Consumer Guide to Safe Permanent Cosmetics
Information for Consumers on Permanent Cosmetics in California:
Permanent makeup can help you look better, feel better, save time and money, and make your life easier. For any cosmetic procedure--including permanent cosmetics--you should do your "homework" to select the right professional for you. California has very few laws regulating Permanent Cosmetics--ANYONE can tattoo regardless of his/her training, background, qualifications, locations, or equipment. To make sure you look good AND you stay healthy, be diligent and thoroughly investigate anyone you are considering to perform your permanent cosmetics procedure.
You have probably seen unnattractive permanent makeup tattooed by a poorly trained "artist". Far worse than the risk of inferior looking makeup is the risk to your health: If the person who performs your cosmetic tattooing uses unsafe equipment or does not know, understand, or follow proper infection control guidelines, you can contract a viral disease like Hepatitis or develop a severe bacterial infection including MRSA.
Every day thousands of people enjoy the benefits of permanent cosmetics applied safely and correctly. The advantages outweigh the risks IF you do your research and follow these simple steps:
What Consumers Should Do To Protect Themselves:
1.) Inspect the Facility: Visit the business and look at the location and environment: Is it comfortable and quiet--or noisy with loud music, conversation, or the sound of hair dryers? Inspect the procedure room for cleanliness: Is the area sanitary and secluded--or can you smell chemicals from permanent hair solution or acrylic nails? If so, does the salon have an air filtration system preventing those airborne particles from contaminating your freshly tattooed skin?*
[*Note: The practice of applying permanent cosmetics is not regulated by the California Board of Cosmetology, and it is not in the scope of practice of any individual licensed by the Board (any cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, barber, or electrologist). Although most of the people tattooing permanent makeup in California are licensed under the Cosmetology Board, the Board's regulations specifically prohibit invasive procedures that affect the structure or function of living tissue of the face or body, and permanent cosmetics is considered an invasive procedure. The Board is currently reviewing the applicable laws that may relate to the practice of permanent makeup conducted in Board licensed establishments. (CA BBC Business and Professions Codes 7317, 7320; Title 16, CA CCR 991). The only agency regulating permanent cosmetics is the Health Department but not in every city--read below.]
2.) Ask to See a Health Permit: Not every city in Orange and L.A. Counties are regulated under their County Health Departments. If a technician tattoos in a "non-regulated city" (from her home, in a salon, or in multiple locations) the health department will not inspect her. In a "regulated" city, an inspector visits the business where the technician works and examines the procedure room. The inspector determines if the tattooing equipment is safe, correct sterilization methods are followed, the autoclave functions properly, etc. A permit is issued only if the business passes. This is one of the best ways to ensure health safety.
3.) Ask to See Registration: California law requires ALL permanent cosmetic technicians to register with their county health department. Forms must be filed voluntarily by a practitioner verifying that she has received, read, and will follow health department standards. If she/he practices in a non-regulated city--whether in a salon or from home--no agency may even know she's tattooing, so ask to see her paperwork.
4.) Ask About Equipment: Do not be fooled by a technician's reassurance about sterile needles. Even when single-use sterile needles are used, diseases can be transferred between people through body fluid and airborne particle contamination of the motor mechanism or hand piece. The ONLY equipment that prevents cross-contamination is the patented Nouveau Contour System, or disposable manual hand tools. With other types of equipment, there is no way to guarantee safety unless it has been inspected and approved by the health department.
5.) Ask About Training: California has NO state board requiring the passing of an examination in permanent cosmetics. No board regulates school accreditation, the curriculum for primary or advanced training, or continuing education requirements. Therefore, all schools are NOT alike. With no regulations, basic training varies from a few days to several weeks. Tuition ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Students--and later their clients--get what they pay for. Ask for details about the technician's fundamental (basic) training and to see a certificate showing the number of training hours. Ask to see certificates for advanced courses. In addition, ask if the technician has been trained in Bloodborne Pathogen Control that follows CDC and Cal-OSHA guidelines and ask to see his/her certificate.
6.) What is the Person's Background? The 2006 National Membership Survey of the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals reports that only 1.4% are physicians and only 10% are nurses. The majority of cosmetic tattooists (over 85%) have backgrounds in cosmetology (hair, skin, or nail care), or traditional tattooing (body art). The beauty expertise of these individuals may be very good, but their education in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology is limited. Without medical experience, and no license required to practice permanent cosmetics, they may practice according to improper training and not even realize when they do something incorrectly during a procedure.
7.) Qualify the Person's Title: Beware of any claim of being a "Licensed Permanent Cosmetic Specialist" or a similar title. He/she cannot be "licensed" because California has NO state board requiring or regulating a license in permanent cosmetics. The person is usually a licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, or manicurist, and permanent cosmetics is not regulated the the CA Cosmetology Board.
8.) Look at Photographs: Technicians may use manufacturer's brochures and website layouts showing models who are not their clients. Unfortunately, people have been caught copying photos from others' websites to use as examples on their websites. Sometimes the makeup shown is conventional makeup, not permanent makeup. To see the quality of an artist's work, ask to see a portfolio of "before" and "after" photos of REAL clients. Look at her/his abilities to customize design--do all eyebrows look like they were outlined with a stencil and colored-in solid, or natural looking with different colored hair strokes? Look for examples of advanced and multiple techniques including hair strokes, shading, blending, and scar camouflage. Look for "healed" photos showing how colors lighten. Any experienced practitioner will not hesitate to show you her or his portfolio.
9.) Associations and Business Licenses: Has the technician joined any permanent cosmetics associations? This shows dedication to the profession and a desire for ongoing learning. Professional associations require members to abide by a code of ethics. They offer regular continuing education and also board certification programs. Did the technician obtain a city business license? This indicates that the business is legitimate and the owner is committed to its success. In the future, you will want that person to still be in business if you need a color refresher or another procedure.
10.) Consider Price Last: Although money is a consideration for everyone, price should be your LAST consideration. Any permanent cosmetic professional who is well-trained, experienced, and practicing safely, correctly, and ethically will NOT have the lowest prices because, by not "cutting corners", they cannot afford to. With few state laws regulating this field you, as the client, are at risk. Remember the saying, "You get what you pay for." A cheaper price may result in bad looking makeup or getting a disease. Permanent makeup lasts a lifetime, so it is worth paying a little more to look good AND be safe.
All reputable permanent cosmetic professionals will not hesitate to answer your questions or show their credentials. Protect yourself and be informed, be careful, and be safe--you are worth it! (Please visit the "About Us" sub pages to learn more about Dr. Reed's credentials, her Nouveau Contour digital system, and testimonial from a few of her many happy clients.)
The Reports Below are Some True Examples of Consumers’ Bad Experiences From OTHER Permanent Makeup Technicians:
Shaving Her Eyebrows Was The Least of Her Problems…
“When I got permanent eyebrows, I was told my own eyebrows had to be shaved-off first. I didn’t know any better, so I did it. Big mistake! Things went from bad to worse--Even though the lady doing the tattooing told me where my eyebrows would be and how they would look, she did not tattoo them in the right place. When she finished and I looked, I wanted to cry! They were uneven and placed above my original eyebrow hairline, arched too high and too pointy, and the ends were square—I looked angry and harsh. And later they turned a bluish color. I tried several micro-dermabrasion treatments which helped them fade, but it didn’t remove them. I've talked to permanent makeup professionals and doctors, and they all recommended laser tattoo removal. When I can afford the laser removal treatments, I will have my permanent eyebrows removed and then get new ones applied by Dr. Reed--I've worked with her as a doctor and seen her work in permanent makeup. She's great in both fields and I totally trust her to do a good job with my new eyebrows. Until then, I have to live with these ugly old eyebrows every day and I hate it." ---Maria N., Medical Billing Specialist
“Stealth” Eyeliner Injections Gave Her an Infection…
"Many permanent makeup procedures are offered at nail shops, hair salons, or day time spas. Often the technicians cannot even communicate with us due to a language barrier. PLEASE, PLEASE—remember that your decision to use these facilities and/or technicians can have a very serious end result, which happened to me. You should NEVER be given a shot for any permanent makeup procedure. If your technician wants to give you an injection, RUN! Without my knowledge or approval, I had FOUR injections for permanent eyeliner—two on each eye. While my eyes were closed, the technician injected me with some kind of numbing stuff when I thought she was putting the eyeliner on. My eyes got a serious infection, and I had to get antibiotics from my doctor and wear sunglasses for over two weeks. Neither my doctor nor I had any idea what she had injected me with. Later when I called the technician and asked her about it, she acted like she did not understand my question. So I had someone else call her that spoke her language. Even then she denied that she had to have a license to administer injections and said no one else had ever had a problem. Yeah, right!” ---Donna R., CEO of Escrow Company
Low Prices Resulted in a Painful Experience…
"Hello, my name is Libby and I'd like to share with you a bad experience: Last year I had permanent cosmetic makeup applied. The lady was referred to me by my hairdresser and her office was located in a back room of the hair salon. I was very interested in having lip liner, eyeliner and eyebrows done. I asked her about the pain and she told me that “It would not be bad.” I figured that after having three kids, I could handle it. Wrong! The pain was so bad, I kept hanging in there thinking it would get better after awhile, but it hurt more and more as we went along. I wanted to stop, however, it was something I really wanted to have done and the technician kept saying, “Just a little more, just a little more” wanting to move on. After I healed and needed a touch-up, I never went back because of the pain. Her prices were really cheap, but MY experience was high priced. As the old saying goes—you get what you pay for!” --- Libby C., Bank Teller
Permanent Makeup in a Residence May Be Risky…
“I was living in a smaller city when I got permanent eyeliner. I asked around and found a lady who did permanent makeup inside her home. I didn't think about questioning her as to why she did it inside her house instead of a regular business location. When we discussed the eyeliner design, she kept pushing me to have "wings" on my upper eyeliner. (After I insisted that I did not want them, she proceeded and FORTUNATELY did not add the "wings.") When done, she went to her refrigerator and brought out 2 cold eggs and laid them on my eyes to “soothe them.” She said she used eggs “because they fit into the eye area perfectly.” Luckily, I healed without any serious infection. But it dawned on me later that putting an uncooked egg on freshly broken skin and swollen tissue was dangerous--E-Coli or Salmonella could have been on the outside eggshell. (At the time, I was working as an EMT so I should have known better!) What really got me was when she took the used needle, wrapped it up, and put it in an envelope with my name on it. I asked her what she was doing and she said “I’m saving your needle for your touch-up” and “no need to worry because I only use the person’s own needle on them.” Of course, I never went back to her. Later on, for my permanent eyebrows, I found someone qualified who worked in an appropriate business environment with the proper business licenses.” ---Michaela T., Rancher
An Eye Infection From Who Knows What…
“My toddler was keeping me very busy, so I wanted permanent makeup to save time. I had eyeliner done by a lady who worked in a skin care place close to where I worked. The procedure really hurt, but I survived it. She didn't give me anything to use afterward but told me to keep the treated area moist with Vaseline. Everything was okay at first, but after a couple of days my eyelids swelled up and one morning when I woke up they were matted together. I had to see an ophthalmologist and then buy an antibiotic because I had an infection. The doctor wasn't sure where the infection came from--the procedure itself or from "double dipping" in the family jar of Vaseline, or something else. I got better and everything wound up okay, but I still had to go through the trouble and expense of all of that." ---Jeanne C., Optician