Dawn Willard has spent her entire career in fine art and applied arts. After college (University of Florida and Florida State University), she went to work as an artist doing lettering and illustrations for Channing L. Bete Publishing Co. Her next move was to Boston where she was hired as studio manager for Ralph King Photography. Mr.King liked her “eye” and began involving her in high profile projects, for examples, with “inc.” and “Seventeen” magazines. This started her on a new career path--photo and film styling. Twenty-three years as a film and photo stylist taught Dawn an array of artistic skills, one being makeup.

Her foray into permanent makeup began in 1996. One morning she became frustrated while putting on lipstick, yet again, over fever blister scars. She thought to herself, “I wish I could just tattoo a natural color on my lips and be done with it!” A few days later, a magazine article introduced her to permanent makeup, and on that same day, she booked her first training. This training was to be the first of many as she explored the techniques and styles of this art form.

According to Dawn, she never really dreamed of getting a tattoo. No way! Now she wishes she had known about it sooner. The ease and confidence Dawn gained from her cosmetic tattoos is what most inspired her to open The Permanent Makeup Studio. She can now create for others this 24-hour, carefree elegance. Through referrals, Dawn has clients coming to her from Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire, New Mexico and from numerous towns in western and central North Carolina.

The “Before” picture below is Dawn before her current application of permanent eyebrows, eyeliner and full lip color. Dawn points out that the “After” snapshot was taken at the end of a very long day of work. She had arisen at 4:30 a.m. to drive to a photography shoot, where she worked nonstop all day setting up merchandise shots for a catalog. This is truly an example of carefree elegance!

Before                                         After

“It still surprises and pleases me to see how much better I photograph now. I show up! As you can see, I also liberated myself from hair dying. With plenty of color now on my face, why not?” Dawn Willard