HOW TO FIND A GOOD PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST
How Training Impacts your Results
(Part #4 of 5 posts)
To me, education is the cornerstone of my business, with training at the heart of it all…..I believe you really NEVER stop learning and your skills progress all the time. There are so many facets of Permanent Makeup—which makes training a virtually endless process. It is why I regularly train & practice and am driven to continually learn new techniques and about new products to deliver the highest level of service to my clients.
But how do you know if an artist is well trained??
The essential first step to becoming a permanent makeup artist is licensing: be aware that requirements are different from State to State for obtaining a Permanent Makeup license. A license is required to be displayed in the place you are getting treatment. It is critical the artist you choose is licensed –if it is not in clear view, ask to see the license or ask how long they have been licensed to do Permanent Makeup. A reputable artist will absolutely be forthcoming about credentials and State License number.
There is a difference between licensing and training.
Each state also has different requirements for training to be licensed: the State of Minnesota requires an Apprenticeship—hands on training on people —of 200 hours (roughly 4 months) before a license will be granted. Many states do NOT require an Apprentice period to be licensed. This can mean an artist took an on-line training course and can apply for & be granted a license--without any ‘hands on’ training--they are essentially learning on YOUR face…with often disastrous results!
The most direct way to learn about training is to ASK the artist :
Are you licensed ?
How long have you been doing this?
How much training do you have? How many eyeliners/brows/lip color have you done?
Did you apprentice?
Where did you train?
Who did you train with?
What do you consider your expertise?
Any artist should gladly answer these questions and be able to share with you their background.
So what if you don’t know anything about licensing in your area? Or about training?
Most times license & training certificates are displayed in the studio or listed on website—you can either see or ask about this. There are a multitude of training programs to advance skill & expertise within the world of Permanent Makeup. Training can range from Microblading (just brows) to Cosmetic Tattoo (brows, lips, liner) to Paramedical Tattoo (scar reduction & camouflage, age spot removal, areola). One of my favorite procedures is Areola because of its complexity, difficulty and the realistic 3D effect which can be created on a scarred & often uneven surface. It is one of the hardest techniques to learn & master. Not all artists can perform all of these procedures (or have to) in order to be skilled, but training is a definite clue to expertise.
Services offered by Training Schools
As mentioned in the prior blog about Pricing, often times training schools will offer significant discounts when they are seeking models for training purposes. This can be a great deal-sometimes saving hundreds of dollars--but know before you go! Not all training situations are of the same caliber: some training facilities have seasoned, master artists working directly with a student to supervise. In some states (where an Apprentice situation is NOT required to be licensed), having your permanent makeup done with a beginner can mean they are training without any supervision--and there can be disastrous results! These are the horror stories we've all seen on the internet--and, sadly, it does happen. In any training situation, the artist should be transparent about it. You need to understand the skill level of any artist you choose.
Color is KEY
A top artist will have done a lot of training in different techniques, but also have taken training in COLOR THEORY. This is training about skin type & undertone and the actual pigment color chosen for your skin. This is one of the most important aspects of Permanent Makeup. It means how the color will look on your skin when healed. For more insight into color theory check out my blog on 'Choosing the Right Color' to learn more.
There are so many elements of Permanent Makeup to master in order to have skill--many of which impact the ultimate result achieved. What you want as end result is really the beginning of the process...this drives the decision on what artist you are seeking. Artists who offer more than one type of service have usually taken additional training, which is key to mastery of any technique. It broadens their skill base and gives them more 'tools' to get the job done well. You want to feel confident the artist you choose has experience and skill doing the service you are seeking. Do your research before you choose and read my other blog posts in the series for other tips.
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