Meet Cynthia — Owner & Lead Artist
Cynthia Sturup is the founder and owner of First City Beauty (FCB). She is a highly experienced beauty professional, artist, entrepreneur, wife, and mother with over 23 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her career spans Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and now Pensacola, Florida, where she is known for delivering refined, results-driven beauty services grounded in precision, safety, and artistry.
Cynthia’s passion for beauty began at a young age, inspired by her mother’s salon and early exposure to professional beauty shows, workshops, and behind-the-scenes industry work. This early foundation cultivated her deep appreciation for fashion, artistry, and makeup—and set the stage for a lifelong commitment to excellence.
In 1998, Cynthia graduated from the Joe Blasco Makeup Academy in Hollywood, California, where she refined her makeup artistry and trained in prosthetics under some of the most respected professionals in the industry. She later earned her Cosmetology License in 2004, expanding her expertise to include professional hair services.
Education has always been a cornerstone of Cynthia’s career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to school and earned her Esthetician License, deepening her medical-based understanding of skin anatomy, wound healing, and pigment behavior. This advanced training fundamentally reshaped her approach to cosmetic tattooing and reinforced her commitment to offering only the safest, most effective, and most current techniques available.
Why We Don’t Offer Traditional Microblading
While Cynthia previously offered traditional microblading, her advanced esthetics education revealed important long-term considerations. Traditional microblading relies on manual incisions into the skin, which can be more invasive and may increase the risk of trauma, scarring, and unpredictable pigment retention over time—particularly as the skin ages or changes.
With a deeper clinical understanding of skin health and healing, Cynthia made the intentional decision to transition away from microblading in favor of nano brow techniques, which are widely regarded as the most advanced and least invasive method for creating realistic, long-lasting hair strokes.
Nano brows are performed using a digital device and ultra-fine needles, allowing for exceptional precision, minimal skin trauma, improved healing, and superior longevity. This technique provides softer, more natural-looking results while supporting the integrity of the skin.
For this reason, First City Beauty exclusively offers modern brow tattooing methods, including nano brows and powder brows, ensuring clients receive results that are not only beautiful on day one—but age gracefully over time.
Areas of Expertise
Cynthia specializes in:
Professional hair services
Traditional and airbrush makeup
Permanent eyeliner
Powder brows
Nano brows and advanced modern brow tattooing
Eyebrow lamination
Lash lift and tinting
Henna brows
Her work spans beauty pageants, magazines, bridal and special events, film, and high-profile modeling projects. She also spent eight years with MAC Cosmetics as both an artist and manager, where she led advanced workshops and trained artists and clients in precision-based makeup techniques.
Known for her meticulous attention to detail and consultation-driven approach, Cynthia is dedicated to helping each client achieve elevated, confidence-enhancing results—always with the highest standards of care, education, and professionalism.
To view client photos and recent work:
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Instagram: @firstcitybeauty