Permanent Makeup, is it a tattoo?
- Andrea Ramirez
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
A simple truth the permanent makeup industry seems to avoid.
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that permanent makeup isn’t a tattoo. That couldn’t be farther from the truth - in fact, permanent makeup is a form of tattooing called “cosmetic tattoos”. Although techniques may differ between traditional body-decorative tattoos and PMU, the skin knows no difference when it comes to healing.
Within my research, there is no credible published statistic that says “X%” of consumers think permanent makeup is (or isn’t) a tattoo. However, online PMU communities and beauty forums repeatedly show that one of the most common questions from potential clients is whether permanent makeup is “actually a tattoo” or “different from a tattoo”. This suggests the misconception is widespread even if it has yet to be formally studied and published. A bigger question to address here is: Why don’t permanent makeup artists know how to answer these questions without further spreading misinformation?
As permanent makeup grew into popularity in the beauty industry, the lines of “tattoos” and “beauty services” started to intermingle further. A type of segregation amongst “permanent makeup artists” grew even further into popularity within the beauty industry. Beauty professionals found themselves switching to the PMU industry quickly, joining an already thriving and established practice. With the huge demand happening amongst clients and newly found artists, courses on PMU skyrocketed. So did misinformation. Misguided trainings fueled by money intake led people to call themselves trainers instead of artists at a rapid rate. Priorities were set on clout and income versus skill sets and proper education as an artist. A tragic reality was created for aspiring artists as they had little to no practice time before they touched actual skin with tattoo pigment.
Amongst the commotion, communities in permanent makeup somehow wanted to differentiate themselves from the tattoo industry to appear more “professional” and fit a certain “beauty esthetic” from just your typical tattoo artist with all the social stigmas attached. This subdivision isn’t necessarily the issue at hand, more so the misleading takes on what PMU artist’s should tell their clients when they appeared alarmed at the fact their faces were about to get tattooed. Pink labeling tattoo pigments and adding/modifying techniques somehow convinced PMU communities that they were NOT practicing in the art of tattooing.
To make things easier, let us define what a tattoo actually is.
Tattoo(ta-ˈtü): “To mark the skin with pigments; a mark, figure, design, or word intentionally fixed or placed in the skin.” (Merriam-Webster/PubMed)
In other words, introducing pigment into the skin via cutting the skin or abrading the skin with a needle or multiple. Ancient cultures tattooed by cutting the skin and rubbing charcoal. The Japanese art of Tebori tattoos uses a hand-poke technique with needles and pigment. Microblading method cuts the skin introducing pigment with a row of needles.
What’s the difference? The technique? So what? A different method of tattooing doesn’t declassify a tattoo from being exactly that. A rotary pen/tattoo machine is just a modernized approach. All these methods are what they are. A tattoo.
The composition of the skin becomes compromised whether it is PMU or traditional body tattoos. Your skin, pigment faded or not will never be the same. And that isn’t to scare you as a client or artist but it definitely should make you want to research, invest and/or train with intention.
So, to answer the million dollar question. YES. Permanent makeup is a tattoo. Period. Why is this important to know? As an artist/ service provider you want to be honest, and clear with potential clients. It is our duty to keep our client’s best interest as our priority. As a client, you want to be properly informed and educated on the procedures you are undergoing, ask the questions and get the answers to ensure your investment is the best for you.
Honest intention from both artists and clients creates a safer PMU Space where we can all thrive <3
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