Recently, the demand for permanent cosmetic hair stroke brows has increased. Many estheticians and lash artists are rushing to train in an advanced permanent cosmetic specialty called “Microblading.” Unfortunately, many are taking 1 to 2 day training courses from inexperienced people with no understanding or fundamental training regarding permanent cosmetics. They are being poorly trained and ill-advised with regards to what microblading is. Many are being taught that it is using a ‘blade.’ There is no blade involved. The misinformed are teaching students and clients that it is a semi-permanent and is only placed in the epidermis. Your epidermis sheds every 60 to 90 days, but this procedure lasts at least a year, if not longer. The truth is it is placed in the dermal layer where the color will not flake off. It is permanent tattooing. There is also instruction that tattooing goes into the muscle and that microblading is much different. This is absolutely false information.
These mini 1 to 2 day crash courses teach no basis for tattooing or permanent cosmetics. And again, microblading is an ADVANCED permanent cosmetics / tattooing technique and should only be performed by a technician with at least four to five years in the industry. A two day class cannot teach color theory in its entirety to provide appropriate knowledge to prevent the client’s eyebrows from turning too cool or too warm. They are not adequately educating the students how to avoid scaring their clients. There is no blood borne pathogen training. This is dangerous and puts the public at risk.
A permanent makeup trainer should have a minimum of four to five years of active experience in this field. Microstroking, the appropriate term, should only be performed by a technician with advanced skill. A technician with experience will understand color theory, color modification, color correction and have skills to lighten pigment. Clients need to have access to all of these skills by a qualified technician; otherwise, they should be prepared to find a technician that can provide correction. Correcting permanent cosmetics can be very costly and time consuming. It is never a simple fix; you must be prepared for several procedures spaced months apart.
Unfortunately, Delaware is a very unregulated state in the field of tattooing. Permits are granted to anyone that has complied with the Body Art regulations, but these include only room set up, not technician review. There are no training requirements; no apprentice requirements; no pigment standards. The existing regulations focus on equipment and tool sterilization. So in other words, your tattoo artist or permanent cosmetic technician or your microblade technician could get their education from a 20 minute YouTube video and start practicing (on you) once their room permit is obtained.
As of February 21, 2016, there has been ongoing discussion on message forums regarding how newly trained technicians, as recent as October and November, 2015 are now offering training in this microblading technique. What a great travesty to an industry that is well established. Unfortunately, these new technicians are simply focused on making a lot of fast money – upwards of $1,500 – $2,000 for these 2 day classes. The “trainers” have even sought out opportunities to be featured on shows such as “The Doctors”. I assure you, if this segment airs as we professionals are concerned about, we will do our best to properly educate the public. We cannot support false information that aims to hurt our professional industry. We will not lower our standards.
Shanan Zickefoose, BSN, RN, CMM, CPCP; Melisa Ferriola, LE, CPCP
I am extremely grateful for the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP.org) as they provide ethical standards for our industry. They have taken notice to the ‘microblading’ trend and have produced a fact sheet to better educate the public. Click this link: SPCP_Fact_Sheet_Microblading