Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Cremeans.
Hi Hailey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been hyper-independent. I started working at 14 years old at a catering business my friend’s mom owned. I bought my own first car, got my license right when I turned 16. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a job. I knew that going to traditional college wasn’t for me, but I didn’t know what *was* for me. Post high school, I just …worked.
I grew up watching my mom do her makeup everyday. I love all things beauty, giving full cred to her that. So, eventually I chose to attend the Esthetics program at Douglas J Aveda, and secured my Esthetics license in 2018. I had full intention on diving into professional makeup, for weddings, events, etc. but I remember the Makeup portion of the program there was literally 1 day. 😂 After graduation I worked at a local spa, and I HATED my life. A quiet, dark room for facials, full body waxing, body treatments… those are great services but not for me as the service provider. I only stayed there for 5 months BUT what did stick, was – eyebrows. I took time away from Esthetics, just doing brows out of my home for a bit and working a day job in the meantime. I went through a breakup, then covid hit. Everything shut down, and that was a huge turning point for me. I had all this time to figure out what *I* wanted to do. Once the restrictions were lifted in 2021, I decided to full send on myself and opened my own brow business – HMC Beauty in Wyandotte, MI. I built my clientele and relationships there for almost a full 5 years. I took two trips to Pittsburgh to get certified in Permanent Makeup, secured all my proper licensing, just slangin’ brows day in and day out. I still maintained a part time job the entire time. I was happy doing what I love, but inside I always felt like it wasn’t “enough” for me. That couldn’t be the end of my story – doing eyebrows until retirement.
Fast forward to early 2025, I left my long term relationship. We had a significant death in my family. I lost a very close friend. Man. something changes you deeply when you’re in your 30’s and the rug is pulled from under you.
That’s when I met Gabby. My mentor, boss and more importantly, my friend. She was tattooing me, I was yapping (probably too much) and expressed what I was dealing with internally. For the first time ever, I was considering quitting my life and going back to school. Get my degree in something for business, but I also felt like that still wasn’t the path for me. I expressed I’d always wanted to really tattoo, and I was doing tattoo eyebrows for almost 5 years at this point. Gabby opened her own shop late 2025 and offered me a spot at her shop. I could work in her incredible space while being her apprentice. The opportunity I could not have dreamt up any better. I left my little suite, and did just that.
I’ve now been tattooing since February 2026. I’ve uncovered the thing that finally feels like enough. Or could be. It’s still early, obviously, but it feels right.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
God, no. Battling myself internally. Managing home life, relationships, friendships. The hard choices that come with choosing yourself before others or knowing you deserve better in life. The death of my brother-in-law who was in my life for 18 years. Losing a friendship of someone I thought might stand in my wedding some day. The list goes on and on.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While I’m still an apprentice, my goal is do to blackwork, ornamental, black out style tattoos. Right now I’m learning all different styles of tattooing to get the basics, but this is something I’ll be learning everyday, for as long as I’m in this line of work. It’s not a one size fits all career path and I think that’s inspiring. I’m learning in a shop full of women, who all do their work differently, differ in style and techniques so I feel like that gives me a well rounded base of knowledge from the jump.
I’m most proud of my ability to be taught. I know a lot of people (in life and in their work) think that once they hit a certain point, they’ll max out on knowledge. That’s not true with me.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My only piece of advice, however anyone reading this takes it is: pivot. You can always pivot and start over one thousand times. It’s your one life.
Pricing:
- Pricing is based on each piece! They can book via Instagram @taxdaytattoos or email taxdaytattoos@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @taxdaytattoos
- Other: taxdaytattoos@gmail.com
