Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mia Pinkstaff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mia, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As a child, I watched my father’s struggles and successes in owning his own business and always knew that the entrepreneurial spirit was inside of me! I started a home organization business at the age of 14, always found ways to fuel my creative desires through projects or work, and never wanted to have a moment of down time. As my parents and family friends would describe me, I was always looking for the next skill or activity to try. Through high school I would bake cakes and cupcakes for large events and weddings and found a passion in working for myself. As the years went on and I finished my education degree, my desire to start a business was in the back of my mind at all times. Throughout my teaching career, I would look for ways to make additional income through that mindset, opening up a tutoring company, a nannying business, and even a swim lesson company during the summer months off from teaching. Opening The Pink Brow has been the biggest risk I have taken, seeing that this is the first company I have started that I left my career to do full-time, but the confidence I have built from this endeavor is immeasurable. I am so thankful to now be in a position where I truly love my job and work brings me genuine satisfaction and peace in my life.

Mia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Mia Pinkstaff and I am the owner of The Pink Brow, a permanent makeup studio based out of San Diego, California. I opened my doors in April of 2021 with the hopes of having this as a “side hustle” in addition to being a teacher, but slowly realized that this is my calling and wanted to pursue this full-time. Transitioning from a high-stress and underpaid teaching position, I knew that the quality of my work in education was not being recognized and I deserved to feel rewarded for my attention to detail, willingness to learn/adapt, and my creativity. My focus in this industry is to create and maintain meaningful connections that go past a service or appointment. I specialize in microblading and lip blush services, taking pride in being able to offer a high-quality, individualized experience that will aid you in feeling confident in your own skin. I am known for creating a natural permanent makeup look, focusing on following the natural shape and color of your brows and lips. I lead with a mindset of “Less is More” in the look of permanent makeup, always reminding clients that we can build brows or lips to the desired result, rather than trying to achieve it all in one session. I am most proud of my intention to create genuine connection and relationship with clients, as this service can be an intimidating and overwhelming process. With that in mind, each appointment is tailored to the specific needs and desires of the client. There is always ample amount of time in the service to go over desires, shape, color, pattern, and concerns with the understanding that there is no rush in getting you out the door. You are more than a number! I offer consultations in-person and virtually if there are inquiries prior to committing to an appointment.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Prior to opening The Pink Brow, I was a Mild to Moderate Special Education teacher in San Diego. As a highly motivated and driven person, my intention behind teaching was to provide my students with a quality education and develop a genuine connection whenever possible. I loved the opportunity to have students feel seen by me and know their worth, but as the years went on, teaching became less instruction/connection and more delegation of tasks that did not pertain to my job description. Being in a classroom that was understaffed and overpopulated, I soon began to realize that I wanted to be in a position where I could still cultivate a human connection (that we all crave), while addressing my need for creativity in the workplace. The idea of permanent makeup was first brought to my attention from a friend who knew my situation and encouraged me to take a leap of faith in this industry. Sitting in my first microblading course back in April of 2022, I experienced a very overwhelming moment of clarity in realizing that I would thrive in this area of work and have the opportunity to follow in my father’s footsteps with owning my own business. Fast forward about a year, I have proven to my family, my community, and most importantly, myself, that I can be a successful business owner with the focus on creating meaningful connections and relationships with clients, a high-quality and individualized service, and a result that all of my clients have raved about. Making the transition from daily burn-out to limitless creativity and excitement has allowed me the confidence to expand my expectations and goals, both personal and professional.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

After making the decision to leave full-time teaching, the first few months were a honeymoon stage of believing that clientele would find me, the business plan I had in my head would formulate itself, and everything would fall in to place organically. As the business licenses, expenses, and growing to-do lists were adding up, I slowly came to the realization that my success was going to be heavily reliant on my motivation level and determination to succeed. There were months at a time when I would have only one or two appointments on my books and the model discounts I was providing to get clientele in the door were costing me more than benefitting me. I also made the choice during this difficult time to get certified in lip blush (which I am now so thankful that I did!). Learning a new and very challenging skill can wear down on your confidence in a way that no person or entity could even come close to. I was at a point of such frustration that I wanted to quit, but still needed to have models in my chair so that I can continue to practice my skills. I have now taken over 30 lip blush clients and my confidence in this skill has skyrocketed. I now feel qualified in an area that I previously felt nervous to simply address in a conversation. Looking back on each and every obstacle, I am so thankful that I was able to persevere through them and continue to learn how to better myself and my business in the midst!

Contact Info:

• Website: thepinkbrow@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thepinkbrow
• Facebook: The Pink Brow
• Linkedin: @mia-pinkstaff
• Yelp: The Pink Brow
• Other: Tiktok – @thepinkbrow

Image Credits
Credit to Mia Pinkstaff (myself) with The Pink Brow