Permanent 'makeup'

Out of curiosity, are the individuals that 'apply' permanent makeup held to the same standards as tattoo artists? my mom has been getting interested in that idea (gotta be honest, scares the bejezus outta me) and has found a tiny hairdresser/barber joint that does it there. she's been pestering me w/emails all day (she shouldn't be allowed to have days off anymore) about this asking me questions -- and i've no answers. has anyone here had this done? she wants to get the 'eyeliner' and lipstick coloring. i'm not going to lie, i'm totally ignorant on this whole subject. just concerned because i'm under the impression that permanent makeup is a tattoo -- and i don't see how it fits with a small hairdresser shop. i mean, what if they mess up? eyeliner??? i don't think if i could handle it if my mom went blind as a result of some idiot trying to make her 'pretty' (i think she looks a-ok)

Bee, have your Mom find a good custom artist.... Okay so that was a BAD joke.... Seriously, tell her to google "permanent make up." There a buh of sites that generate. There was on that you could even find a local "salon" near you....J

Bee, you're right to be scared for your Mom and I'd STRONGLY suggest doing some VERY careful research and proceding with extreme caution. While I don't know the regulations about Tattoos OR 'permenent' make-up in Arizona, I do know here in Michigan any butthole can and does do it, often with horrible results although, in fairness, I have seen a FEW good jobs (damn few by comparisom) I have NOT however, ever seen the lipstick coloring come out right and would strongly advise against it on principal. Exactly how far back should the coloring be inside the mouth, which, incidently, is the most bacteria ladden area of the body from the git. Then, exactly what one color does your Mom want to wear for awhile, cuz it ain't really gonna be PERMENENT anywho, providing it even heals right in the first place, (and I'd think it would be rather irratating to go thru having your lips tattooed) because I assume your Mom will go outside when there's sun and of course, the sunlight will 'bleach'the color out. True, she could use a sunblock lip gloss or similiar product but, hey, if she's gonna need to do that, she could just use lipstick in the first place, right? And, if your Mom also lives in Arizona, think of how often she'll have her face in the sun. Now, as to the eyeliner- does your Mom use eyeshadow? Cuz, if so she might want to think about the fact that the eye shadow over the eyeliner will effect how well the eyeliner will even show thru-if ya catch my drift? Now on to having it done at a small hairdresser shop, that too would very much cause me to worry, although, in all fairnes, it does not really matter what size the place actually is, of course, but it does make me wonder how much training/experience/expertise the person doing it might have. I know here in Mich. the course to do cosmetic tattooing involves a 15 hour training course, yep, 15 whole hours and THAT supposedly covers all they need to know. I've had a few of them come into my studio to see if I'd put them to work, offering their 'services' which is how I came to know how 'long' the course is. I assure you, I've never gone for it, dispite their offer to split the rather high prices they charge, my principles ain't for sale or rent. As you may have caught on, I do NOT think it a good idea but if she MUST get it done, do your research and have it done by someone GOOD and EXPERIENCED, the consequenses could be horrible...Doc

Doc, Thank you! I making her read this thread as soon as I can tear her away from the pool. I don't think the laws on tattoo practices etc are very stringent out here -- i've visited a few shops during my research -- and they were utter cesspools of filth. i believe someone here posted that AZ artists do not get licensed either or that licenses are not required. hopefully this is enough to talk her out of it. normally i'm very supportive, i even went with her when she got her first tattoo (i thought my dad was going to kill us). however... well, can ya blame me for being a bit scared? plus she does live in AZ, and she's a sun junkie. not a good combo. i checked out the shop she was talking about on the way home today, i wouldn't even get my hair cut there... (and mom, if/when you read this, i'm not picking on you -- i'm just concerned!)

Bee, You're quite welcome, glad to be of assistance, hopefully it will either make your Mom rethink this or at the very least, help her procede with due caution...Doc

Permanent make up (mainly the eyeliner) scares the crap out of me. Seriously, what happens if the person is tattooing the line on your eye, and then sneezes suddenly? I'm sure it's not a super common occurance, but it's gotta be possible! I, for one, choose not to have any sort of needle any where near my eyeball. They have enough color as it is.

VICTORY! i guess i shouldn't look at it like that, but that's how i'm feeling at the moment. my mom has decided that this isn't what she wants to do -- she read the thread and tried to tell me it didn't influence her decision -- but that's just pride, i know it made a huge difference. plus. i also pointed out to her that makeup styles change all the time... she's in the medical profession too, so i think the idea of bacteria and infection really skeeved her out. whew. Thanks again!!!!

Bee...I do permanebt eyeliner however if your mom is a sun junkie I would not do it on her....waste of money...and if she could only see some of the horror stories I have seen she would not even consider it...Doc is 100% right most of the people doing this proceedure ar totally undertrained...15 hours is NOT even close to the necessary training.....as for the eyes being accidentally pierced...no not if the artist is using the eye protection cups that are necessary! There is a girl doing this in a beautyshop here in town and she is just BUTCHERING people....AND she is working WITHOUT any license....the law clearly states that any tattoo proceedure must be done by a licensed artist in a licensed shop...the authorities WILL NOT do anything about it...plus there are 2 doctors in town doing makeup tattooing also with no training...the girl in the beauty shop does NOT even have a sterilizer!!.....the law says she HAS to have one!!!...What can I do?????I have raised hellbut they say too bad!! Sucks!!...TAz

Yeah, well, there a plenty of cosmetic surgeons out there butchering people too, as well as some so called tattoo artist's who claim to have thousands of flying hours....................why is just putting on makeup such a chore? I'm starting to I wish I had stuck with the Sharpies instead of getting real ink................ TCE

TCE what do you mean? Are you really unhappy with your work?

Huh huh....................sure..........................if a tattoo that looks like a plastic decal, and deep sores on my feet instead of color had been what I was after, sure, I couldn't be happier. Now all I have to do is have it done again, in maybe a year when it's completely healed. TCE

I'm sorry, I'll send you mental 'tattoo healing vibes' ...........or something ! :) *shakes head and sais, "man I'm a dork"*

TAz said I'm not allowed to cry about it on here anymore, so anything you send will be greatly appreciated............LOL!!

In Louisiana, any permanent makeup or micro-pigmentation (as some doctors call it) procedures fall under the same sanitary and license regulations that regular tattooing falls under... So, be wary of anybody promoting it at a beaty salon... Here, they need a specific room/petitioned area exclusively for tattoo work, just to list one requirment. In my opinion, only trust a VERY good and CONSERVATIVE artist to apply permanent makeup... You could always have an artist add more color later - but start with too much and you look like Bozo - FOREVER! Brows & liner are fairly simple and straight forward. Lips are much more difficult... May not take the ink as well and will need to be re-done SEVERAL times.