We recently connected with Rose Dillon and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rose , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

To me, my entire career feels like one ongoing, deeply meaningful project.”
People often have preconceptions about aesthetic or cosmetic work — that it’s superficial, or only about vanity. But what I do goes so much deeper. I work with all kinds of clients, many of whom come to me in incredibly vulnerable states — survivors of breast cancer, individuals with alopecia, people healing from trauma or living with visible scars. One of the most powerful services I offer is areola restoration for breast cancer survivors. For many of these women, it’s not just about appearance — it’s about reclaiming a part of themselves, their identity, and their confidence. It can be truly life-changing.
Whether I’m tattooing realistic eyebrows for someone who has lost theirs due to illness, trichotillomania, conditions like alopecia, subtly camouflaging scars, or simply enhancing someone’s natural features to help them feel more comfortable in their own skin, every service I provide is about restoring more than just the surface. I’m not covering up insecurities — I’m helping people reconnect with parts of themselves they may have lost or learned to hide.
What I do may seem cosmetic from the outside, but it’s rooted in empathy, healing, and transformation. And it’s an absolute honor to be part of that journey with my clients.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m [Your Name], and I specialize in restorative and cosmetic tattooing — a field that perfectly blends my love for art, beauty, and helping people feel whole again.
I come from a creative background — I was raised by two artists, so expressing myself through art has always felt like second nature. Despite that, I initially tried to follow a more traditional path, attending college and exploring conventional career options. But no matter how hard I tried to make that world fit, it just never felt right.
What I have always been drawn to is tattooing — I’ve had a love for tattoos for as long as I can remember, and I have many myself. But instead of creating custom tattoo artwork in the traditional sense, I found I had a unique eye for working with color, symmetry, and facial features. I’ve always been passionate about makeup and fashion, and interestingly, I even went to school planning to build prosthetics. Looking back, all of these interests were pointing me toward something more specialized, more personal.
That’s when I discovered the world of cosmetic and paramedical tattooing. It felt like everything clicked. I ended up in an apprenticeship where I learned the craft hands-on, and the combination of artistry, empathy, and precision felt like home to me.
Today, I offer a range of services including areola restoration for breast cancer survivors and cosmetic tattoos like brows, lip blushing, lip neutralization, eyeliner, and faux freckles.
People often assume this work is all about beauty — and it is — but not in the way many think. It’s about helping people feel confident, empowered, and comfortable in their own skin again.
What I’m most proud of is the intention behind everything I do.
In a field that can often be seen as a “money grab,” I strive to be the opposite. I’m constantly researching better techniques, sourcing the highest quality pigments, and staying up-to-date on safety, healing, and artistry. But more importantly, I make sure my clients feel heard and seen. I take the time to educate them, answer every question, and collaborate with them — because this process should feel empowering, not intimidating.
I also feel incredibly lucky to work alongside two amazing women at Honor and Grace Tattoo, where we’ve created a space that’s not only clean and professional, but warm, fresh, and fun. No matter what service you come in for, you’ll walk into an environment where you’re respected, supported, and celebrated.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just a job to me — it’s my life.
I feel so lucky to be able to call this my career, and I treat it with the care and intention it deserves. Even if I’m performing the same type of service multiple times a day, I never forget that for each client, it might be a milestone, a moment of healing, or a personal celebration. Whether it’s someone’s treat-yourself day or a survivor’s next chapter, I treat it like the big occasion it truly is.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Funding my business definitely wasn’t easy — and honestly, some days it still isn’t. I think most creatives can relate to that.
When I was first starting out, I was juggling multiple jobs while apprenticing and offering services at no cost just to learn, build experience, and slowly grow a clientele. I worked as a bartender, I worked as a ghost tour guide, and picked up whatever side gigs I could find.
There were weekends where I was working from 10 in the morning until 6 a.m. the next day — spending my days apprenticing, learning, practicing, taking notes, or even performing services, and then going straight into long nights at the bar. It was exhausting, but it was the only way I could make it work while still investing in my dream.
I didn’t have funding handed to me. I bought my supplies piece by piece, saved up for machines, paid for courses and materials as I could afford them — all while trying to balance life, work, and the overwhelming desire to make this career happen.
Eventually, I reached a point where I felt brave enough to take the leap and go all in. That moment was scary, but it was also incredibly empowering.
Even now, in this industry, there’s always something new to invest in — a new machine, better pigments, better tools — but that early hustle taught me how to bet on myself, even when it was hard.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Oh, absolutely — I wish I had someone truly looking out for me in those early days.
I spent so much money on classes, materials, and instruction that, looking back, didn’t really give me the foundation I needed. The permanent makeup world can be really overwhelming because there are so many people trying to capitalize on it. Every cosmetic tattoo artist on Instagram seems to have a class you can buy, plus there are countless online courses and paid apprenticeships available.
Unlike traditional tattooing, where you have to complete a certain number of hours and master specific skills before you’re certified, cosmetic tattooing often just requires passing a local health department exam. That means a lot of people jump in without the depth of training or mentorship they need.
Honestly, I wish I had understood earlier how crucial community and genuine mentorship are. I’m incredibly lucky now to work with my two coworkers at Honor and Grace, and to continue learning from Kelly Borders, who taught me the craft of areola restoration. There’s truly no better teacher than someone who believes in you and invests in your growth.
If I could go back and give my younger self advice, it would be this: don’t waste your time and money on every flashy class or product. Instead, observe carefully, critique your own work honestly, seek out mentors who truly want to see you succeed, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. That kind of support is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://HonorandGraceTattoo.com
• Instagram: @roseandbladetattoo

Image Credits

Mercurial Photography