Considering a permanent make-up treatment? Cosmetic tattooing expert Karen Betts, founder of Nouveau HD Beauty, shares her top tips

If the idea of permanent eyeliner or eyebrows makes you want to run a mile because you are unsure where to even begin, we have got you covered with our top tips from leading permanent MUA Karen Betts, to help equip you for starting your PMU (permanent make-up) journey.

Permanent treatments such as micro-blading or lip blushing (cosmetic tattooing to give the appearance of fuller lips) appeal to different people for different reasons. Whatever your reasons are, it is crucial to do your research first and ensure you use a qualified technician that can answer all your questions and create the best results for you.

Karen Betts says: “Whilst there are many factors to consider with any longer-lasting beauty treatment, I have summarised my top three elements that your technician should be discussing with you in the consultation, as a minimum. I would say it’s a red flag if these factors do not get assessed early into the treatment stages and I would be cautious to proceed. For the absolute best results, an in-depth bespoke consultation must take place first (at least 1-2 hours) in order to carry out a detailed assessment and establish the most effective treatment for your skin.”

Skin tone analysis:

“It is important for your technician to have excellent colour theory knowledge (the industry process to determine your skin tone) to determine the healed outcome of the chosen pigment once implanted into the dermal layer of the skin. Pigment will never look like make-up, as mak-eup sits on top of the skin, whereas pigment sits underneath several layers. The result is normally a slightly muted/ashier version of the pigment compared to when it was swatched on top of the skin. Remember, PMU is designed to look like an enhanced version of your own features, not a strong made-up effect. This way you can opt for a more natural every day look and then add more make-up on top for more glamorous occasions”.

Determining technique:

“Digital method vs microblading? Both are a form of tattooing. Both implant pigment into the dermal layer of the skin (when done correctly). The only difference is the method of application. The digital machine works like a classic tattoo rotary machine implanting pigment into the skin with a needle or formation of needles. The microblade is a hand tool with no power, implanting pigment into the skin more like the traditional hand-tap method before machines were invented! Hair strokes and shading can be performed with both. Brows, eyes and lips can be done with both. The choice depends on several factors: skill of technician/skin-type/desired result/healing/medical health.”

Skin type matters:

“Your technician must choose a method of application suitable for your skin type. Digital or blading. Strokes or shading. Your skin type will affect the decision. For example, an oily skin will cause hair strokes to blur more than a normal skin, resulting in less definition overall. Sometimes a soft shaded brow is a better option on this skin type. A very mature or thin skin may not be suited to a microblade treatment due to its delicate texture. Soft machine strokes on a low speed may be a better option. Someone with dry skin may not retain the pigment easily at first and experience gaps or patches in the healed result. Skin is unpredictable and varies from person to person and so a ‘retouch’ appointment (between 4-12 weeks after initial treatment) is always recommended to assess the heal and address any issues.”

To find out more about permanent make-up treatments or to book a consultation, you can visit karenbetts.com for further information.