HOW TO FIND A GOOD PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST
Website Pictures, Referrals & Reviews ?
(Part 3 of 5 posts)
In general, a good artist will have a broad client base supported by photos, referrals and reviews. The more clients, usually, the more experience. A solid customer base requires more skill-to work on clients with different skin, hair color, age and skin condition challenges. Sometimes offering only one type of service (i.e. Microblading) indicates an artist who specializes in just that style. This is not necessarily bad, as they can often be very skilled. It can also mean, however, an artist who has limited experience or done limited training. So how to discern??
Seeing pictures of the artists actual work is KEY!
If you are seeking a good Permanent Makeup artist, you should be able to see pictures of their actual work. In fact, it is CRITICAL to finding an artist with skill. These examples can be on website, social media or shown to you in person (a great artist will do all three). You have to confirm it is THEIR work -some artists will copy things off social media or internet and claim it as their own work, when it is really done by someone else. Ask the artist directly to see examples of THEIR work. A good artist will be happy to show you.
What to look for on the photos.
Do the examples of the artists actual brows/eyeliner/lip color look aesthetically pleasing to you? That is probably the best place to start. If you don't like the look, it's probable that you aren't going to like it on your face!
Does the artist have clients with your skin condition? For example: if you have alopecia (condition where you don't grow hair), does the artist have experience working on people with alopecia? Know that not all techniques will work on all skin types....if you have oily skin, for instance, Microblading is NOT a good option.
Does the artist have clients your age? For example: if all the pictures you see of work done by the artist are of clients 20-30 years old, they may only work on younger skin. If you are over 40, you have mature skin; but does the artist have experience working on older skin? Do they have any clients with silver/grey hair? Older skin is harder to work on because it is typically much thinner and more delicate. An artist must have experience and skill working on older skin to prevent damage and achieve good results.
Is there more than one type of service pictured? This can mean the artist specializes in one thing (i.e. Microblading), which is not always bad if that is what you are seeking. If the artist has pictures of different types of services (brows, eyeliner, lips, areola, scar camouflage) this typically indicates they have invested in more training. (Learn more about training in the next blog!)
Referrals. The good the bad the mistakes.
It's likely you know someone who's had Permanent Makeup - it has become a very popular service. Assuming your friend/acquaintance has a look that appeals to you, get contact details, website or social media info and use these to start evaluating the artist they used. Personal referrals are often the BEST way to find a good artist. Ask your friends; ask co-workers; even ask someone you see waiting in line who's got brows you like...most will be happy to share details with you. All good artists rely on a referral network...referrals are the #1 way Permanent Makeup artists stay in business. And people who've had a great experience are usually willing to share details.
Reviews are a great way to get perspective on an artist -good, bad or great.
You can pick up a lot about an artist from reviews. Reviews are often listed on website, but some search engines (like Google, Yelp) also contain reviews. Reading about the experience of other people can be an excellent way to find the best artist for you. Does the artist you are evaluating get high marks for listening to what people want and helping them know their options? Have clients felt they were rushed through so the artist could get on to the next person? Did they feel unclear about pricing or other details of the procedure? People will often tell-all about their experience when it comes to writing a review—use this to learn about the artist you are evaluating.
Summary
There are so many elements of Permanent Makeup to master in order to have skill--many of which impact the ultimate result achieved. Choosing the "best" artist for you takes time. A good artist will have a solid client base supported by quality photos, positive referrals and good reviews. Artists who offer more than one type of service have usually taken additional training, which is key to mastery of any technique and broadens their skill base. Bottomline. Do your research before you choose and read my other blog posts in the series for other tips.
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