December 2025 SPCP Insights

December 17, 2025•13 min read

In this issue:

A message from the SPCP Executive Director
The latest Sip 'n Share News
News from the SPCP Admin Team
Put THIS on Your Calendar for 2026!
Business Communications: Raising the Bar
Tip: Planning Your New Year: Strategic Scheduling Around Time Off
Holiday Self-Care - The Gift of The Pause

A message from the SPCP Executive Director

Shanan Zickefoose, BSN, RN, CPCP, CMM

As I reflect on 2025 and the many accomplishments of our professional trade organization, the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP), I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude, pride, and joy. The past three years have been challenging, yet deeply rewarding, and some moments this year have been especially meaningful.

In April, following earlier conversations with our Board members, I had an idea to host an exclusive paramedical summit—one that would comprehensively address the restorative applications of permanent cosmetic tattooing and the work we do with machines and needles. I brought the concept to our communications director and asked a simple question: Is this possible? Can we make this happen by October? The vision was for a small, intimate summit—a soft launch. She immediately embraced the idea.

We then presented the concept to the Board of Directors, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The support was swift, enthusiastic, and unanimous. The entire team was fully aligned and ready to move forward.

Alongside planning the event, the SPCP undertook an even more ambitious initiative: developing a brand-new certification exam—the first of its kind in our industry. I reached out to my former university professor, an expert in exam development. While she was not familiar with our industry, she brought invaluable expertise in assessment design. Using SPCP publications and suggested questions from respected industry leaders, we worked tirelessly throughout the summer. We met repeatedly—five hours at a time, then seven—refining, reviewing, and shaping the exam until it was ready for final edits. In the end, she delivered a robust test bank of 187 questions.

Ticket sales launched in mid-July, and our first venue sold out in under a week. We quickly began searching for an additional location and found an exceptional space that perfectly matched our vision—set in a vibrant area of downtown Tulsa, overlooking the Tulsa Drillers baseball stadium.

The event center reached full capacity. Our presenters delivered exceptional content, and as it turned out, their instruction aligned seamlessly with the certification exam. The summit became a full-day immersive exam review experience. While we encountered a few minor technical challenges, those lessons have already informed decisions for future events as we continue evolving digitally and moving toward more sustainable practices.

Today, as I reflect, I am genuinely energized by the momentum of the SPCP. We proudly welcomed 17 newly Certified Paramedical Tattoo Professionals. As the oldest tattoo trade organization, the SPCP is global, innovative, and firmly positioned at the table. We are seeing renewed interest, with professionals joining—or returning to—the SPCP in remarkable numbers, and that is truly special.

Looking ahead to 2026, the momentum continues. Both the new CPTP - Certified Paramedical Tattoo Professional exam and the CPCP exam will be offered fully online and available in multiple languages. This expansion represents a significant step forward in accessibility, inclusivity, and global reach for the SPCP, ensuring that professionals around the world can engage with our certifications in a meaningful and equitable way.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported and advanced the SPCP since January 2023. This collective effort is what makes progress possible, and I could not be more thankful.

The latest Sip 'n Share News

The December Sip 'n Share replay is now available in the member portal.

Pam Neighbors presented how to be - Tax-Savvy and Write Off Ready. This is the perfect timing for this information.

On January 12, 2026 at 7PM CT, long time member Molly Klipp, CPCP will be presenting. Stay tuned for more details.

Members can earn one credit hour for each Sip 'n Share. For more details check the EVENTS calendar in the members portal.

LIVE IG EVENT - Terry Lively, CPCP did a live IG December 15th. It was a live interview with SPCP Member Samantha Cham. In the interview they discussed Samantha's path from breast cancer survivor to paramedical tattoo professional and why she chose to attend this years summit and take the CPTP exam. You can watch the replay here.

News from the Admin Team

Become a

Certified paramedical tattoo Professional

Online Exam starting Feb 2026

Find out more about the application process on our website here:

https://spcp.org/paramedical-tattoo-certification

Business Communications: Raising the Bar

Judi Culp Pearson

Staying in touch with clients is one of the most effective ways to strengthen relationships, build loyalty, and grow referrals. When done intentionally, communication becomes the foundation for long‑term success in every stage of the client’s journey — from discovery to decision and beyond.

Map the Buyer’s Journey

Effective messaging starts with understanding where clients are in their decision process:

Awareness: They may or may not have recognized a problem (e.g., brows that won’t stay on, smudged eyeliner).
Interest: They realize there’s an issue and begin looking for options.
Solution Aware: They learn permanent cosmetics could help and start researching providers — that’s your cue to appear in search results with clear, relevant answers that help them evaluate and choose you.
Purchase: The decision is first made emotionally to satisfy a need. Once made, then it is justified with facts and information they have gathered. Before and after photos, a consultation with you and building confidence that they know, like and trust you.

graphic of the stages of the buyer's journey

Keep your website updated with fresh, keyword‑rich content that addresses common client questions. Outdated sites with little substance lose visibility fast.

Keep Content Current & Relevant

Search engines reward updated material. Review your website and digital communications regularly—verify accuracy, refresh phrasing, and adjust headlines to reflect clients’ actual search terms. Even small updates signal your business is active and trustworthy.

Repurpose helpful content across social media: share snippets or quick tips that link back to your site for full details. Make contact easy; always feature your phone number prominently.

Maintain Post‑Service Communication

Once a client becomes a customer, stay connected. Send concise follow‑ups and care tips to help them maintain results and feel supported. Share seasonal reminders about skincare, sun protection, or product use. Thoughtful outreach leads to repeat visits and referrals.

Professional Touchpoints

Your phone interactions matter as much as your artistry. A VoIP business number helps you sound professional and maintain separation between work and personal life—often at lower cost than traditional lines.

Meaningful Rewards

Encourage referrals without resorting to discounts. Offer appreciation through a VIP club, early access to new services, or small, exclusive events. Clients value belonging more than bargains. We like being a part of something and the relationship builds loyalty.

Kindness Counts

Personal touches—handwritten notes, birthday cards, or a caring gesture during a difficult time—speak volumes. Acts of kindness create loyalty that no promotion can match.

Wellness Partnerships

Differentiate your brand by integrating wellness. Host a mindfulness workshop or partner with local wellness professionals. Aligning with self‑care trends reinforces the confidence and balance your services promote.

Bottom line:
Consistent, thoughtful communication—online, by phone, and in person—builds trust, loyalty, and a reputation that naturally attracts new clients. Elevating how you connect is the surest way to raise the bar for your business and your industry.

Planning Your New Year: Strategic Scheduling Around Time Off

Shanan Zickefoose, BSN, RN, CPCP, CMM

Plan your new year with intention by scheduling strategically around predictable time

off.

Start with your own time off. As you plan your new year, block personal vacations and business closures first so your availability is clear and protected.
Build your calendar around federal holidays. These shared days off are ideal for strategic scheduling and backfilling appointments with clients who are also off work.
Cater to school schedules. Proactively block spring break, fall break, and school holidays, then promote those days specifically to school employees who are most available during these times.
Optional incentive: offer a small perk—such as $20 off with a valid employee badge—to encourage advance booking.

Thoughtful new-year planning allows you to align your schedule with your clients’ availability, maximize bookings, and create a smoother, more predictable year ahead.

A Gift for You: Permission to Rest

Judi Culp Pearson

As we approach the end of the year, I’ve been reflecting on what it truly means to sustain the kind of presence and energy our work requires. Cosmetic, artistic and medical tattooing bring so many joy, confidence and healing, but they also ask a lot of us.

So, in the spirit of care and authenticity, I wanted to share something that’s been resonating deeply with me and my clients lately: Permission to Rest.

December arrives with a swirl of expectations. Plans, gatherings, shopping lists—and underneath it all, that subtle pressure to keep showing up, giving, and doing. Even the joyful parts can leave us running on empty.

But our bodies and hearts weren’t designed to move continuously from one obligation to the next. Every system in us—emotional, physical, and spiritual—requires pause. True rest isn’t indulgence; it’s medicine.

The Nervous System’s Call for Stillness

When your mind says “I’m fine,” but your body feels scattered or heavy, that’s your nervous system begging for recovery. Most of us live in “go mode” far longer than we should. The sympathetic system (fight, flight, or freeze) powers us through busy days and keeps us safe in emergencies. But if it stays on without relief, even small stressors start to feel like heavy weights.

Moments of rest signal the parasympathetic system, your body's natural state of repair, to come online. The rest tells the body “it’s safe now, time to restore.” Digestion improves, muscles soften, hormones rebalance, and clarity returns. It’s not a luxury; it’s vital maintenance.

Rest doesn’t mean you have to disappear for a week. Sometimes it’s two minutes of quiet awareness—sometimes a deep breath before walking into the next room, a gentle exhale that says, I’m safe now.

Redefining Productivity and Worth

Many of us carry the belief that our value rests in how much we do. We’re praised for “handling it all,” rewarded for self‑sacrifice, and quietly conditioned to equate stillness with weakness.

But productivity without restoration is depleting. When you learn to pause, you rebuild the energy that makes meaningful work possible. Your creativity sharpens, your patience deepens, and your joy becomes sustainable.

Try asking yourself: What if doing less actually created more space for who I truly am to show up? Rest, is a declaration that your worth exists beyond your to‑do list.

Micro‑Rests: Small Pauses that Heal

You don’t need hours to restore yourself—you just need intention.

The Two‑Minute Reset: Sit back, close your eyes, and inhale slowly through the nose. Exhale through the mouth, releasing the tension in your shoulders and jaw.
The Sensory Pause: Step outside, even for a minute. Notice one sound, one scent, one color that brings calm.
The Boundary Rest: Choose one tradition, errand, or obligation that no longer serves you—then lovingly opt out this year.
The Transition Breath: Before you begin the next activity, take three slow breaths to mark a shift.

Each micro‑rest tells your nervous system, you can recover now. Over time, those tiny moments create steady resilience.

Balancing Giving and Receiving

Many women are natural givers—we nurture, plan, cook, create, and hold space for others. Yet receiving, especially rest, can feel uncomfortable. It’s easier to give than to pause and be filled.

But balance asks for both. Allowing yourself to rest is how you receive. It’s how you let life nourish you so you have something real to offer in return. Rest is not selfish—it’s reciprocity.

When you give yourself permission to recharge, you model self‑respect for everyone around you. You remind others that tending to our own energy is how we extend genuine compassion outward.

Rest as a Radical Act of Healing

Doing less heals more because it reconnects you with your natural rhythm—a rhythm that values presence over performance. When you slow down, you begin to notice what truly matters, what drains you, and what deserves your energy in the new year ahead.

Contemplation:

Where in my life can I soften the urge to do—and give myself permission simply to be?

Let this December be different. Instead of measuring how much you get done, measure how deeply you allow yourself to rest. In that stillness, the healing you’ve been chasing often appears on its own.

Call for Trends Articles & Tips

For the January Newsletter, we are featuring tips and articles on trends. What do you see as the top trends to watch and the which trends to avoid. Please send your submission (with any related images) to [email protected].

Deadline: January 14, 2026. Questions? Email [email protected].