Enamored by Impact: A Conversation with Ali Goss
Owner, Enamored by Ali & Co-Owner, Syndicate Tattoo
Q: First off—this new space looks incredible. How does it feel to be here?
Ali Goss: Thank you—we love it. It was definitely bittersweet leaving downtown. We were there for almost 16 years, and when we first moved in, it was kind of a ghost town. People actually warned us not to open there because businesses “went to die.” But that wasn’t our experience at all.
We got to watch downtown grow around us. We built amazing relationships and truly loved being part of that. But everything has its season. We had outgrown the space, we didn’t own the building, and parking had become a real challenge—especially when most of our appointments run longer than two hours.
Now we’re right off the highway, easy to find, parking is simple, and we were able to purchase this building. That’s a huge step for us.
Q: Owning your own building changes things, doesn’t it?
Ali: Completely. Commercial real estate in Manhattan can be tricky, and finding something that actually fits your needs is even harder. This opportunity came up at the right time, and we jumped on it. It was a whirlwind, but we made it happen without rescheduling a single client.
A lot of late nights, a lot of Home Depot runs—but we got it done, and our clients have been incredibly supportive.
Q: Let’s rewind a bit—what’s your background? How did you get here?
Ali: I grew up all over. I was born in Colorado Springs, lived in Texas, then Wyoming, and eventually moved to Kansas. I finished high school in Hutchinson and came to Manhattan for K-State… briefly.
Let’s just say K-State and I weren’t a great match—I got a letter asking me not to come back. It was probably for the best.
I worked in restaurants for a while, then went to cosmetology school and worked in a salon in Aggieville for years. After having kids, it became really hard to balance full-time work and daycare, so I stayed home for a while.
That’s around the time we opened Syndicate Tattoo.
Q: That was a family venture from the start?
Ali: Yes. My husband Matt had always been artistic and wanted to tattoo. He was actually about to finish school for auto mechanics when he got offered a tattoo apprenticeship—two weeks before graduating.
We prayed about it, talked it through, and decided to go all in. He apprenticed for five years, and during that time we developed a vision for something different—a tattoo shop that felt welcoming, safe, and community-centered.
That’s how Syndicate was born.
Q: And where does Enamored by Ali come into the story?
Ali: That came later. I had always assumed I’d go back to doing hair, but then one day I saw a set of permanent makeup brows online and thought, What is this magic?
I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do. Matt thought I was crazy at first—“You want to tattoo faces?”—but after a lot of research, we realized how impactful it could be.
So we invested heavily in training. I traveled, worked with top artists, and eventually got licensed here in Kansas—which is not easy. There are only a handful of us.
Q: For someone unfamiliar—what exactly is PMU?
Ali: PMU stands for permanent makeup. It’s cosmetic tattooing, but very different from traditional tattooing. My goal is subtlety—enhancing natural features so no one can tell you’ve had anything done.
The best compliment I get is when people say, “You just look amazing,” not “You got your brows done.”
Q: What services do you offer?
Ali: Brows are my biggest service—they’re incredibly impactful. They frame the face and can make someone look younger and more refreshed.
I also do eyeliner, lip blushing, and even advanced techniques like “stardusting,” which creates a soft eyeshadow effect.
Beyond cosmetic work, I also do paramedical tattooing—things like scar camouflage and areola reconstruction for mastectomy patients. That work is deeply meaningful.
Q: Can you talk more about that paramedical side?
Ali: It’s incredibly emotional. For someone who’s gone through cancer and multiple surgeries, losing part of themselves—it affects their identity.
When I can recreate something that helps them feel whole again, it’s powerful. There are tears—happy tears—but it’s about helping them reclaim themselves.
I’m not a therapist, but I get to help people heal in a very real way.
Q: Some people might view cosmetic work as vanity. What’s your take?
Ali: It’s not vanity. It’s about feeling like the best version of yourself.
No one thinks twice about getting their hair done or putting on makeup. This is just a more permanent, consistent version of that. It simplifies life and boosts confidence—and that’s a good thing.
Q: Does it hurt? What’s the process like?
Ali: That’s the biggest fear people have. But I use both pre-numbing and secondary numbing, so it’s actually very comfortable.
Honestly, about 60% of my clients fall asleep during their appointment. That says a lot.
Q: You and Matt work together every day. How does that dynamic work?
Ali: Communication is everything. We’ve had to figure out how to balance being business partners and spouses.
But the truth is—he’s my best friend. We genuinely enjoy being around each other. Even when we’re in the same building all day, we’ll say, “I didn’t see you at all today.”
This new space actually helps—we each have our own areas, but we’re still close.
Q: Your story together is pretty incredible. How did you meet?
Ali: (laughs) Matt was supposed to be a one-night stand that went terribly wrong—because he never left.
We met at Annie Mae’s. I was a single mom at the time, and that night turned into us staying up talking all night. We didn’t see each other again for three months…
Then we ran into each other at a wedding. Six weeks later, he proposed.
We’ve been together 24 years.
Q: What do you love most about Manhattan?
Ali: Everything.
It’s beautiful—being in the Flint Hills is a gift. But beyond that, Manhattan has this unique balance. It has the culture, art, and energy of a bigger city, but still feels like a close-knit community.
The food, the people, the creativity—it’s just special. It’s a gem.
Q: Final thoughts for the Women of Impact issue?
Ali: Every woman I’ve ever met is a woman of impact.
I get to see that every day in my work—and it’s a gift.
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Ali Goss has never been one to chase the spotlight, but her work has a way of drawing people in anyway.
As co-owner of Syndicate Tattoo and the artist behind Enamored by Ali, Goss has spent nearly two decades building something rooted not just in business, but in connection. After 16 years downtown, she and her husband Matt recently moved into a new, owner-occupied space on Manhattan’s west side—a transition that marked both growth and a sense of arrival. “We loved downtown,” she says. “But everything has its season.”
Goss’s path wasn’t linear. After a brief stint at Kansas State University, she found her footing in cosmetology, spending years behind the chair in Aggieville. But it was a chance discovery—an image of permanent makeup brows—that changed everything. “I remember thinking, ‘What is this magic?’” she says. “I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
That curiosity quickly turned into commitment. Goss invested heavily in advanced training, traveling to study under top artists while navigating the rigorous path to licensure in Kansas—where only a select few practice at her level. Today, she specializes in permanent makeup (PMU), offering services like brows, eyeliner, and lip blushing, all designed to enhance natural features with subtlety. In every sense, she operates at the highest level of her craft, among the very best in the world.
“The best thing about my work is that nobody knows you’ve had it done,” she says. “They just think you look good.” But the impact of her work runs deeper than aesthetics. Through paramedical tattooing - such as scar camouflage and areola reconstruction for mastectomy patients - Goss helps clients reclaim a sense of identity and confidence.
“It’s not vanity,” she says. “It’s about feeling like the best version of yourself. ”That philosophy extends beyond her studio. Whether mentoring artists, supporting local nonprofits, or simply showing up for her clients, Goss sees her role as one of service.
“Every woman I’ve ever met is a woman of impact,” she says. “And I get to see that every day. It’s a gift.”