Leslie Kalkhoff is a registered nurse, wife, mother of three boys, nursing instructor, and the owner and artist behind Nurse Leslie Permanent Makeup & Restorative Tattoo in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
With over 15 years of nursing experience in emergency care and surgical recovery, she now brings her skill, compassion, and meticulous attention to detail into the art of permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing. Her work is a blend of clinical expertise and heartfelt care, designed to restore confidence, empower women, and help each client feel whole.
Leslie specializes in 3D nipple and areola restorative tattooing, toenail restorative tattooing, scar and stretch mark camouflage, scalp micropigmentation, and belly button restorative tattooing, as well as permanent brows, eyeliner and lip blushing — creating results that are natural, precise, and transformative. Every service is delivered with thoughtfulness, patience, and a dedication to honoring each client’s story, because to her, true beauty is found in confidence, comfort, and the individuality of every person she serves.
Leslie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is a registered nurse (RN), certified in progressive care nursing (PCCN) and as a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). She is licensed by the State of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and certified in bloodborne pathogens.
Nurse Leslie’s Philosophy
My philosophy is rooted in the belief that beauty is both deeply personal and profoundly healing. I’ve seen how restoring confidence can transform not only how someone looks, but also how they feel about themselves.
Through permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing, I blend artistry, precision, and compassion to help clients feel whole again — whether that means enhancing natural features or recreating what was lost through surgery or illness. Every treatment is approached with the same care and intention I would give to a loved one, honoring each client’s story and individuality.
My goal is to create results that look natural, feel empowering, and restore a sense of self. Because when you feel confident in your own skin, it radiates outward — touching how you carry yourself, how you connect with others, and how you move through the world.
Leslie Kalkhoff, BSN, RN, PCCN, SANE