Life & Work with Chanel Picquelle – Owner of Kurve Beauty Studio & Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanel Picquelle.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a “small-town girl” from Blythe, CA with a passion to help women feel and look beautiful in their own skin.

I moved to North County San Diego in 2009, married my husband in 2013, and started my family there. We became a part of a small coastal community very quickly, loving its “small town” feel and laid-back beach vibe.

Being the artsy person I am and with the booming industry of permanent cosmetic makeup, I decided to attend one of the top PMU training schools in the country. On my first day in training, I instantly fell in love with the trade and the industry! After becoming certified in permanent makeup, I quit my day job and never looked back!

Fast forward 2 years, gaining personal growth in my own business, microblading, and lip-blushing art and technique, I decided it was time to teach others who are eager to learn, what I know! With that being said, I am also the proud owner and trainer of Kurve Academy. I have such a strong passion to help others fulfill their own passions in the industry. I love mentoring passionate artists while sharing and teaching all I have learned along my journey to help develop the best artists in the industry.

Fast forward 1 more year to the NOW and BOOM… I picked up my family and moved them cross country to Tennessee! I am so excited to bring my skills and education to the Nashville area! Kurve Beauty Studio in Nashville is located in the Belle Meade area.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a new career always will come with its challenges. I would say the best piece of advice I ever got was from my husband and it was, DON’T ever take out a business loan. Wait for the right time to start your new business with your own money and build it as you go, whether it be fast-growing or slow, never owe anybody any money. Let me tell you, it has been the best advice!

I’ve always stayed ahead or just broke even but never in business debt. In the beginning, it was a struggle building clientele and perfecting my skill in the trade. I took a big hit during COVID like most small businesses did but fortunately was able to stay afloat somehow and I got through it. Then life threw me another curve ball.

After covid, we decided to move to Tennessee. After the sale of our house and almost on the road to the south, life happened and my Dad was called home. This led to many talks about, do we go, do we not go and stay with my Mom, what am I doing leaving a successful business, what if Nashville won’t be a good market for my business and how am I going to build and expand and grieve at the same time. But, with everything thrown at us, we decided it would be good for our family and we needed a new start.

Leaving a strong business behind and managing it from afar was difficult but I made it work as we started our new journey in Nashville. Long story short, I hit the ground running in Nashville, opened up my second location in the Belle Meade area of Nashville, reworked my business model, and really started focusing on the Academy side of my business offering PMU courses and Apprenticeships.

My company has really taken off in this new city and I’m truly inspired and driven to take it as far as it can go.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Permanent Makeup Artist and trainer/academy owner.

I specialize in Microblading, that’s my jam. BUT I also do powder brows, combo brows, lip blushing, PMU removal, freckles, and am mastering my next skill, tiny tattoos and areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors. I’m most proud of my determination.

Where my art started and how far it’s come is encouraging to keep going. When you have clients that are beyond thankful, you live for that reaction when they see their new permanent makeup, it’s life-changing and honestly, that’s what I live for. It’s so rewarding.

I’m also proud of how far I’ve built my business. I never imagined It would be what it is today. Actually, I did, ha. ha. but it’s a weird feeling to have it an actual reality instead of a dream, then your dreams just keep getting bigger. I definitely didn’t think I’d have 2 locations on opposite sides of the United States, but here I am… It’s a pretty cool feeling.

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
So, I would say, I’m the ultimate risk-taker with a pretty hard sense of reality alongside the risk.

I take the risk but always lay out all the cons… I’m a complete realist… call me a pessimist at times but in my head it’s me being a smart optimist… and if I have a 50% chance at success, I typically end up saying, let’s do it!

You know, quitting the 9-5 corporate job with Coca-Cola was a HUGE risk, taking on this new career path was a huge risk, opening up a storefront with no renters during rebuild – a huge risk, moving across the country and opening a second location – a huge risk.

BUT look where I’m at, how far I’ve come. There have definitely been struggles but the risks were all worth taking.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kurvebeautystudio.com
• Instagram: @kurvebeautynashville, @nashvillemicroblading, @kurveacademy, and @kurvebeautysandiego

Image Credits
Natalie Dir