Permanent make-up artists enhance their clients' natural appearance with long-term cosmetic tattooing. Also known as micropigmentation, permanent make-up is the injection of color under the skin for long-term eyeliner, eyebrow shaping or lip color. More advanced permanent make-up techniques include scar camouflage and permanent blush.
Permanent make-up artists may receive specialized training, in addition to their standard training as licensed cosmetologists, electrologists, estheticians or nail technicians. Nurses, tattoo artists and physicians are also increasingly interested in adding this specialty to their portfolio of services, according to the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP).
If you have the following qualities and skills, permanent make-up may be a great career choice for you:
- An eye for symmetry and knowledge of facial morphology
- A steady hand and excellent fine motor skills
- Good eyesight, which can be further enhanced by magnifiers
- Effective communication skills
- Commitment to marketing yourself
Your Permanent Make-Up Education
What You’ll Study
Permanent make-up schools are still rare, but permanent make-up training is available from many experienced and reputable trainers. The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP) recommends choosing a permanent make-up training program that teaches the following:
- Skin and facial structure
- How to design a look clients want
- All aspects of sterilization and pertinent health factors
- Complete understanding of equipment, needles, autoclaves, etc.
- Color and pigment issues
- Business and marketing skills
You should learn how to work with all three types of permanent make-up devices:
- Traditional coil/tattoo machine
- Rotary/pen machine
- Nonmachine/hand method
Most importantly, you need to get hands-on experience working on real people under the observation of a teacher. The SPCP says that four procedures on live models should be the absolute minimum offered.
Average Length of Study
There are many two-day beginner programs, which are affordable and can be a great way to get started. However, more training is highly recommended to reduce the risk of serious problems ranging from undesired results to allergic reactions, excessive bleeding and scarring.
A 2006 industry study by the SPCP found that over 30 percent of practitioners had received at least five days of initial training. Twenty-four percent had received between six days and two weeks of initial training.
Apprenticeship with an experienced permanent make-up artist is another excellent way to develop your skills. This form of training usually takes from six months to a year and is recommended after your initial training period.
Average Tuition
The 2006 SPCP study found that initial training costs ranged from under $1,000 to over $5,000, with the majority of students spending between $1,500 and $3,500. This does not include the cost of equipment.
Permanent Make-up Artist Certification and Licensing
Permanent make-up artists must comply with local, state and federal laws that dictate business operations. Licensing requirements vary. In most cases, your existing license as an esthetician, cosmetologist or electrologist is adequate to cover the additional service of permanent cosmetics.
Certification is available through many organizations, including the SPCP and the American Academy of Micropigmentation.
Permanent Make-Up Artist Career Overview
Most professionals who offer permanent cosmetics are already established in a related business. The 2006 SPCP industry profile study found that most permanent cosmetic professionals also work in one of the following professions:
- Esthetician (36.2 percent)
- Cosmetologist (23.8 percent)
- Electrologist (10.0 percent)
- Nurses (10.0 percent)
- Nail Technician (8.9 percent)
- Traditional Tattoo Artist (7.2 percent)
- Physicians (1.4 percent)
Other professionals who may add permanent make-up to their services include massage therapists, medical assistants and dental hygienists.
Over 70 percent of permanent make-up artists are self-employed. They work in a wide range of settings including spas, salons and medical offices. Some practitioners may operate their business from home and may meet local health department and city ordinance requirements.
The most popular permanent cosmetic procedures, which are taught in fundamental classes and performed by most permanent make-up artists, include eyebrows, eyeliners and lip liner. Other procedures—full lip color, areola repigmentation after breast surgery, scar camouflage, eye shadow and cheek blush—are considered advanced and require additional training.
Permanent Make-Up Artist Career Outlook
Over the past fifteen years, permanent make-up has come into its own as a full-fledged profession. Professional organizations have been established, and the field is growing rapidly.
Permanent cosmetics have become increasingly popular option for many individuals:
- Cancer survivors who have lost eyebrows and eyelashes
- People with allergies to conventional make-up
- Active people who don't want their make-up to run or sweat off
- People with vision impairments that make it difficult to apply make-up
- People with unsteady hands who can't apply their own make-up
- Busy people who don't have time to spend on their make-up
Permanent Make-Up Artist Salaries
Most permanent make-up procedures cost between $400 and $600. Advanced work may be charged at $150 to $250 per hour. Touch-ups may be needed after healing to perfect the look. At least one touch-up is usually included in the initial cost of the procedure. After that, color can last for a decade or more before it begins to fade, although a touch-up may be recommended after three to five years.
According to the 2006 SPCP survey, permanent make-up artists perform an average of 11.6 new procedures per month. That would equate to a gross annual income—before costs such as equipment, supplies, insurance, marketing and rent—of roughly $55,000 to $80,000 per year.
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