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.