The Ultimate Guide to Opening your Microblading Studio

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Over the past couple of years, the popularity of permanent makeup worldwide has grown exponentially. In the past, cosmetic tattoos have been seen as a procedure that might come with some regrets; such as eyebrows turning red or gray, eyeliners turning gray, etc...

We all have seen someone with bold eyebrow tattoos that make you wonder why anyone would get a tattoo on his or her face – right? Well, this is where microblading and new PMU advancements come in to play.

Cosmetic tattooing has reached tremendous popularity all over the world, and the PMU industry has become a very lucrative business. The good thing is that the industry is showing no signs of slowing down either. For a savvy business-minded entrepreneur, starting a PMU Studio is a great investment.

When choosing a Microblading certification and training program, it is crucial to do your research.

There are two types of training and they are geared toward various groups of people. In person live training and online.

Here are a few qualities to watch concerning In Person Live Microblading course:

Does the Trainer preform PMU procedures on a continues basis?
The trainer background and work history. Look at their Instagram and Website pictures. If the trainer's pictures are not of good quality, then chances are that the teacher is not going to teach you anything good. 

What kind of training kit do they provide?
Each program should provide a professional Microblading Starter kit (similar to our kit). If the Student Training kit looks like they just put a few things together from Amazon.com...RUN!

Do they offer other PMU courses in addition to Microblading?
This means the trainer is well educated in the industry and has a deep knowledge and understanding.

Do they have different variations of strokes and outlines?
Although Microblading is viewed as the ultimate eyebrow enhancement, an eyebrow training artist should be able to perform the procedure based on the client's natural facial features. Microblading is not a one size fits all procedure.

How many students per instructor and how big is the class size?
Microblading Courses with smaller groups allow for more student interaction and intimacy. Students are able to get questions answered more and will receive more one on one supervision and guidance than in a larger class. The ideal class size for prestigious academies is between 4-5 students per one instructor. While working on live models, the instructor is able to guide your every move and help you individually with every stroke.

Do they require/include Bloodborne Pathogens course?
Great academies will either require you to take the Bloodborne Pathogens Course prior to class or will cover the contents during class and have you take the Exam as homework.

What kind of Microblading tools do they provide?
Any teacher who skimps on their tools isn’t going to offer quality lectures. Instructors that strive for perfection will use only the best Professional Microblading Disposable tools such as Nova Tool Kits.

Do they provide practice on a live model?
You need to have the ability to bring in a live model to train on under the trainer's supervision, some academies will provide the models for you. Regardless of their model policy, you need to practice on a real live model before you can go on to become an artist.

The bottom line is it takes TIME to become a Microblading Artist...Learning skin types, how pigment reacts with each skin type. How much pressure to apply to the tool, how deep to do your strokes, how much pigment to use, which pigment to use, which tool to use for each client; it takes practice.

Don't settle for cheap, look for quality and support.

We recommend Fine Strokes Microblading for your training needs.



Red Flags to watch for:

Any training program that gives you the certificate the day of the course completion is most likely a scam. Most prestigious Microblading Academies will require artists to do a lot of practice before they certify their students. And there is a good reason for that. We see Microblading horror stories on social media and google images and even a few new headlines.

Low or no online reviews for the trainer or their work.

There are a few online training courses coming up which are geared toward self-paced individuals. If you find yourself often learning from various video tutorials, then this might be a good fit for you.

These programs are going to be cheaper because the instructor doesn't have to be there physically, and can supervise students easier.

• Look for who's behind the training
• What kind of support they offer
• How will they evaluate your work
• Do they offer class hours or scheduled support phone/video chats
• If they claim that you can make X amount of money with becoming an artist, that should be a warning sign of them being too focused on persuasion then provide real value for their students
•  

Every state has its own requirements and they vary. Also, keep in mind, that cities, townships, and counties have their own regulations when it comes to PMU and body art. Contact your local body art regulating office first, they will guide you in the right direction for your area.

Advice: You're dealing with body fluids, which means it can bring harm to you and your clients. NEVER perform any procedures out of your home or an unauthorized facility.

Talk to a qualified accountant or contact your state's business administration office on how to acquire and LLC business so you can protect your assets. We won't go into to much detail, because each state has different requirements.

Contact your local business insurance agent and make sure you have Business insurance and Liability insurance for you personally and for your business.

If you're a tech-savvy person, there are some easy DIY solutions in the market.

Bookmark.com

No coding or design skills needed. With Bookmark, you can build a personalized, mobile-friendly website in minutes. They have an incredible support team that can help you set up your website even when you run into roadblocks.

They also provide rich Free online training tutorials within their platform to help you grow your business and build your achieve your internet marketing goals.

Shopify.com

Easy to set up and very user-friendly. The plans start at $29/month and there are a variety of free themes you can get started with. For a few extra dollars, you can upgrade to a more professional theme with more options.

We recommend Shopify if you plan on adding products in the future to your online presence.

There are no setup Fees and no cancellation fees.

Appointments Software

We recommend Square Appointments for startup studios. They provide a free Individual plan which is ideal for artists starting up.

The Free Plan includes:

• Online booking
• Cloud-based calendar
• Point of sale built right in
• Customer management
• Appointment Notes
• Free IOS and Android apps

There are other DIY solutions available, however, we don't recommend them due to having a bad experience with most of them previously. Most of them lack technical support and offer sub-par tutorials.

Done for you solutions

If the DIY route is not ideal for you and you are looking for a trusted web development agency, we highly recommend AlbaTech Services. They specialize in permanent makeup industry online marketing solutions.

This is our favorite step, and we will go in great detail. 

The bed has to be comfortable and have a sturdy base. Your clients will be laying down for about two hours during the procedure, make sure they are comfortable. You want your client's experience to be impeccable during the whole time they are at your studio.

There are two types of Microblading/PMU beds we recommend: Electric and Hydraulic.

Electric: It will make your work easier, and your clients will be more comfortable. It also comes with the higher cost than its counterpart. You can find them on Amazon.com, click on the link for the latest prices.

Hydraulic: It's cheaper than Electric beds, does a good job. These beds are comfortable and easy to set up, although the packages are heavy. The downside is that you might struggle a little when reclining and inclining your clients. Click here for the latest prices. (Amazon Affiliate link)

NOTE: When choosing a chair for your studio be aware of your color choices. The black color will hold more wear and tear. Although the white colors look more aesthetically clean, you will be working with pigments that stain the leather and accidents will happen. If you decide to go with a white color, make sure you get it wrapped with a vinyl coating or protector. 

This is crucial to your health and wellbeing, so pay close attention to all the details to make sure you pick the right stool for you. There are a plethora of types of stools to choose from. Two main options for the PMU industry are with back support and without the back support. Granted that you will be hunched over during the majority of the procedure anyways, the back support is practically useless. It actually might even get on your way, when moving around. That being said, we highly recommend Boss Office Products B240-BK . This particular chair has a thick and comfortable cushion unlike most of the other products.

Since the pattern of the studio furnishing recommendations is gearing toward the black color, we recommend Saloniture Premium Aluminum Instrument Tray (affiliate link)

• Medical Grade Disinfectant: MadaCide-1
• Bleach (for disinfecting and washing the floors)
• Mop 
• Paper Towels
• Green Soap: Cosco Pure Liquid 

This is where we have you covered. Our selection of microblading disposable tools is comprised of the three most popular blades that most professionals use and love. 

The 18 U Blade

The 18 Slant Blade

The 14 Slant Blade