Few people knew it happened.
The experience has no doubt left its mark on me.
Led through a side door and down unfamiliar stairs, to say I was nervous is an understatement. As I closed my eyes and saw the hand slowly covering my face I thought two things: Lord please don’t let me sneeze. And please let me like my eyebrows. Exactly two weeks ago today, I went to Arched Beauty for microshading, “a tattooing of small points along the browline to ‘shade’ in sparse areas” (harpersbazaar.com).
While briefly waiting for owner and operator Shantell to sanitize and set up for my services, I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of a dictionary and GED study guide on a nearby shelf. A bookworm, I am generally comforted by all things academia. My calm was short-lived, however, at the application of numbing cream and the announcement, “Here is your unopened needle.” Surely the shocked raise in the little brows I did have, rivaled the Gateway Arch of St. Louis. “Dang, this is like a real procedure” I thought to myself. I stammered and struggled with small talk, subtly slipping in questions about her years of experience. There was no need. She was professional, her own brows fabulous and eyes focused on the canvas of my face. Shantell is nothing less than an artist. I tried to lie still as a corpse, imagined death by dye and lamented, “Well at least if something happens my face will be fierce.” I focused on the music that was faintly playing. Some young man was singing about his trust issues, how all he needed was some closure– asking a girl to come closer, tellin’ her she don’t need to take no Uber…
Before I knew it I trusted her and was taking a nap. Shantell had me so relaxed that I was in the palm of her hand, literally. Somewhere between the lyrics of Ashanti and Arianna Grade, us singing to her iTunes brought the difference in our ages closer. Soon we found a rhythm and she shared more while I rambled less. A bad experience getting her own brows done led to her learning and lending her talents to others. When she finally finished and showed me to the mirror I almost immediately loved the new shape of my brows. They have since gone through a peeling and itching stage and will lighten in color about 50%. I think I would get them a little thinner if I were to have them done again. But I like them! It was definitely an adventure. Turns out the brows I had, what God gave me– was enough, just maybe needed a little help to frame my face. Beyond my own looks I admire Shantell and I left proud of her and her entrepreneurial spirit. Suddenly my shut eyes and closed mind were able to focus more clearly on the sparkly fabric, decorative throw pillow and cool logo of this self-made salon and young businesswoman. Most of all I was able to see and appreciate her determination, drive, and the dream she is achieving. Her beauty was in the eye of this beholder.
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
For more information and to book your brow appointment please visit:
Arched Beauty
https://shantell402.wixsite.com/archedbeauty
