Professional Body Piercer Kita Fatale
Interview with: Kita Fatale Piercings
Interview by: Megan Westlund
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Phoenix Tattoo Company
In 673 words, Kita shares:
The most important thing women in Denver should look for in a tattoo/piercing shops
The grit and grind of getting started in the industry
How she became a piercer at Phoenix Tattoo Company
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“Tell me about Phoenix Tattoo Company.”
We are a women owned tattooing and piercing shop on South Broadway in Denver. One of our biggest goals is to be the shop that people aren’t intimidated coming into. That people are comfortable being in. People often even bring their kids in and we welcome that (a lot of tattoo shops aren’t kid-friendly).
We moved to a bigger location this February after outgrowing our old shop down the road. Our artists were working butt-to-butt, we couldn’t even fit in a couch for how packed we were. This new space is much bigger. It has a really great vibe to it.
“How did you meet Jillian (owner of Phoenix Tattoo Company)?”
I met her through an old coworker. When I walked into Jill’s shop we spoke for 10 minutes and immediately she was like you’re hired, when can you start? I was just getting ready to go on maternity leave so I told her I could start after that and I’ve been here ever since.
“She kept the position open for you?”
Yeah, it’s rare. She’s awesome and is the best shop owner I’ve ever worked for. She has a heart and cares about the person.
“Super rare. Would love to hear more of your story. How did you become a professional piercer?”
I was married to a tattoo artist who owned a shop. When we moved back to Denver, at that time, there weren’t a lot of quality piercers out there. So the goal was to open a new shop and he’d do the tattoos and I’d do the piercings. So I started a piercing apprenticeship. My mentor, Krysten, was awesome. She is one of the best piercers I know. However the shop we were at was not good. We got hazed, we got sexually harassed, you name it, we went through it.
“What should women in Denver look for in finding a safe space to get their piercings done?
Look at reviews. Both the piercer and the shop.
Look at the Colorado.gov health department records to review inspections. They’re public so you can find them online.
Cleanliness is a big thing, so if there is a red check - don’t go to that shop.
Third thing you can look for is APP certified piercers (Association of Piercing Professionals). The better trained/more experienced piercers either have this or are in the process of obtaining it. We are currently in the process of being certified - so both myself and the shop will be listed on the APP website.
“What advice would you have given your younger self before getting started?”
It’s a sexist industry to be in, still to this day. I wish I would’ve known that before I got started so I could’ve prepared myself for that.
Basically you have to brush it off and you gotta’ know that this is what you want. Push through the trials to make it what you want - to become what you want. You have to constantly work every day. You don’t get downtime.
If you’re not on social media, if you’re not talking to clients, if you’re not promoting yourself, you’re not going to be successful. It’s something you have to work for everyday no matter of if it’s your day off or not. I wish I would have known that way before I started. It’s a hard industry to be in. So just remember that you want to do it and you’ll find a way to make it work no matter what.
“What does it mean to be a woman in business/woman piercer?”
Badass.
Women have to work harder and put more effort in. People still look at women as the stay-at-home-mom figure who has to do the cooking and the cleaning. There’s still a lot of that stigma that women shouldn’t own businesses. It’s getting better but it definitely still exists. It takes a lot of courage to own your own business. So yeah, badass.
“And you have a son! Does he come into the shop a lot?”
Yes he’s here often. He’s super polite, he will stand in the artist areas quietly while they’re working and wait until they are done to go say hi to them all. He’ll even stand by the front door and greet everyone who comes in. He loves it here.
“Any events coming up for the Denver women community?”
We do monthly markets with Melancholy Moth. She brings in a bunch of vendors that have jewelry, clothes, makeup, tooth gems, bones, dead things, vendors for everything.
This month is March 16th & March 30th from 4-9.
Visit Phoenix Tattoo Company to book
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