Leaving Her Mark
For Las Vegas Permanent Cosmetics artist Mary Arnold, business isn't just about pretty faces; it's about changing lives

It used to happen at the cosmetic counter.  You’d saunter up, idly browsing the summer’s hottest colors for an eye shadow or lipstick that will match your skin tone.  As you tried your shaky hand with a few promising shades, the perfectly made-up sales woman came to your rescue, applying what she thought was the perfect make-up job for you.  Whether she was dead on or way out in left field, you could always wash it off and start fresh.

Now, a similar scene plays out in permanent cosmetics offices across the country – only the results aren’t so washable.  Many women turn to permanent cosmetics for their 24/7 beauty needs; it’s easier, faster, and more long-lasting that runny eyeliner you used to wear.  But just like the Clinique counter, hit-and-miss results abound – only this time you’re left with eyebrows that make Elvira jealous, and you can’t just wash them off.

To the rescue: Mary Arnold, founder and certified Permanent Cosmetics Professional and Certified Permanent Cosmetics Professional at Professional Permanent Cosmetics.  In the early 80s, Mary, then a registered nurse, wanted permanent cosmetics herself.  After a little R&D, the RN couldn’t find a permanent cosmetics office in the greater Las Vegas area.  So in true entrepreneurial spirit, Mary started her own business – Professional Permanent Cosmetics.

As handfuls of permanent cosmetics offices started popping up around her, Mary made a critical decision: she would not settle for simply providing the service of permanent cosmetics.  Using her background in nursing and dermatology to her advantage, Mary made it her personal mission to provide expert service with standout results.  “I decided that they’re not going to be my competition; I’m going to be their competition.”

That’s exactly what happened.  Mary Arnold has made herself the go-to girl in Las Vegas for the finest in permanent cosmetics.  She offers lip liner, full lip color, eyeliner and lash enhancement, eyebrows, and repigmentation to clients from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of needs.  Some are young women and mothers, looking to simplify their morning routine.  Some are elderly women, whose failing vision and fine muscle control inhibits them from perfectly applying makeup.  Some are women who simply never want to deal with bleeding lip liner again.  For those clients and many others, Professional Permanent Cosmetics offers the experience and expertise to do permanent makeup right first time.

For those who didn’t come to Professional Permanent Cosmetics the first time, Mary offers an incredible service that sets her apart even further: the ability to clean up the messes of sub-par permanent makeup.  To do this, Mary had to literally perfect the art of tattoo removal, enabling her to work with a clean, fresh palate.  As a result of her expertise, 70 percent of the work done at Professional Permanent Cosmetics_SM is correcting work that was done elsewhere.

Instead of resorting to mainstream tattoo removal methods – laser surgery, dermabrasion, or surgical excision – Mary uses her version of saline tattoo removal, called Tattoo Vanish_SM.

“This is an old method perfected,” says Mary.  “The area of the tattooed skin is opened in a similar manner as when the tattoo or permanent makeup was applied.  Then a saline based product is put on, which soaks into the skin and helps to break up the existing pigments.  This doesn’t always completely eliminate the tattoo, the first time, but blurs and lightens it significantly.  Frequently, two to three treatments are all that is needed for complete removal.

The results: less pain, lower cost, and markedly better results.  The main advantage to the Tattoo Vanish_SM system is that it removes every color of ink, even the black residue caused by laser removal.  “There are no limits to what I can remove,” says Mary proudly.  Her no limits system also removes tattoos with 50-70 percent fewer treatments, keeping costs to a minimum.

What started as a cosmetic business, quickly and naturally evolved into a tattoo removal service that offers a fresh, clean start for thousands of Las Vegas residents, allowing Mary to leave her mark in a whole new way.  In July 2007, Mary and her staff at Tattoo Vanish removed the tattoos of ex-gang members for free, freeing over 100 people from the bondage of gang life.

“One woman came to me who had been oppressed into gang life by her brothers and given gang tattoos,” recounts Mary.  “She was given teardrop tattoos at the corner of her eye that meant she had to been to prison or that she had killed someone, although she had done neither of those things.  She was constantly stopped by police and taken out of her car…The only job she could get was as a line cook where no one would see her, all because she had these visible gang tattoos.

“She came to me for help, and after two treatments we had removed her tattoos.  She is now a head chef at a restaurant here in Las Vegas.” 

Because of Mary’s service, many Las Vegans have been able to jump back on their feet and reclaim their lives.  This July, Tattoo Vanish will hold a second annual free tattoo removal service for ex-gang members.  “Gangs affect all of us; they involve all of us,” says Mary.  “Because this is what I do, I think ‘Where could I help the community and help change lives?’  This is going to help not just these people, but a lot of people.”