Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Bolton.
Hi Kim, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a proud first generation Mexican American. Both of my parents came to the United States from Mexico in their late teens, and I’ve always felt like I got the best parts of both of them. From my dad, I inherited an artistic eye and entrepreneurial spirit, and from my mom, ambition, passion and an strong work ethic. Family has always been at the center of everything I do.
I was the first person in my family to graduate from a university, and I also became a single mom at 21. I think becoming a mom so young made me understand the value of my time much earlier than I otherwise would have. I wanted to be successful, but I also wanted to be present for my daughter and build a life where I didn’t constantly have to choose between the two.
By my late twenties, I was working a corporate 9-to-5 and knew it wasn’t the life I wanted long term. In 2019, I took a chance on a brow course without realizing how much that one decision would change my life. I became completely obsessed with brows, but I was equally excited by what this career could potentially give me which was the freedom to work for myself and have more control over my time.
For a while, I worked two jobs while building my clientele. It was exhausting at times, and there were definitely moments when I questioned whether I could really turn it into a full time career. Eventually, I became booked enough to have a waitlist. Leaving the security of my corporate job was still scary. I remember wondering if my books would continue to fill, but they did. That was the moment I realized everything was going to be okay.
I originally trained in microblading, which I still consider one of the hardest brow techniques to learn. Looking back, I’m grateful I started there because it gave me such a strong foundation in brow mapping, shaping, symmetry and understanding how brows complement the entire face.
In 2022, I trained in Nano brows when the technique was still relatively new. Nano uses a machine and needle rather than a manual blade, and working with a machine felt much more natural to me. I became busy with the service fairly quickly and eventually transitioned away from microblading completely. Nano brows became a huge part of my business and helped establish me as the artist I am today.
As much as I loved permanent makeup, I eventually realized I was missing something that other girls in my industry had and that was relationships. With nano brows, I might see a client for her initial appointments and then not see her again for one to three years. I loved meeting new people, but I wanted the opportunity to actually know my clients and grow with them. That pushed me to become a licensed esthetician and expand my business. In 2023, I began offering brow waxing, tinting and lamination, and eventually added Korean lash lifts in 2025.
That decision gave me a part of my career I didn’t even know I was missing. Now I have girls I see regularly and so many of them stopped feeling like just clients. I get to hear about their relationships, careers, families and milestones, and I genuinely look forward to catching up with them. I joke that most days work just feels like girl time. I’m also incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built with other women in my industry too. The beauty industry has given me such an amazing community of women who support, refer and root for one another.
Today, I’m a mom of three. My daughter is now 15, and I have two young sons. The freedom I was chasing when I took that first brow course looks a little different to me now. It looks like slow mornings and dropping my kids off without rushing. It means being able to show up for the important events and taking time off with my family without feeling guilty for it. I’m able to be both a business owner and essentially a part time stay at home mom, and for me, that is the perfect balance.
I also lost my dad when I was 35, and that experience deepened something I already believed, that time is incredibly valuable. I value my own time, my family’s time and my clients’ time so much more now. These years with my kids are years I’ll never get back, and being able to build a successful career while still being the present mom I want to be is probably the greatest thing this business has given me.
Brows truly changed my life. I love the artistry of what I do, but what made me fall in love with this industry was seeing a client look in the mirror and instantly feel more confident. I became addicted to those reactions early on, and I still feel that way today.
I’m also a big believer in the law of attraction and that the energy you put out has a way of finding its way back to you. Somehow, this business has connected me with so many incredible women who feel like my kind of people. I’m constantly surrounded by clients and other beauty professionals who inspire me, support me and genuinely want to see one another succeed. I feel very lucky that I get to call that work.
Now I’m looking forward to the next evolution of my business which is online education. I’ve dabbled in in-person training and absolutely loved teaching, but with my kids being so young, I don’t have the capacity to make that a large part of my schedule right now. My next goal is to create online trainings for estheticians. I’m an extremely visual learner myself, and online education has played a huge role in helping me improve my techniques and take my own business to the next level. I would love to create that same kind of resource for other artists while still protecting the flexibility I worked so hard to create.
When I took that first brow course in 2019, I thought I was learning a new skill. I had no idea I was creating an entirely different life for myself and my family. Eyebrows gave me a creative outlet, a career I genuinely love, an incredible community, and most importantly, ownership of my time. I’m incredibly grateful I took that chance on myself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road, haha! Thankfully my husband is also an entrepreneur, he owns an embroidery business so he understands the pain of owning your business. You do it all from A-Z and people don’t know that. You’re the receptionist, the artist, the accountant, the social media manager etc. I actually do it all and people are always very surprised to learn that.
One of the biggest challenges was the uncertainty that comes with building a business from the ground up. There’s always that fear of what if people stop booking? Especially when you’re responsible for creating your own income! I remember being nervous about taking the leap, but once I became consistently booked and eventually had a waitlist, I started trusting that I had built something sustainable.
I’ve also had to learn how to evolve with my business and with each season of my life. I’m a mom of three now, so my priorities and the way I work look very different than they did when I first started. I’ve had to learn that growth doesn’t always mean working more hours or saying yes to everything. Sometimes it means creating boundaries, raising your prices, being intentional with your schedule, and building a business that actually supports the life you want to live.
There has been a lot of trial and error along the way, but every challenge has taught me something and helped shape the business owner I am today. I think one of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust myself and realizing that success can look different in every season of life.
We’ve been impressed with Brow Dime, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Brow Dime is all about enhancing what is already naturally beautiful. I see the beauty in everyone. I specialize in brows and natural enhancements, and I’ve always believed that the best results should complement a client’s individual features rather than overpower them. Whether I’m creating a brow shape, doing nano hairstrokes, or performing a Korean lash lift, my goal is for the end result to feel like you, just enhanced.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely care about my work and the people sitting in my chair. I’m a perfectionist, I don’t rush my appointments, and I take the time to customize every service to the person in front of me. I’m also constantly continuing my education, researching new techniques and evolving my services. Korean lash lifts are one of my newest offerings, and I was actually the first person to post under #SanDiegoKoreanLashLift on Instagram. I love being able to recognize what’s coming next in the industry and bring those techniques to my clients early, while still staying true to the natural results Brow Dime is known for.
The relationships I’ve built with my clients are also a huge part of Brow Dime. I’m naturally very empathetic, and I really do treat the women who come to me like sisters. I want them to feel comfortable with me, but more importantly, I genuinely want every person who leaves my studio to look and feel their best. Some of my clients have been with me for years, and getting to be part of their lives while doing something I love is one of my favorite parts of this career.
Brand wise, I’m probably most proud that I built Brow Dime myself from the ground up. As a small business owner, I wear every hat. I’m the artist, photographer, content creator, editor, marketer and the person behind the scenes running the business. People often ask who does my social media, and I’m always proud to say that it’s me. I taught myself camera settings, lighting, angles, editing and content strategy because I knew that being talented at my craft wasn’t enough, I also had to learn how to show people my work. My clientele has grown organically through referrals, social media and the content I create, which is something I’m incredibly proud of.
Now I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned and expand Brow Dime into education. I plan to offer online training for other estheticians, along with more in person education when my schedule allows. There is so much that goes into building a successful beauty business beyond learning the service itself, and I would love to eventually help other artists grow their skills, confidence and businesses too.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Oh yes! My biggest advice is to be open and willing to put yourself out there. I grew up in a little bubble with my sisters and parents, and when I met my very extroverted husband, he definitely helped pop that bubble. He encouraged me to be more outgoing and not be afraid to reach out to people.
I remember when I was looking for my very first brow trainer, he suggested I reach out to students who had recently taken her course and ask about their experience. I was petrified to message complete strangers, but I did it. One of them, Adrienne, was so sweet and took the time to give me a genuine review, and that conversation gave me the confidence I needed to book the class. I’ll never forget that.
Since then, I’ve learned that so many opportunities and connections start simply by being willing to reach out. I network with other women in the industry, support their businesses, ask questions, share knowledge and try to build genuine relationships rather than looking at everyone as competition. Some of the best connections I’ve made in business started with me just putting myself out there.
My advice is don’t be afraid to make the first move. Reach out, ask questions, introduce yourself and be genuine. The worst someone can say is no or not respond but the right connection can open a door you never expected.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kim@browdime.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browdime
