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FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #107 How Microblading Became A Career, A Studio, And A School
Ready to hear how a single yes can change a career, a city, and a community? We sit down with Kristal King of Glamour Beauty and Brows to trace her path from a corporate role in D.C. to becoming a microblading pioneer in Stafford and Fredericksburg. She breaks down what microblading really is—custom, hand-drawn hairstrokes tailored to your face and skin—and why it remains the foundation of permanent makeup even as trends like powder brows surge.
Kristal shares the early days of educating curious locals, the leap to earn her permanent cosmetic type 2 license, and the moment a small studio dream became Glam Room Salon Suites. Starting with five suites and growing to eighteen fully occupied units with a waitlist, she built a one-stop beauty destination that houses hairstylists, lash techs, nail artists, tattoo artists, PMU artists, aestheticians, and photographers. We talk about how collaboration over competition fuels referrals, raises standards, and strengthens the local beauty economy.
Education is now a core pillar of her mission. Kristal founded a DPOR-approved, 200-hour permanent cosmetic tattooing school in Virginia teaching microblading, shading, eyeliner, and lips, guiding students toward the Virginia State Board exam with a current 100% pass rate. She opens up about practical leadership—mentoring others, serving on boards, honoring commitments—and the mindset shifts that come with public speaking and community service. If you’re curious about microblading benefits, exploring a PMU career, or wondering how to scale a service business into an ecosystem, this conversation delivers clear steps and candid insights.
Subscribe for more stories from Fredericksburg’s makers and founders, share this with a friend who’s ready to take a leap, and leave a review to help neighbors discover the show.
Kristal King
Glamour Beauty & Brows
Microbladingbrowsbykristal@gmail.com
+1 540-254-0426
2048 Richmond Highway, Suite C, Stafford, VA, United States, Virginia
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. We have Kristal King joining us, and she is with Glamour Beauty and Brows Microblading by Kristal. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here today. Well, I'm excited to have you as my guest, and I'm excited to learn all about you and your business. So let's start there. Share with us a little bit about Glamour Beauty and Brows.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Glamour Beauty and Brows is a permanent cosmetic tattooing business. I got started in 2016 in the Stafford and Fredericksburg area. When I started with permanent cosmetic tattooing, known as microblading as well, this area was not familiar with microblading. I was the first to bring this service to the area, which was very exciting. But at the same time, people were very intrigued about what is this microblading? And I remember posting on Stafford Talk, and there was like 500 comments of explain to me what this is. And um it was very exciting to bring to the area. It became very popular very quickly, and it became a niche where you know other businesses started to incorporate it in their services. More people became familiar with microblading, which helped me as a small business because then they started searching microblading, and then I would pop up and it made things easier and explaining what this service is. And that's where I got started. I got started doing microblading in 2016, and in launching that business, it grew very quickly. And from there, I expanded into uh going to school, getting a permanent cosmetic tattoo license where I can operate officially within Stafford and Fredericksburg. And then I became um Glamour Beauty and Brows with my own studio and business.
Speaker 1:Amazing. Congratulations. That's really exciting that you're kind of you know first to market here in the Stafford, Fredericksburg area. So congratulations on that. And please explain to those of us who don't quite understand microblading. What is microblading?
Speaker 2:I would love to explain microblading because microblading is an art. Microblading is where you create and design eyebrows according to a person's face structure, their Fitzpatrick, their natural brows, and of course, the direction that they want to go in with their beauty or their look. What people don't understand with microblading is that microblading is a unique art that's tailored for each individual. So there's no stencil, there's no copy of brow. So I've done over 3,000 microblading eyebrows, and every person that I have done has been the brows have been unique to that person. So I do not duplicate eyebrows, I make brows specifically for the person. People are they have questions around what is microblading versus shading or powder brows, which is the trend in the fad that's happening now. And what that is, is that it's more of a makeup look. So it's more of get up and go and look made up all the time, and your brows are fully filled in. That technique is done with a uh a permanent makeup machine, which is similar to a tattoo machine, and it's more of a shading technique. Microblading, and why I always specify microblading by Kristal, is because it's a unique service. Everyone cannot create this service. You should be licensed, you need to go to school, and it's an art that is the platform for all PMU. So if you learn microblading, you're gonna be in business forever because that is the platform to permanent cosmetic tattooing. So as the trends happen, as as the fads happen and they change continuously, you'll always have that platform of microblading where you can go back to that to create any brow for any person. Um, so that is that's a little bit about microblading. Um, they are individual hairstrokes. Um, so you are using a manual hand tool and you are creating little fine, thin hairstrokes within a person's eyebrow to create a specific look. It lasts a couple years, maybe three to five years with a touch-up included. And over time it lasts longer, depending on how you maintain it. So that is a in the short answer of what is microblading.
Speaker 1:Fascinating. Thank you for that explanation. It's very interesting. So tell me, how did you get into this? I want to hear your backstory. Tell me all about it.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna do the short version. Okay. Long story short is you know, before I didn't think I was gonna get in the beauty industry. I was not in the beauty industry, I was working in the corporate world. Um, I had got a master's degree and I was working in DC um in procurement and contracts. And um, but I always had this thing inside of me of like, this is not it. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur or run my own business, but I didn't quite know what that looked like. I always thought something about fashion or clothing line, um, but not beauty. And one day I had a friend um who said, Um, I need to introduce you to this um this technique that I've seen on YouTube, and this was a few years ago before you know social media was as popular as it is. And um I said, Okay, well, she said, Well, we have to meet and um I have to show you. And I'm like, Okay. So she showed me this YouTube video and it was microblading. And I when I saw it, I just knew that was it. I just felt I was like, so many people that I know do their brows, and I was like, if I could just make their brows look like this all the time, like that would be awesome. So I was like, let's do it. And um, again, at this time, the so with microblading, it was introduced to the US right before then. So no one knew what microblading was. So it it came through California. This is what all the stars, all the famous people were doing, and no one ever knew about it. It was like the best kept secret, and they were just like, How do they always look so their brows look so perfect and they always look so made up? It was microblading and permanent cosmetic tattooing. So once it was introduced, um, it spread very, very quickly in the US, and now it's the number one beauty. This is a literally a trillion dollar business right now. Um so she I said yes, and and that's a lot of that's one of the things I talk about in um my interviews and things like that. I said yes. And by me saying yes, it changed my life. And what we did was we had to fly to Texas because it was not here. Um, and we took a leap of faith and we took a chance, and we went and got certified, and we came back, and I started doing it. I I had models and um family members, and um, I remember my friend who introduced this to me. Um, she was already in the beauty industry. She introduced it to me and she said, Um, once we took the class, she called and she said, How's it going? I said, You know, I've been doing models, you know. I did a few friends and family, it's going. And she said, Oh, okay, well, I haven't done any yet, but I'm looking to towards doing it. She's a hairstylist, so she's very busy. So then time went on and she called, and I had then um rented a small room um to do my business and and how that happened, another beauty um owner in the community um was doing a beauty service, and I said, Let me launch my business to her. And I said, Hey, I do this thing called microblading, and she just stopped me and she said, microblading. I've been looking for a microblader, and I thought she meant like to do the service. And I was like, Oh my gosh, you're the first person that actually knew what microblading is. And she was like, No, I have this perfect room, great for microblade. And I was like, Oh, I was like, Well, not that comfortable yet. And um long story short, I said yes to that challenge, and I was very nervous. I'm like, I don't know how I'm gonna do this. I have no clientele, but that was the leap of faith again. Um, I said yes, and I started to do my business from that room, and I stayed committed and I worked very hard and I built my client up from the ground up. And microblading has been my passion and what I stick to. Um, and that's what I'm known for. So that's how I got started with microblading.
Speaker 1:Amazing. What a great story! And and there are so many lessons in entrepreneurship along the way. How you just said yes and you took the leap of faith. That's that's huge. I I love your story so much. Thank you, thank you. And um, I understand now you are have expanded. Talk to me a little bit about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you know, again, microblading has really truly changed my life. Um, and as I expanded and was looking to grow, um, I went to look for a space facility um to start my own studio. And I came across this space, and um, I thought it was perfect. I I envisioned it and I said, this is it. But when I occupied the space, I said, I just feel like I want to bring in other like-minded individuals like myself that are looking for the same opportunities that I was looking for and that I was granted by the young lady who saw something in me. And um that's how Glam Room Salon and Suites came about. It was not like I was trying to start a salon suite. It was I was not going in that direction. I was just looking for, you know, other like-minded individuals that was providing a service and wanted to be in a glam pretty space, um, and and you know, operate our and run our businesses. And um Glam Room Salon Suites happened. Um I started out with five suites, and then over time it really did well. And currently I have 18 suites. Um, yeah, so I'll I'm and they're all occupied, and we have um wonderful businesses here at Glam Room Salon Suites. We have a waiting list as well. Wow. But everything from hairstylists to lash text to nail artists, tattoo artists, prominent cosmetic artists, aestheticians, photographers, um, and more. So the list goes on, but um that's Glam our Salon Suite. So we're your your one-stop shop in your staff in Fredericksburg um area. So if you're looking for beauty services, we are here. Um, we're like a hidden gym. So it's like when people find us, they're like, I never knew this was here. And I'm like, no. But um, but they come to me, they're like, this is amazing, this is beautiful. So, you know, we've been we've we've opened in 2018 and uh we've been operating ever since.
Speaker 1:Amazing, congratulations on your success. So eight team suites, they're all full, and you have a waiting list. Like, that's amazing. Congratulations.
Speaker 2:Thank you. And you know, the good thing about this, um, you know, I have a yet a lot of young ladies come to me, or some don't, but they they they talk about it and they like, I want to do this one day, you know, I I want this. And I'm like, I love that, you know, I love that, you know, you can set standards in the industry and in our community to where, you know, again, I'm building like-minded individuals here, but we're also building that in a community which is much bigger. And I applaud that and I support that because I have 18 suites and we have beauty people coming into the industry, generations coming up. We need spaces for all people. If I can't house you or accommodate you, I want to work and connect and network with someone else to where we can share that business or I can recommend and refer you somewhere else. And I think that's what it's about just collaboration, supporting one another, and knowing that there is enough room for all of us to succeed.
Speaker 1:Amazing. Yeah, that's amazing. And so then how are you helping those come up and and educate and train others? Talk to me a little bit about that.
Speaker 2:So, again, um I'm like, what's next? You know, I'm doing microblading, we have the sweets, you know, I have my clientele, and the beauty, the beauty industry is growing, and I would get a lot of questions, you know, around the industry and permanent cosmetic. And I said, um, you know, it's time for me to elevate and start to train people who want to do what I do or learn permanent cosmetic tattooing. So, what I did, I took a step further and um I went through the process and I up and I um became a licensed permanent cosmetic tattooing school in Virginia through DPOR. So we are curriculum. Um, our curriculum is approved by DPOOR, it's a 200-hour permanent cosmetic tattooing class where you learn microblading, you learn shading, you learn um eyeliner, lips, the whole nine yards, and it's 200 hours. And upon completing the class, you get a certificate of completion that you take to Virginia State um to take your Virginia State board exam. And um, I opened the school in 2022. I've graduated 13 students so far, um, and they've all successfully compassed their Virginia State board exam. So it's 100% rate right now, which was is the goal. So I am a small school, and one day I'm hoping to really expand. And that's really what I'm working on now is how do I do that? And that's the mission that I'm on with the training institute.
Speaker 1:Amazing, amazing. That's very cool, and and kind of a full circle moment for you of you know, you had to to travel to go get your education, and now you're providing that right here in the Fredericksburg area, and that's really cool. Congratulations on that. That's a bit that's another, another big milestone. I'm so impressed. Thank you.
Speaker 2:It's it's been a journey, but it's worth it. It's all worth it.
Speaker 1:And uh, I'm a member of the chamber, and I'm always seeing your name around. So talk to me a little bit about um about what leadership means to you.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. I mean, leadership is you know, being a trailblazer in a sense of making pathways and opening up opportunities for others, mentoring, um, mentorship, showing others the way, um, whether that's through business or um, you know, support or understanding what their needs are, and and being able to be that filter for them, you know, connections, um, resource, tools and resources, being able to go into that toolbox to um pull out experience that you have already gone through or um facilitating that so that you can help, you know, other individuals. Leadership is also about serving in a community the best to your ability, you know, um whether that's being a port a part of um local groups, um community service efforts, um, you know, all of those things, and also supporting and serving on the board and chair and following through with what you say that you're gonna do with those commitments because that's important. People depend on you. I will say, um interestingly, when I was in leadership Fredericksburg, I remember um I was just so overwhelmed. I felt like I had like so much going on. And um, I remember telling my classmates, I was like, I'm not saying yes to nothing else after this. This is it. I'm taking a break. And they were like, Oh, yeah, really? And I'm like, Yes, this is it. And when they went to vote on um the president who they wanted to elect the president, I was elected. And then at the end of class, they were like, So, Krista, do you accept really? But you know, I said yes, and I was like, you know, you can't really, you don't really ever know like what is designed for you. And one of my models I go by is she designed a life she loved. And and I and I really truly believe in that. Like, what you want is designated and designed for you if that is what you're open to. And with that leadership, it it brought on a few other things that I wasn't quite like public speaking, um showing up in front of audiences, you know, for graduations, but I did it. And um, you know, that's what it's about. It's just about showing up, and that's leadership, you know, um, as well, showing up for yourself, showing up for your community, and showing up for others. And um, you know, I also have leadership in the community, but I serve on a few boards, um, board of directors for um um Barracks Row Main Street, um, which is in DC. I served on the chair for Leadership Fredericksburg for um 2022 to 2023. Um I was awarded 40 under 40 um with my undergrad um HPC. I went to a HBCU, which is um a black college and university in North Carolina, and they had elected me uh 40 under 40 nominated. So that was amazing. I was not expecting that, so I was really honored for that. So I just felt like like over the years, a lot of leadership opportunities have come my way, and I'm still growing in that area, but um, I I do think it's significant and it's important to show those leadership efforts, especially for those that are coming up behind us and the next generation and leading them into the right direction and supporting and ensuring and helping that our community is growing and going in the right direction.
Speaker 1:Amazing. Amazing. And and a common a common theme throughout this this uh interview is that you have been you have been open to opportunities, even when you thought I'm too busy or I'm intimidated, you Didn't let any of those things stop you. You continue to say yes, you continue to stay open to opportunity. So you're you're a really great role model.
Speaker 2:I appreciate that. You don't think you're doing a great job with it, or you can do better, or there's someone else that can do better, you know. Like, are you the one for the job? You know, those are the you know, challenges and things that of course we all have those insecurities. Um because there's just their positions and their roles that you're not typically in. So um it's always great to just, you know, say yes, do it, take on a challenge and see where it takes you. And I think anyone can do it if they just open their self up to it and accept the opportunity.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Absolutely. I love this so much. This has been such a great conversation. Before we wrap up, is there anything else that you would like the listeners to know about you or about your business?
Speaker 2:Yes, I would like to say that um at Glamour Beauty and Brows, um, we are accepting new clients. We would love for you to even come and visit us at our location just to stop by, say hi, get a free consultation if you're into permanent cosmetics or you want to learn more. Um, we are located at 2048 Richmond Highway in Stafford, Virginia. Um, we are inside Glam Room Salon and Suites. Um, we are also um our next training course is coming in March. So if you're interested in learning permanent cosmetic tattooing, our next cohort is March 2026. And you can follow us on Instagram at 3D Brow Boss. That's our permanent cosmetic tattooing page. And we look forward to meeting everyone soon, hopefully.
Speaker 1:I love it, I love it. Well, Kristal, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing your wisdom with us. Thank you, Dori. I appreciate it. Thank you for the opportunity. You're welcome.
Speaker:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.