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by admin
After nearly 10 years in the PMU industry, there are a few things I’ve learnt along the way. And one of the biggest lessons? Just because I CAN do something, doesn’t mean I SHOULD! 🤣
When I first started my permanent makeup journey back in 2017, the industry looked very different to how it does today.
Microblading was the next big thing, brows were getting bigger and bolder, and everyone wanted the latest technique.
Fast forward nearly a decade, countless hours of training, thousands of treatments and a fair few lessons learnt along the way, and my approach to permanent makeup has evolved considerably.
These days, I’m much more focused on creating beautiful, natural results that complement my clients, heal well and continue to look good for years to come.
And sometimes, being a good PMU artist isn’t about what you’re prepared to do. It’s about knowing when to say no.
So, here are five things I no longer do as a permanent makeup artist, and why!
1. I Don’t Follow Every Trend
Trends come and go, but your permanent makeup is going to be around a lot longer!
Over the years, I’ve watched the industry move from microblading to bold ombré brows, and now we’ve almost come full circle with soft powder brows and beautifully natural nano hairstrokes.
And personally, I’m all for it!
For me, permanent makeup should enhance your natural features rather than completely change them.
It’s also about thinking long-term.
PMU doesn’t simply disappear after a year or two. Pigment can remain in the skin for many years, even when the visible colour has softened.
That’s why I concentrate on creating results that heal beautifully and allow us to refresh your permanent makeup in the future without continually adding more and more pigment.
The last thing I want is for your brows to become oversaturated, leaving us with limited options further down the line.
And if you come to me asking for something I genuinely don’t think will suit your face, skin or features, I will tell you.
Not because I don’t want to give you what you’ve asked for, but because I want you to look fabulous!
After all, you’re my walking advert, and I want you looking your absolute best! 🫶🏼
2. I Don’t Treat Everyone
Now, this one might surprise a few people.
Believe it or not, I’ve turned plenty of clients away over the years.
Sometimes a client comes to me wanting their brows refreshed, but when I assess the existing pigment, I can see there’s already more than enough colour sitting in the skin.
In these situations, I might recommend waiting another 12 months to allow the previous permanent makeup to fade further before we consider adding anything else.
And yes, that means turning down a paying appointment!
But here’s the thing.
I’m not turning money away because I don’t want the work. I’m making a professional decision based on what I believe will give you the best long-term results.
Continuously adding pigment to brows that aren’t ready for another treatment can eventually lead to oversaturation, unwanted colour changes and a much heavier appearance than originally intended.
And once we’ve reached that stage, sometimes the only sensible option is to consider laser removal before we can create something new.
I’d much rather you wait a little longer and achieve a beautiful result than have to go through unnecessary treatments later.
Of course, every client’s skin and previous PMU are different, which is why I assess everyone individually.
With permanent makeup, less really is more.
And sometimes, the best treatment I can offer you is no treatment at all!
3. I Don’t Rush My Appointments
If you’ve ever been to me for a treatment, you’ll know I’m not one for rushing!
Every new client is offered a completely FREE face-to-face consultation before booking their procedure.
This gives us time to sit down, have a proper chat and discuss exactly what you’re hoping to achieve.
We’ll look at your skin, your facial features, any previous permanent makeup and which techniques might be most suitable.
It’s also your opportunity to ask me absolutely anything.
No silly questions, no pressure and no obligation to book.
When it comes to the actual treatment, I allow approximately two and a half hours for every new client.
Sometimes it takes three hours.
And do you know what? That’s absolutely fine!
Yes, I’m busy, and yes, I have a business to run, but I’m not running a conveyor belt of eyebrows! 🤣
Every face is different, and every treatment I create is bespoke.
I need time to carefully map your brows, discuss the shape, choose suitable pigments and work at a pace that allows me to concentrate fully on what I’m doing.
Sometimes I’ll step back, reassess and make tiny adjustments that might not seem important to anyone else.
But they’re important to me.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my work, and I make absolutely no apologies for that.
When you’re trusting someone to tattoo your face, you deserve their full attention.
I’d rather spend an extra half an hour getting something right than rush to get my next client through the door.
4. I Don’t Use the Same Technique on Every Client
This is something I feel particularly strongly about, especially as someone who now trains other permanent makeup artists.
Your skin is a living, breathing organ, and no two clients’ skin is exactly the same.
What works beautifully on one person might be completely unsuitable for another.
For example, someone with mature, delicate or oily skin may not achieve the same healed results from a hairstroke technique as someone with firmer, more balanced skin.
Equally, someone who already has old pigment in their brows might be better suited to a soft powder technique rather than adding more hairstrokes.
And that’s before we even consider things like lifestyle, skincare, sun exposure and how the skin has responded to previous treatments.
This is why I don’t believe in offering one technique to absolutely everyone.
The technique should be chosen to suit the client, not the other way around.
And this is where good training, experience and continually developing your skills really come into play.
I’ve spent years attending masterclasses, investing in education and refining my techniques.
Do I know everything? Absolutely not!
I’m still learning, and I hope I always will be.
But experience teaches you something that a training manual alone simply can’t.
It teaches you to recognise when a particular technique isn’t suitable, how different skin types respond and, most importantly, how to make decisions that benefit your client in the long run.
Beautiful permanent makeup isn’t about following a set of instructions.
It’s about understanding the skin you’re working on and adapting your approach accordingly.
5. I Don’t Put Money Before My Clients
Now, before anyone thinks I’ve suddenly become a charity, let’s be clear. 🤣
Of course I run a business!
I’ve got bills to pay, a family to support and all the usual expenses that come with being self-employed.
But I’ve spent nearly a decade building my reputation on honesty, trust, professionalism and respect.
And that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
My clients know how much I love what I do.
They also know that if I don’t think a treatment is right for them, I won’t hesitate to say so.
If I think your existing permanent makeup needs more time to fade, I’ll tell you.
If I think a particular brow shape won’t complement your features, I’ll explain why.
And if I genuinely believe you’d be better leaving things alone for the time being, that’s exactly what I’ll recommend.
Anyone who knows me personally will tell you I’m VERY honest.
Sometimes probably a little too honest! 🤣
But I’d like to think that’s one of my better qualities.
Because ultimately, my reputation isn’t built on how many appointments I can squeeze into my diary.
It’s built on the results I create, the relationships I have with my clients and the trust they’ve placed in me year after year.
And I would never want to compromise that for the sake of one appointment.
So, What’s the Most Important Thing I’ve Learnt?
If there’s one thing nearly 10 years in this industry has taught me, it’s that beautiful permanent makeup isn’t just about how it looks when you walk out of the treatment room.
It’s about how it heals.
How it ages.
How it complements your natural features.
And how we can continue maintaining it beautifully in the years ahead.
I’m not here to give you the brows, lips or eyeliner everyone else is having.
I’m here to create something that suits YOU.
Something that enhances your features, makes you feel confident and looks just as beautiful when you’re going about your everyday life as it does in a freshly taken Instagram photograph.
And if that means occasionally saying no, recommending a different technique or asking you to wait a little longer, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Because great permanent makeup should never be rushed, forced or created simply because it’s fashionable.
It’s about doing what’s right for the person sitting in my treatment chair.
And that’s something I’ll never compromise on. 🤎
Still Sitting on the Fence About Permanent Makeup?
If you’ve been considering permanent makeup but aren’t quite sure which treatment is right for you, why not come and have a chat?
I offer completely FREE face-to-face consultations where we can discuss your expectations, answer your questions and explore which options might work best for you.
There’s absolutely no pressure to book a treatment.
Just honest, professional advice from someone who’s been doing this for a fair few years now!
You can book your free consultation through my website.
See you soon! 🫶🏼
Emma x
Emma Hazeldene PMU | Award-Winning Permanent Makeup Artist & Trainer | Established 2017 | Stoke-on-Trent
