Today we’d like to introduce you to Bree McKee.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I consider myself a true artist and discovered my natural talent and affinity for cosmetics early in life. Beginning with my love of painting and sketching, I have showcased my passion and ability to create beauty since childhood. Throughout my life, I’ve been told by many people, “you should do something with your art!”. I pondered on what that something was for a long time. I had been encouraged to pick up trade within the beauty industry, but nothing had really spoken to me. Hair? Nails? Lashes? Makeup? All those options left me feeling uninspired. Until… brows!
I found my passion for permanent cosmetics after having my own done for my wedding. Once getting over the initial shock of having a brand new pair of eyebrows, it became something magical! I didn’t realize how much having a well-shaped pair of eyebrows would enhance my face, open my eyes, and give me a much more lifted and flattering shape. Hook, line, and sinker- I was in love! I really appreciated how realistic permanent makeup options were. I could be as creative as I wanted, making brows as bold or as subtle as desired. I have taken six accredited courses, now holding several certificates for techniques such as Nano Brows, Combination Brows, Powder/Omrbe shading, and Microblading. As an artist and perfectionist, I approach each client’s treatment with care and meticulous attention to detail. No two faces are the same, and I pride myself on creating custom, tailored brow designs to fit the individual needs and aesthetic preferences of each client. That is how I came up with the name for my business: Bespoke Brows.
I now am the proud owner of my own beautiful storefront in the downtown La Mesa Village area. I love being able to service the community I grew up in and to meet people who have even traveled to see me! I feel tremendous gratitude and am truly inspired every day by what I do. I am dedicated to offering my clients one-of-a-kind luxury brow treatments. I believe in providing personalized and comprehensive services using the world’s best technology and products. My mission is to enhance your natural beauty and refresh your sense of self-confidence!
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?
The saying goes, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” (Thanks, Jimmy Dugan!) and that hits it right on the nose! To a large degree, I find my job effortless; someone who was born artistic, has an eye for aesthetics, and is a Virgo perfectionist, a career as a Permanent Makeup Artist plays too many of my natural strengths. However, it’s not all easy, not even close. I do feel that social media has yet again glorified something that’s extremely challenging: entrepreneurship. The demands of my business can be quite a lot for one person to take on mentally, physically, and financially. I think when I saw this vision for myself, it was about creating a life I wanted to live, to do something that truly lights me up, gives me freedom and flexibility, passion and reward! I feel that I have cultivated that, but with a lot of sacrifice in the process.
For two years, I juggled working a full-time job and built my business during the evenings and weekends, missing family gatherings, outings with friends, and even putting my relationship on the back burner. Then to leave that position, go all-in on my business, only to get handed a pandemic and be shut down for seven months. It. Has. Been. Hard. But everything has led me to this point. They were the things that needed to take place in order for me to get where I am. I commend myself for continuing to step out of my comfort zone, keep showing up, and know that this journey was the right one for me. Now almost four years in, I can say wholeheartedly it was the best decision I ever made. I get to wake up knowing that I’m going to make someone feel beautiful in their own skin, and I get to do that with my art. It’s a tremendous feeling to exchange my time and skill, to change a little bit of their lives for the better, and in return, support my dream! Even typing that out feels surreal.
You can’t get good without some of the bad, but I’ll say that my good days outweigh my bad ones by a million! I’m humbled and hopeful for all the days ahead.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Permanent Makeup Artist in La Mesa, CA, and I specialize in realistic brow makeovers. I’d say I’m most known for my Nano Brows machine technique. I feel that a lot of people are familiar with the Microblading term and consider all forms of brow work to be that, but I specialize in the Nano Brow technique, which is done with a machine only, and feel that this form of brow tattooing is what sets me apart from another artist. Nano Brows yields similar results to Microblading; hyperrealism, natural-looking brows, but is less invasive on the skin and can last much longer. Learning Nano has taken my skill set to an entirely new level. I am able to service more clients of a wider age range and skin tones and create a more inclusive quality to my work. Beauty is for everyone, and Nano has helped me be able to offer that.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Social media is a huge and helpful tool. Follow another artist that inspires you, like their work, ask them questions, shout them out! Try not to get wrapped up in comparison, just focus on perfecting your own skills; you can only be better than you were the day before. Meet other members of the beauty industry, Estheticians, Aesthetic Nurses, Hairdressers, Nail and Lash Techs and network with them. Clients trust their beauty gurus for good recommendations and at the end of the day, the community feels better than the competition and we love women who support women!
Contact Info:
- Email: brees.bespoke.brows@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.breesbespokebrows.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bespokebrows_sd/
Image Credits:
Olia Luis
