We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amber Garton. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Amber, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
I loved all of these questions, honestly. One of them was “what are you chasing lately and what do you think would happen if you stopped” and that sort of ties into my answer to the question I actually chose.
Two years ago, I was in a car accident because I was hit by someone not paying attention. It almost got me my livelihood because my hand ligament was torn. I was forced to sit and heal for 5 months with no income while approaching my 10 year business anniversary. Clearly, I imaged my life looking a lot differently a decade into my career.
I was forced to stop chasing and really untangle my identity from my business.
There’s something about a forced pause.
I chose to dig within myself and allow myself to shed ego and identity tied to my business. I’d become so disillusioned with my industry and social media. I let the stillness and uncertainty reshape my mind in a way that allowed me to see more clearly. I’ve been learning from the “forced pause” on how to be adaptable, yet move without a plan. For someone who has always been a force of nature, I had to learn how to not be in control.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Amber Garton and I am the founder of Faux Getter Permanent Cosmetic Studio. I have been doing PMU for 10+ years and working in the beauty industry for over 20 years.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
There’s an undercurrent of authenticity building strength with these younger generations- yet everyone lives out loud online. I truly believe we all want to be accepted for the unmasked versions of ourselves, but the fear of how we will be received often switches on our automatic “filters”.
I turned 37 in February. Like all other elder millennials, we remember the world before the internet and coding our own MySpace pages during high school Telecom classes while the teacher wasn’t looking. We’ve watched so many eras and versions of ourselves come and go. But we were the generation who got to develop online personas and be the first keyboard warriors to exist.
I say all of that to say, the unheard, misunderstood small town girl back then was able to showcase just how vibrant I was and found community worldwide. But we’re a generation is shapeshifters. We got to try on so many versions of ourself at such a young age. The cusp. The B.C. and A.D. of the Internet.
The last few years, I’ve become a little disillusioned by social media and have realized how shackled we are to, not only our phones, but the addiction to validation being accepted online gives us. I’ve become a lot more private in this phase of my life because a lot of us never allowed ourselves to be private and find that validation without ourselves.
I’m a work in progress, but this is no small feat for a woman in today’s world. Just taking the time to find yourself is such a private process and it’s hard to be the cheerleader you’ve always wanted for yourself.
“It’s not a phase, mom” was the collective, unspoken emo kid slogan-
I feel like I’ve entered the era where Do Not Disturb is my permanent away message so that I don’t lose more years to urgency culture.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I feel like I’m playing my favorite card game We’re Not Really Strangers right now. These questions are really beautiful because I feel challenged, which is my love language.
While I do think the definition of success is very subjective, I think we can all agree that success changes people.
I think those of us who were never given anything we have today know that the struggle is what made us unbreakable.
The amount of trust that someone must not only have in my skills, but who I am as a human, to let me tattoo their FACE is not lost on me. I will define that as success over what my bank account reflects any day.
The struggle is what keeps us humble and aligns us with our values. The struggle is where you’re reminded exactly what you’re made out of and success is allowing yourself to receive the benefits of staying true to yourself.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
A characteristic that I find to be invaluable is the desire to use one’s power to protect others. Conservation has always had her loving fingers wrapped around my heart. Someone whose selflessness and eagerness to serve others that has shined brightly in my eyes would be Sir David Attenborough.
A man who has spent almost a century dedicating his life to wildlife. I know we all have felt the quakes of losing the celebrities we love die. But when we lose this man and gain his legacy, I think we will feel the aftershocks for another century.
Jane Goodall is another human with power that I admire deeply. She paved a way to protect chimps and primates of all kinds with her devotion. To be alive while both of these humans exist is just remarkable to me. To use your voice for those without one is the greatest use of power that I can personally imagine.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Oh, I would have to guess, but I think that it would be the safety and vulnerability I foster when you’re on my chair. I’m not very great at small talk and within my four walls I’ve felt emotional walls fall quickly. My appointments are only a few hours and I feel so close to these souls when they leave my office. They come in for permanent make up, but leave a little lighter, I hope.
I think anyone in the service industry feels like a bonus therapist, but this perk has really added so much value to my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Fauxgetter.com
- Instagram: @fauxgetter
