6 Steps to find the perfect PMU therapist for you

How to choose the perfect permanent make up therapist for you!

How many of you can say that you research everything in your life thoroughly? Or do you go off the recommendation of a friend or maybe just take a leap of faith?

Well that’s fine if you’re purchasing ketchup, but a beauty therapist? Let alone a permanent make-up artist?! I mean each to their own but in my opinion, this is an area where research is important.

Why? Because every therapist is different, have different skill levels, uses different products, has trained at different places (yes some have trained from YouTube… yikes!). Their prices vary drastically from very low to high, some have dedicated and invested more or less time into practising and studying, and honestly the list could go on and on. 

Just like everyone else out there, we all have different opinions, taste, skin type, allergies, preferences – so there is no one therapist fits all! Or is there? Some therapists are more popular than others, and often for a good reason too.

Therefore, at Everlasting we like to make things easy for you and have devised some vital steps that you should follow to ensure you end up in the best possible hands, and not on the channel one news as a beauty horror story!

1. Know what you want

• Before you begin looking for a therapist, you must know what you want. Is it microblading, ombre brows, maybe bubble lips or shaded liner? Whatever it is you want, research the treatment and the process. Why do you want this? To make life easier? Natural enhancement? To cover a scar? Know what you want and why you want it, from there you can begin finding the right therapist. A good therapist will recommend what they believe is best for you in terms of your skin type and facial features, but if you know what you like and/or dislike, you have the grounds and knowledge to decide if their suggestions are fitting your preferences.

2. Location

• Of course location is important, and how far it is you would travel to find the right therapist. Maybe the brows you want are created by a therapist in America and you are in the UK? Or there is a little salon down the road from you that does PMU lips so the convenience is there, but you don’t like the look of the premises. Location does matter because you need to decide how far you would travel to find the right therapist for you, because the perfect one could be a few cities away or a couple of doors down. Here’s a tip from us: Permanent make up is an invasive and durable procedure, therefore Everlasting’s recommendation is to travel over convenience!

3. Social Media

• I’d love to say that every therapist is honest and truthful and advertises their true work, but unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world. Plagiarism is real and it happens more times than you think. There are artists out there “borrowing” other artists work and using them as their own just to gain more clients. Therefore, it is up to you to ensure you are not deceived by this, and know when you are looking at genuine work. Instagram is definitely the medium that beauty therapists thrive off, as it is all about the visuals, so there are tips and tricks you can use to ensure you aren’t fooled by this: Read the comments, see who is tagged in the picture, look for branded equipment being used – (does this match up with the brand this therapist is associated with), private message them and ask for more examples, look at the rest of the account to see if the pictures correlate. If you see one picture that is potentially plagiarised, chances are there will be a lot more as well. One thing you can do thanks to Google is copy an image, paste it into google, and it will tell you how many times this image has been used and on which platforms. It is common to repost another artists work, but they must be credited and tagged. If they aren’t, be suspicious and move on, because this is not the work you are likely to receive on your face.

4. What brand do you they use?

• What brand and products do you like? Perhaps that’s a little complicated to know or decide for permanent make up, but at the very least do you know what is in the products? What ingredients make the products work? Where are they made? This is an important step and one that is easily missed! If you are wanting a semi permanent make up procedure then you are correct to question what will be sitting locked within your skin layers. For example, there are many pigments out there with the ingredient DMDM Hydantoin and rosin used to preserve the pigment. This is not a safe ingredient and should definitely be avoided, and find another brand that doesn’t use carcinogenic or allergenic ingredients. Your therapist should know the ingredients and be able to provide you with this information. If not? Take that as a red flag. If they can and you’re happy, then perfect!

5. Found a therapist? Now check these 3 things

• Licensing, Insurance and Qualifications. These 3 aspects are obvious yet under looked if you have found a therapist that looks good online. Research or ask for their information, and this will help you to feel safe and secure in your choice and know you’re in good hands.

6. Consultation

• Now every place should allow you to have a consultation before proceeding with the treatment. It is important to discuss and decide what you want, scope out the place and make sure you feel comfortable with what is being presented to you. Do not skip this consultation, and do not undergo a treatment without one! A part of consultation is usually a thorough pre-draw or the plan of the service, if your artist doesn’t do one, what are the chances that the enhancement will be symmetrical as expected? You’ve guessed it: very little. And remember, if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right.

And there you have it! Follow these steps and you will end up with the perfect therapist for you. It may all be daunting and you may have great trust in your friend’s opinion or word of mouth, but it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry in my opinion. Getting a PMU treatment can be one of the best decisions of your life, so make sure you have chosen the right therapist for you.

Happy findings!

Karla Lyford xx