You have swiped through enough Instagram posts to see amazing transformations happening in permanent makeup. Brows, lips, and liner. The techniques and pigments are unlike anything the world has ever seen, and you want in. So how exactly do you find and then choose a permanent makeup artist?
Where PMU Artists Work
Salons and Spas
Sometimes easy to find, but the spas usually promote their brand and it can be difficult to see individual artists' work. Usually the spa has a significant online presence, and you can get a sense of their history and quality through their website.
Private Commercial Studios
Artists who work out of a dedicated commercial space that they may have leased themselves. Often these are established professionals with a strong personal brand.
In-Home Studios
Artists who are starting out or pursuing a different career path. They may be preparing to launch their own brand, salon, or academy. They may work from a designated residential studio.
How to Find a PMU Artist
Not all PMU artists can be found the same way. They don't all have the same areas of expertise or an online digital presence. Search options include Instagram, Facebook, Google, Yelp, and online beauty directories. While some have Instagram only, other PMU artists have several forms of social media, a website, and maybe even a YouTube channel.
Choosing Your PMU Artist: Key Considerations
Safety
There is no official regulatory body provincially or federally that represents permanent makeup professionals. Instead, there exists a framework of related standards and regulations applicable to Personal Service Settings (PSS). These standards exist to improve infection prevention and control practices and to minimize the risk of blood-borne infections.
The City of Ottawa maintains an online Personal Service Setting Inspection database where you can check whether your artist is listed and in compliance.
Certification and Insurance
Your permanent makeup artist will ideally hold certifications in Personal Service Setting Training and Bloodborne Pathogens Prevention. They should be trained through a recognized academy and listed within a publicly available registry. They should also hold professional indemnity insurance.
Note that beauty training academies are for-profit private businesses. Courses may last anywhere from a few days to many months, and content varies. Microblading is not recognized as a medical or invasive procedure by the CPSO.
Waivers
No one likes waivers, but they are a very necessary part of this process. Feel free to ask for a waiver and aftercare instructions in advance so that you know what you are getting into. Waivers are an excellent resource full of tough questions to help qualify you as a client.
Self-Protection
Trained, certified, insured, inspected, or not: you should approach any professional service with a high degree of attention and skepticism. Ensure that you ask questions about the cleanliness of the environment. Monitor instruments and materials being used. Is it new? If reusable, ask how it has been sterilized.
Ratings and Reviews
Your permanent makeup artist will ideally have a verified Business profile on Facebook and/or Google Business. This is where previous clients will have left reviews and rated their service, and where the artist can engage with their clients' praises and concerns.
Style and Portfolio
Now that you have shortlisted and qualified your permanent makeup artist, you will want to be sure that their style and approach suit your own ideas and needs. Looking up your artist's portfolio of work (often on Instagram) will help set your expectations over what the outcome will look like.
Quick Summary
When selecting a permanent makeup artist, ensure that you can:
- Find them on the internet in an established online profile
- Ensure they are listed in the Personal Service Setting Inspection database and in a state of compliance
- Ensure they have obtained a certification within their area of practice
- Confirm they are insured
- Find their online reviews in an objectively managed platform like Facebook or Google Business
- Confirm that their style and approach are both clear and within your expectations
