everything that it is. I have been blessed with helping clients in remission rebuild their confidence after mastectomy with areola restoration, given cosmetic correction to a cosmetic issue that has lowered their confidence for years. I have talked with and listened to moms who have kids in active addiction who just want to understand how they can help, I have driven one of my clients children to detox and later had the joy of them calling me together after coming home from long term treatment.
As cliche as it may sound I’m going to say it anyway. I always look forward to going to work. I am excited for what new opportunity each day brings to expand my craft and connect with my clients. I have never once since I started this business thought I wouldn’t see it through. I have found my passion and the fact that I get payed to do what I love still blows my mind!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
To book an appointment please visit my website below. I am happy to answer any questions via call or text you may have prior to booking.
Eye Candi offers complimentary consults on all permanent makeup services in person as well as via Facetime or Zoom.
I do often perform revisions or touchups to work previously done by other artists. I do ask that if you have previous work by another artist and are looking to book that you provide current photos of the area to be treated so I may assess.
Current photos of my work can be seen on my Instagram page as well as my website.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and seeking treatment please reach out to me on any of the platforms below and I will be happy to link you to a network of people to begin your healing journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eyecandiofficial.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Eyecandiofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eyecandiofficial?mibextid=LQQJ4d
