Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheng Vang.
Hi Sheng, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My family and I are from a small ethnic group called Hmong. We are refugees who fled from Laos to Thailand during the Vietnam War. I was born in the first refugee camp in Thailand. Life there was not easy. My parents have to do what they can to keep us alive. They went from sewing Paj Ntaub (Story cloth) to selling hot foods. I started to help my parents when I was 7 years old by selling cut-up mangos in our neighborhood. My family and I had to move from one camp to another, while the current one was being shut down. We moved to 3 different camps before coming to the US.
I was 9 when we landed in Green Bay, WI, in 1994. My parents had to work odd jobs but it wasn’t enough. They picked a weekend job which involves picking cucumbers from the cucumber farm. The more you pick, the more money you make. So my siblings and I had to help my parents.
We lived there for two years before moving to St. Paul, MN, for better job opportunities for my parents.
When I was 15, I got married traditionally. (Yes, that sounds crazy, but it was a norm for our community back then. I still think I was crazy! lol) I was just a kid and had to grow up fast. I had my first child when I was 17. From there, my little family was everything. I was working while trying to finish high school and raising my kids at the same time. When I was 23, I became a single mom of 3 kids. The two girls were with me, and my son was with his dad. Being a single mom was not easy. I went to college for a semester, but it was hard with two kids. I dropped out and continued to work to support me and my kids. Money was tight. I was left with only $40 from some paycheck. $20 for gas and $20 for food. Barely surviving. I knew I had to do something else. So, I started selling French Macarons from home. I would bake from 5pm till 11pm or 12pm when I get home from my full-time job; Monday to Friday for Saturday pick-up. I did this for 2-3 years during fall to spring. It made about $200-$400 per week. But I don’t bake every week. Only when I have orders. However, it started to take a toll on me and I wasn’t making enough. Considering the time and labor I put into it. I knew I had to do something more.
One of my girlfriends started her Permanent Makeup (PMU) business and said I should too. I immediately jumped on it, poured all my hard earned money into this PMU business. I was left with only $2,000 in my account. I told myself that if I make it, great! If I don’t, at least I tried. I will have to say that it was the best decision ever! 3 months into my PMU business, I quit my full time job. That’s when life started getting a bit more comfortable for me and my kids. 3 years into my business, I opened up my first salon in Woodbury. To be exact, I opened it last year in July.
Getting to where I am today was difficult, but it wasn’t impossible. Thanks to my parents for showing me that hard work will always pay off at the end and for always believing in me. Thanks to my partner for always pushing me and for always being there. Thanks to my macaron customers and brow clients for their continuous support. Without all of you, I will not be here today. Thank you so much.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes and no. It was hard because of the investment part. If it wasn’t for my French Macaron business, I wouldn’t have the money to start up this business. So I am grateful for that.
Also, the thought of failing or not having clients was scary. But I was fortunate enough to have my friends, family and Macaron customers who supported me from the start. They made it possible for me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Permanent Makeup Artist and a PMU instructor. I service cosmetic tattooing such as eyebrows, eyeliners, and lip blushing. For brows, there are different styles to choose from. There’s Microblading, Ombre Shading, and Microshading (a combination of Microblading and Ombre Shading.). Aside from offering cosmetic services, I offer PMU training courses to those who are interested in this field as well. Training is held at my salon.
I am a perfectionist at what I do. If I am not 100% with my work then I know my clients will not be happy either. I go above and beyond to deliver the best work I possibly can. What I am most proud of is my cosmetic work. Not only do I get to showcase my beautiful work, but I get to help women feel more confident and beautiful about themselves. I take the time to listen to what each of my clients wants. We work together to find the perfect brow shape that compliments their facial structure and a color that will match their skin tone and hair color.
What sets me apart from others is the time and effort I put into each client. I spend time consulting with my clients on shape/color and educating them about Permanent Make-up. I make sure the chosen shape and color compliments with their facial structure, skin, hair and enhances their natural beauty. I believe that we are all created differently so should our brows. Aside from my client’s satisfaction, I always look for ways to improve my skills and techniques. There is so much to learn as an artist and an instructor. The only way for us to grow is never to stop learning.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Many will say that the PMU industry is too over-saturated and competitive. Yes, that might sound intimidating but let me tell you, it’s not! Keep in mind that there is only one “YOU” in this industry. You are different because it’s “YOU.” Focus on your technique, keep practicing. Practice makes improvement. Nothing happens over night so don’t feel discouraged or compare yourself to others. We all started from somewhere.
Also, don’t look at other PMU artists as your competitors, be friends with them. Come into this industry with an open mind. Be willing to learn and help others. This will help you grow as a brow Artist.
The beginning will be slow but do not let it discourage you. Keep in mind that you are running a business, not a playground. It will take time for you to have a full steady schedule. It will only get busier from there.
Don’t be afraid to offer free services when starting. This will help you to improve your technique, grow your profile and get exposure. When I started, this is what I did. I made no money but I knew it would all be worth it.
Having a great mentor is very important; it’s everything. I wish I had a great mentor when I started. Your mentor will teach you, guide you and help you get your PMU business started. I am an instructor and mentor myself; I would never want my students to make the same mistakes as I did. Their success is my success. If I grow, I want my students to grow with me. So, be choosy when selecting your instructor and mentor.
I would suggest you take your first PMU course with an instructor who can be your supervisor for the license portion and be your mentor. In the state of MN, you will need to apprentice under a tattoo artist who has held their MN license for 2 years or more and complete 200hrs under them. If you are in another state, check with your state for the licensing requirement and regulations. Every state is different. Training courses and licenses are two separate things. You will not be able to offer any PMU services in the state of MN until you are licensed.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies from artists to artists.
- All artists price their services based on their experiences and techniques. If you like their work, pay for their prices. You should not bargain at the artist’s price. You really do get what you pay for. However, make sure to do your research first. Make sure to follow the artist for a while before you go to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inkbeautysalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/inkbeauty_sheng/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inkbeautybysheng
Image Credits
For the professional photos, my sister, Mai Yer Vang
