Page 14 - Demo

14 | Produced by ST Content Studio relief and feeling like yourself without compromise.%u201dNeither a tediously long process norexorbitantly expensive, Taylor shareshow permanent makeup can be anaccessible avenue for immediate, gender-affirming change. With amore-defined brow, a soft lip blush oran eyeliner that won%u2019t smudge, Taylorhighlights how it%u2019s possible to wake upevery day feeling a little more confident,visible and rooted in one%u2019s identity. %u201cIt%u2019s not superficial %u2014 it%u2019s a survival tool forsome,%u201d she says.As Taylor notes, permanent makeupservices are also far from prescriptive. Choose to highlight femininity, masculinity or gender identity anywherein between. Lip shading can create apinker, plumper-looking lip. Permanenteyeliner, whether soft and subtle ora striking winged look, can enhancethe look of eyes and lashes. Eyebrow shading can have brows looking darkerand bolder in the shape that suits an individual%u2019s face and style best.%u201cFor many of my LGBTQIA+ clients,even the simple act of seeing theirtrue self reflected in the mirror canbe revolutionary,%u201d Taylor notes.%u201cThat matters. We speak up in color. We show up with ink. Curious whatgender-affirming makeup could look like for you? A conversation with an experienced artist is a good place tostart.%u201dFor Taylor, studios like hers arein and of themselves a safe spacefor radical self-expression andempowerment. %u201cA powerful solutionI%u2019ve found is creating affirming beautyspaces where people don%u2019t haveto explain themselves,%u201d Taylor says.%u201cJust being seen without judgmentis already healing.%u201d As Taylor notes,everyone deserves to be seen theway they see themselves, withoutcompromise or qualification.Even talking about identity with a knowledgeable and approachableartist with a depth of experience withLGBTQIA+ clients can help someonefeel seen, heard and understood. While affirming self-care is importantevery day of the year, Taylor notes thatPride month and the celebration ofself through permanent makeup shareessential common ground. %u201cPride isabout self-expression without apology. SPONSORED CONTENTPROVIDED BY PERMANENT JOYWhen it comes to identity-affirmingself-expression, permanent makeupcan be a means to help people feellike themselves more easily and moreoften. %u201cIt can be deeply frustratingwhen your features don%u2019t align withyour identity%u2014and when the tools tochange that feel out of reach,%u201d says Veronika Taylor, the artist and ownerof Permanent Joy in Seattle. For Taylor, gender-affirming permanent makeup isone small act of self-care that can help.As Taylor notes, for many in theLGBTQIA+ community, particularlythose navigating the fraught landscape of identity, visibility and self-expression, even looking in the mirror can feelcomplicated or emotionally draining. Inher experience, the pressure to 'pass' or the pain of being misgenderedcan be overwhelming. For many, it%u2019s exhausting to always have to explainthemselves. Yet she%u2019s seen firsthandhow immediately seeing a reflectionthat fits with permanent makeup canease mental and emotional burdensbefore the day truly begins %u2014 plusit%u2019s one less step in a busy morningroutine.Taylor works one-on-one with her clients, including queer and transindividuals, to center and celebratetheir unique identity as opposed tothe normative beauty standards of the day. %u201cIt%u2019s about more than makeup,%u201dsays Taylor. %u201cIt%u2019s about autonomy, Celebrate yourself with gender-affirming permanent makeupPermanent Joy by Veronika Taylor offers inclusive, gender-affirmingpermanent makeup. From brows to lips to scar camouflage, I helpLGBTQIA+ clients feel seen, celebrated and confident %u2014 every day. Beauty beyond binaries, crafted with care in Seattle. Learn more atpermanentjoyseattle.com/lgbtqia.Permanent makeup can help people choose to highlight femininity, masculinity or gender identity anywhere in between. (Getty Images)Using permanent makeup to help create an image that fits can ease mental and emotional burdens before the day truly begins %u2014 plus it%u2019s one less step in a busy morning routine. (Getty Images)It%u2019s about being loud %u2014 not just inprotest, but in beauty, identity andeveryday life,%u201d says Taylor. \of visibility starts with small, personalchoices%u2014and that%u2019s powerful.\After working with those who%u2019vespent years feeling erased, beingmisgendered or made to shrinkthemselves, Taylor argues the timefor smallness and quietude is over.%u201cWe%u2019re done with hiding. We%u2019redone with routines that exhaust us, standards that exclude us and silencethat hurts us,%u201d she says.But what about after Pride? %u201cAsfor the future, I hope to see evenmore professionals across industriesbecoming trauma-informed, genderaware and willing to adapt servicesto individual identities,%u201d Taylor says.%u201cThat includes listening first, never making assumptions and being loudabout our support %u2014 not just in June.%u201d