Cancer Survivor after Microblading: I feel like, I no longer look sick.

A story of how new brows have given Donate-A-Brow recipient Jacqueline Larson new confidence.

Meet Jaqueline Larson, Arxegoz Beauty Donate-A-Brow Recipient

Our biggest drive at Arxegoz Beauty is community. We established this Beauty Studio for Beauty Artists to flourish and thrive in Seattle’s lash and brow industry. We knew we’d be providing training, tools and the space needed for Artists to have a successful career in the work they’re experts in: microblading, lash extensions, dermaplaning, lash lifts and permanent makeup. Over time, we saw this passion naturally unfold into immense compassion for our guests and the Renton community. In early December, the Arxegoz Beauty team carried our last Donate-A-Brow event for 2018, which focuses on donating microblading services to survivors of cancer. We had one much deserving community member in mind: Jacquline Larson. Here’s her story.

“I feel like, I no longer look sick.”

These are the words Jacqueline uses to describe being Arxegoz Beauty’s December Donate-A-Brow recipient. The mother of two and wife has been battling cancer since 2012. What started as a routine check up and concern for a lesion on her breast,  became a two-time-misdiagnosis of a cracked nipple from breastfeeding. The delay in doctors properly diagnosing her lesion resulted in Stage 4 Cancer straight out of the gate. She began treatment within just 8 short months that same year. She was only 28 years old then.  After having had Microblading done at Arxegoz Beauty, Jacqueline said she has taken her first step towards getting to where she wants to go and taking back what cancer had taken from her.

Like many cancer survivors, Jacqueline’s hair growth did not return to the fullness it used to be. After having had a mastectomy and going through six cycles of aggressive Chemo, a week of big chemo meds, followed by two weeks of light chemo, her body was doing the best it could to return to perfect health. However, Jacqueline’s cancer was not isolated to her chest. It spread from her breasts to her 4th rib, behind her chest cavity, into her lymph nodes, under her arm, through her scapula and to her lower vertebrae (L5). She had an additional 6.5 weeks of radiation that ended in August 2013.

Losing Hair, A Family Affair

“The first round of chemo. My hair started to fall out. Globs started to come out. That’s when I knew it was time to shave my head, when I couldn’t look at my pillow to see how much more hair came out,” she said.

“I couldn’t bring myself to comb my hair. I couldn’t do it because I knew what would happen.”

Jacqueline Larson, Arxegoz Beauty’s first Donate-A-Brow recipient

Hair loss is one of many side effects of chemotherapy. It’s probably one of the pivotal moments when a cancer patient realizes the battle they are facing is happening–and it’s largely due to hair loss being so obvious and apparent in a short time span. Jacqueline turned this moment into a family affair.

“As (my mom and sister) combed my hair out, I cried because I knew what was happening,” she said, “That day I got my wig from Sonia’s best friend’s mom, who opened her shop to have my family come by to cut and shave my hair.”

“Every member of my family, including the kids, were given scissors to cut it off,” she recalled, “It was a very emotional time, but was important for me that my family was involved.”

“My family has been my rock.”

Finding Beauty Within

At Arxegoz Beauty, our goal is to take care of our guests. We want each person in our studio to leave knowing they are beautiful. We want them to have the best customer care and knowledge of the services we provide. We want to teach people how to take care of their skin and how to compliment their natural beauty with lashes, lash lifts or Microblading. We want people to find that inner beauty they didn’t see in themselves.

As we planned our Donate-A-Brow program, it stemmed from very close roots. We personally know of family members and friends who have gone through cancer treatment and the effects it had on their perception of their physical self. Having the tools, opportunity and heart, we intended to give back in a way which our services could truly make a difference. Considering Jacqueline’s story was the perfect move and choice to close out 2018.

“I was very interested in microblading, but was hesitant, too,” Jacqueline admitted.

“I did end up losing some of my eyebrow hair and they did grow back lighter,” she said.

“I still felt washed out. Even without makeup, I oftened looked like I was sick.”

For Artists, microblading isn’t a vain service of beauty. It’s a process that helps give people back the fullness and shape of their natural brow. In generations before us, eyebrow tattoos were the unspoken popular procedure for women as they aged and eyebrow hairs thinned out. Today, microblading is the popular choice among women and men of all ages. It isn’t just for luxury anymore—it’s a time saving investment so people can focus more on life and less getting ready for the day. Ultimately, it helps guests find that natural confidence to take one each day feeling beautiful without worrying about make up.

Looking “normal”

“Looking ‘normal’ has always bothered me for a very long time,” Jacqueline said a few days after her microblading appointment. “I guess for the first time in a very long time since diagnosis, I do look beautiful. I finally see what everyone has been telling me. I’m able to see and notice what everyone has been seeing.”

Jacqueline’s mother Norma, sister Sonia and niece Mia joined her at Arxegoz Beauty’s Happy Hour Holiday event hosted by Women Who Hustled. She met with Co-Owner and permanent make up artist Suze Vo, who gracefully guided her Microblading appointment.

“Since diagnosis, I have dealt with a lot of self confidence issues. The first look at my body after my first surgery—I broke down and cried. I’ve gained 45-60 pounds. I don’t’ like looking at myself in the mirror with having no breast, with having no hair. I couldn’t look at myself,” Jaqueline said. “I had to smile even though I felt so ugly deep inside.”

After some time mapping Jacqueline’s brows, numbing, then microblading, it was time for the reveal. When Suze finally revealed Jacqueline’s new brows, there was a stillness in the room. It was a clean and silent and unlike other grand reveals of the studio’s usual microblading reactions. And that’s because, there were tears.

“There was so much going on in my mind that I don’t—all I could do was cry (not that she did a bad job or that was something wrong,” she said. “It was because I didn’t feel sick anymore. Because I didn’t look sick.”

“I knew it was going to change how I see myself, how I look at myself,” Jacqueline said. “It’s the first step to rebuilding myself emotionally and physically.”

Inspiring Others

Jacqueline’s follow up appointment will be sometime in January. She still continues maintenance chemo therapy every three weeks, daily oral chemo and a monthly ovary shot since her cancer relies on estrogen, progesterone (HER2/NEU).

“There’s not a lot of young people who go through chemo therapy,” Jacqueline recalled. “I had amazing Nurses and Nursing Assistants who took care of me and shared their story of chemo treatment. I looked at her…she was my hope. She inspired me. I said ‘If she is here, then I can fight this beast.’ “

Aside of raising her children, being an amazing wife and fighting cancer each day, Jacqueline continued to strive for her dreams. She went back to school after her rigorous treatment and in 2016 received her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Now, she works at the same cancer treatment center she received treatment at. Jacqueline hopes to inspire others to fight and has goals of getting into Nursing school to become a Registered Nurse.

“I want to be the hope for other patients the way this nurse was for me,” she said.

You can follow Jacqueline’s journey on Instagram @urbannailsbyjacqueline and @urbanhookin. She is a creative who loves to crochete and knit. If you’re into to nail art, join her Facebook Group here.

Donate-A-Brow

Stories like Jacqueline’s are the ones that make our jobs as an artist so fulfilling. Knowing we can help others find the confidence in such a small way is rewarding. We can not wait to share more stories in the future. Arxegoz Beauty will be Donating-A-Brow soon again. If you’d like to stay connected for more stories of the guests we serve and when nominations reopen, please sign up for newsletters here: bit.ly/ArxegozBeautyVIP.