Cosmetic Tattooing - Required Elements

While viewing a message board this morning, there was a brief discussion over a machine that people TRY to use but continues to have issues with . Bad issues.

I cannot understand why, even with discussion and advisement, permanent cosmetic technicians would try to gamble with their profession on "hit or miss" equipment.

In this industry, never "short-change" these required elements:

Good eyesight
Good eye-hand coordination with superb fine motor skills
Artistic ability with a knowledge of skin and makeup
RELIABLE, safe equipment and pigments
Integrity - to work cleanly, safely, competently, fairly

Eyesight - a given. If we cannot see exactly where we are tattooing the tiniest detail, we have to stop working at that very moment. We are talking about our client's faces - there is no room for error.

Fine motor skills - This is imperative. Now that you can see the tiny details, you have to be able to coordinate your needle properly. If you cannot coordinate a two handed stretch with a device in your hand and maybe even with some tissues or cotton swabs, too - you can't perform cosmetic tattoo procedures.

Artistic ability - You don't need to be a portrait artist but you will need to be able to draw a straight line, a controlled curve line, and have other abilities such as a good idea of color theory and how it applies to the skin tones of our clients. Also, if we have no sense for general principles of makeup artistry, how can we possibly make sound recommendations for our clients?


Reliable equipment and supplies - Equipment must be safe and have a proven track record. Just because something gets ink into the skin does not make it a worthy investment. Machines, in particular, should be soundly engineered so as to not allow for cross-contamination. In the tattoo industry, having a machine go out on us mid-procedure is unacceptable. Even if you have a back-up, who needs to waste the time and supplies to make the change?

Supplies such as ink and anesthetics must come from reputable sources and meet industry guidelines for safety and performance. This is one area the cosmetic tattooers clearly have above the body artists. Through the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, these suppliers are bound by ethical guidelines that require pigment manufacturers to fully disclose all ingredients. Body art manufacturers will say they have MSDS's available but most of those are not written to standards and they hide behind "trade secrets."

Integrity - Much of the above already has to do with integrity. Our industry depends on its professionals to do the right thing. It is fairly simple when you think about it. Be fair in our representation of our skills; be fair in our representation of our competitors; treat our clients fairly. How hard is this to do? True professionals are proud of their industry and the services they provide. Weaving a web of false manipulations and claims hurts us all.

Happy New Year!

Where did 2006 go? Truly - I think I might have missed some of it. How did we end up in January? There was no lull in December this year; in fact - there was no lull at all this year. Cosmetic tattooing as compared month to month against 2005 was increased every single month!

The industry is alive and well - or is it? Is it that my clients were more discerning because they knew of me and my reputation? It seems I am hearing more and more cases of permanent makeup being done in the back ends of nail salons without a single autoclave or even sharps container in sight! I am hearing of standards falling by the wayside - in fact, it was just discovered that an association for "micropigmentation" (fake name for cosmetic tattooing) has lowered their standards for education in this industry!

The minimum of classroom hours seems to have been decreased by ten hours! The American Academy of Micropigmentation should be questioned by their members as to why they chose to go backwards in an industry that MUST continue to tighten up training requirements on a steady and ever increasing basis. It is imperative that those who are profiting from eager students willing to part with thousands of dollars be held accountable to provide a quality education. This cannot be accomplished in 40 classroom hours. No amount of home study will suffice.

(Please note that the above referenced "guideline" has been subsequently removed from their website thusly noted on January 9th - does this mean this change is now reversed? I hope so - in that case, this posting may have helped after all since it was vehemently complained about on their message board by the person who is "in charge" over there. I have the cached version on file in any event.)

(Please note again: On January 10th it is now noted that they have moved the page of guidelines and it is now back to the minimum of 50 classroom hours. This seems to be an accomplishment - certainly worth bringing all the attention to it. It also makes one wonder who is making decisions like this there...)

Most recognize even 50 classroom hours does not properly prepare one to be competent in this industry but in unregulated areas, trainers need to be competitive. Someone needs to raise the bar, however. I hereby challenge EVERY trainer in this industry to make this year a memorable one for their students - increase the hours of fundamental education by at least ten hours. In fact, increase it each and every year - the prosperity of cosmetic tattooing depends on it!