How to start a permanent makeup business
Over the last few years, the popularity of permanent cosmetics has only been increasing. These include semi-permanent makeup treatments for eyes, lips and eyeliner, including microblading and the latest pigmentation techniques (ombre and powder brows in particular). The demand for permanent makeup practitioners who are skilled in beauty treatment and cosmetics are at a high.
Permanent makeup practitioners can be their own boss, work flexible hours, and help others feel confident in their own skin. Earning potentials working as a permanent makeup practitioner are high as well. The average cost of one treatment in London is around £300-500, 4 clients a week £2k, monthly £8-10k, annually up to over £100k. If you have a passion for this industry, permanent makeup can be an extremely rewarding career path.
You might be wondering to yourself: will I be good at this? Choosing the right academy and putting in the hard work is a winning combination to succeed in this business.
Courses
Whether you are starting out or want to improve an existing skillset, there is a range of courses that will suit your needs. All courses are recognised and accredited, including advanced courses in nanoblading, microblading, and micropigmentation. Once a course is selected, this kickstarts your journey to becoming a permanent makeup practitioner.
To work as a permanent makeup artist, some councils in London might require Level VTCT4, but most across the UK will require only ABT Accredited Course. Anyone who wants to become a permanent makeup artist would firstly need to check with the council in the area where they want to start their business. Specifically, they need to ask about what qualifications they need to obtain the license. Both of the above are recognizable and insurable. Details of the qualifications and insurance should be also explained by their training provider.
Any basic training in Permanent Makeup should provide enough resources for the new person to start their career as a PMU artist. Any training should end with a short theory exam, and the trainee should be able to perform at least two to three models by themselves, without any assistance. This includes skills like drawing a shape, choosing the right ink tone for a client, and finishing the pigmentation procedure.
One advanced level technique that may be useful is nano needle, in which super-fine hairstrokes are created to enhance eyebrows. This is a machine technique and the person typically has already completed basic permanent makeup training.
Another useful technique is microblading. Microblading is a semi-permanent manual makeup technique that uses precision hand tools. This course is suitable for beginners without any background in PMU and for advanced permanent makeup artists who wish to add this treatment into their list.
Everyone can step into the PMU world without any prior experience in beauty, but they need to be aware of choosing the right academy, so after the basic course they can confidently start working on their own.
After completing the basic course, either permanent makeup for eyebrows, lips, eyeliner using a machine device or a microblading, there is an extensive choice of masterclasses to improve your skills and to become a better artist. There are also many PMU industry conferences. Where Permanent Makeup Artists can meet industry masters, expand their networks, or even participate in competitions, all under one roof.
Once you have the VTCT Level 4 qualification (or already have Level 3 beauty therapist or equivalent qualification), the micropigmentation makeup course is the logical next step which covers permanent makeup techniques that focus on three main areas: the eyebrows, the lips, and the eyeliner. You will learn how to create hair stroke eyebrows as well as learn the powder and ombre eyebrow, create the perfect lip contour (lip liner), plus how to master a lip blush and create a subtle lash enhancement for the top and bottom eyeliner.
On top of all the above you will need a Blood-borne & Pathogens course. This can be either done at your chosen PMU Academy – if they provide this type of a course or you can find an independent accredited online course. All to deliver safe treatments and practice to your clients. First aid and health and safety courses will also be an advantage on top of your qualifications and might be required by some of the councils across the UK.
Before booking any of these courses, it is important to check for trainer reputation and experience. Looking through their portfolio can give you a sense of whether their teaching translates to positive customer reviews. More importantly, ensure that the course you sign up for will provide the necessary qualifications at the end of it.
Starting your own business
After upskilling and acquiring all the necessary qualifications, you are now ready to start your own business. With any business, it is time to think about the budget. These include fixed costs, such as rent, taxes, payroll, marketing, and supplies, and variable costs, such as utilities, marketing materials, and decoration. Once you plot out all these expenses, you can decide whether or not to take out a small business loan.
Budgeting aside, now is the time to think of what your brand identity is. How does your permanent makeup business differ from the others in the market? Do you specialize in a specific area of permanent makeup?
For example, you can focus on microblading, offering brow treatments such as brow tinting, threading and lamination. By being proficient in a niche, customers may choose your brand as a go-to for these specific treatments.
Does this read loud and clear in the brand name? Taking all of these in consideration will pay dividends in the long run. The brand name should align with the brand identity and overall strategy, resonate with your ideal customer, and be simple but distinct. Once all these aspects are sorted out, you can look for a location.
Location and insurance
Find a place where other adjacent lifestyle products are present, like hair salons or spas. These establishments complement one another, and oftentimes, you will find that staff from both sides will recommend the other’s services.
While you are it, getting small business insurance to protect from property damage will do wonders if anything happens to the store. Liability insurance, permanent makeup insurance, and quality insurance are all instrumental to a successful permanent makeup business.
Marketing
Now, it’s time to spotlight your product and get the clients rolling in. Having a digital presence is mandatory in this current business climate. Millions of people search and purchase from companies online, making it paramount to have a digital storefront to pair with your physical location.
Investing in a polished, user-friendly website is key in establishing your brand’s digital image. The website should be designed with your brand ethos in mind and have a designated portal where clients can book their appointments.
Don’t forget to create Google and Yelp business pages so clients can leave their reviews. This is a sure-fire way to garner online traffic for your permanent makeup business. Once your business picks up steam, you can consider paid ads and regular newsletters to further cement your brand presence online.
Constantly learning
If you thought that you were done with courses or training, be prepared to change that mindset. The permanent makeup landscape is constantly changing. Be prepared to participate in industry conferences and attend master classes. These opportunities allow you to learn about the latest technologies and techniques in the business.
These events are a great time to do networking as well. You can learn about how other business owners position their products, budgeting tips, and even meet potential clients. Once the foundation of your business is solid, streamlining costs on the supply end and creating online content that matches your brand are perceivably on the horizon. If business is booming, you can further client relations with rewards after a certain number of appointments.
Go on, apply for that permanent makeup course now and start looking for a location to set up shop. Good luck!