Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecile Moua-Do.
Cecile, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had a great childhood but I definitely remember the struggles we had to go through. Like many Hmong families, my parents had to flee Laos during the Secret War. They eventually ended up in the US and had to start from zero. My parents took jobs as tomato farmers in Fresno, CA because that was the only type of job they could get at the time. We were a family of 6 and had to share an apartment with our Uncle and his family of 6 because that was the only way we could afford an apartment. We moved around a lot as my father took any opportunity he could get to have better pay to provide for us. We were so poor, my family had to fish in the Sacramento River for dinner! No fish, no dinner baby! It was a tough upbringing but it sure as hell taught me how to adapt and fight for what I want.
Eventually, my parents were able to get their citizenship and better jobs. My parents worked HARD and both had entrepreneurial mindsets. My mom went against the grain of being a stay-at-home mom and ended up going to cosmetology school to become a hairstylist! My dad was a social worker for the county and tried various business ventures, restaurants, cleaning services, real estate, and network marketing. He failed a lot but always learned something and became better at the next.
Now, he’s built an incredibly successful business with outlets across the US. Their work ethic and tenacity have definitely stuck with me. I may not be the best at something but I never give up and I work hard. I truly believe hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard and can confidently say, I can outwork anyone. I’ve kept these traits with me all through my life. Being the youngest of four, I was the only one to graduate college. Although it was quite an achievement, I quickly learned, having a traditional corporate job wasn’t for me. I always knew I wanted to be my own boss. I began working with my father in his financial services company and was able to build a very successful branch of my own. I had no plans on entering the beauty industry but life likes to take you on a trip. It was in 2016 when I decided to get my brows microbladed and I fell in love. I began looking at different artists and academies, and even though I had zero experience in the beauty industry, I decided to take a course to see if I would be any good. I was horrible. I got scolded so much in my class because I just couldn’t get it right. I didn’t let that stop me. I continued to practice daily after class and applied what I learned. I would practice on latex skin, bananas, oranges, and apples, and even went as far as practicing on pig skin. I then began to do model work for free. I did well over 30 free procedures so I could build my portfolio. I wasn’t afraid to do free work, because I knew this was part of the investment I needed to put in to get a high return, and it has. I have a location in Oakdale MN, with a growing team, and training academy, and we’ll be expanding this year to a larger space. I love that you don’t have to have a certain background or degree, look a certain way, or talk a certain way to build a successful business. It is possible to achieve your dreams just as you are, but you have to take action. Don’t wait around for outside encouragement or “permission” from anyone! If you want it, go get it! Growing up underprivileged has definitely taught me to never take things for granted. I anyone who puts their trust in me, I take it personally. I understand that some clients and students have saved for so long to get the service done, or to train with me. I hold that very dear to my heart. Those humble beginnings will keep me humble and hustling, because I remember where I came from, and want to help others achieve and reach their dreams as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No smooth roads here. Tattooing brows is definitely its own art form. I come from a business background so the marketing side was easy for me to grasp. It was the actual art of brows that took me longer to understand. I diligently practiced every single day and did not hesitate to do free work when I first started. I was able to propel my brow career because I was not afraid to put in hard work for “free”.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to get high-paying clients if my work was not exceptional. My work could not become exceptional if I did not gain that proper experience. I understood I had to continue investing my time and energy to become the best I could be. I did a little over 30 models’ brows, their initial sessions plus their touch-up sessions, for free. Overcoming those first few months after training was the most difficult, but I had to remember, I was starting a business. With any type of business, the startup is always the toughest and will need the most effort. I kept working on my craft and didn’t think about charging clients until I was confident enough in my results. I see a lot of new artists who are unwilling to do free work or promotional work because they want to start making money right away.
That’s absolutely fair, however, their success is dependent on their initial time investment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in Permanent Makeup Tattoos with an emphasis on eyebrows. My style is unique because my style is not just one style! I understand, not everyone wants super dark, defined, “on fleek” brows and that’s ok. It’s important for me to be able to custom-create brows for my client’s various individual needs! When I shape the brows, I never use a stencil or approach it with a “one shape fits all” mentality.
I will draw the shape accordingly to that client’s specific bone structure while taking into account their preferences, and the natural contours of the face. From there, we have a variety of different styles of brow techniques and styles to choose from in order to fit their lifestyle and fondness. I’ve been in the industry since 2017 and am an American Academy of Micropigmentation, board-certified artist.
How do you define success?
Not only am I a PMU artist, but I’m a PMU instructor. Success to me is not about my own personal achievements or advancements, it’s about helping my students achieve their own success. When I first started in this industry, it was so hard to find basic information. I want to change that for my students. They all have different goals and desires, my purpose is to help them achieve their unique aspirations.
I help my students develop their technical skills but also their marketing, social media, business forms, photography, and editing and provide ongoing support long after class. I understand a business may be a new concept to some students, and creating beautiful work is just one small aspect of this business. In order to help them succeed, I have to help them become a well-rounded artist and businesses. Ultimately, success is a deeply personal and subjective concept, and my role as an instructor and mentor is to help my students discover and pursue their own definitions of success by providing the tools and guidance they need. When I can help them achieve their goals, that’s when I find the most fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://browbarstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceciles_browbar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cecilesbrowbar
- Other: https://bookingcecilesbrowbar.as.me/
