Choosing a permanent cosmetics artist is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly; it is a tattoo on your face, after all. There are hundreds of artists to choose from in the Seattle/Tacoma area, so how do you know who to choose?
First, know what you want and what you’re willing to do to get it.
What’s your style? Do you love big, bold brows like you see on trendy Youtube makeup tutorials? Do you like a conservative, can’t-tell-I-even-did-anything look? Somewhere in between? If you aren’t sure, a good place to start is taking note of what you like about your own brows, what you dislike, and what you like and dislike about other brows you see. This will help you get a feel of your preferred style, and set you up for success when an artist asks you what your brow goals are. Scour Instagram for artists in your area whose work aligns with your preferences.
Next, decide how far you’re willing to travel for BOMB brows. It is worth it to travel a good distance for a quality permanent cosmetics artist? Where you’re located will determine how many reputable artists are nearby, or if you are going to have to trek to get to one. Remember, you will likely be making a handful of trips; a consultation, the initial microblading session, and at least one touch-up appointment. Are you willing to travel a great distance more than once to keep your new brows looking beautiful? Or are you more of a “keep it local” kind of client?
Get referrals! Ask your friends, family or co-workers (who you trust and who have a similar style preference to you) to refer you to an artist they know and admire. My friends have great style and I always go to them for beauty advice. Heck, ask someone with terrible brows where they went so you will know which artist to avoid.
Once you’ve narrowed down to a handful of artists, book a consultation! Many artists offer complimentary consultations. Some offer consultations for a small fee, and the fee will be applied to your future appointment. I believe consultations are so important because you can usually tell right away if the artist is someone you want to work with or not. I’d personally skip any artist who doesn’t offer consultations. Check out their facility; are their licenses on display and up-to-date? Is the facility clean, and I mean SPOTLESS? Has it passed -and better yet, excelled- the health department inspection? Feel free to ask to see their proof of liability insurance, licenses and training certificates. Do they use fully disposable tools? Be absolutely honest when the artist asks you questions about your health. If the artist says they will microblade someone who is pregnant or nursing…run. Make sure you leave knowing exactly what to expect during the procedure and the healing process.
Experience. You can ask how long your artist has been doing the service, but the better question is to ask how many services they have under their belt. You will come across artists who have been licensed for five years or more but only work very part-time, so they have competed less than a hundred procedures and may be a little rusty if there have been long periods between their appointments. A newer artist might work their butt off and have hundreds of procedures completed in the first year and be up-to-date on the latest tools and inks. It is always good to know how long an artist has been in practice, but it is better to know how many procedures they’ve done and be sure to see photo proof of their beautiful healed work. I’ve seen brand new students crank out more incredible looking work than seasoned veterans, so keep an open mind.
Price. Discuss the artist’s rates before you book the appointment. Know what the initial appointment costs and what any future touchups or maintenance will cost. Keep in mind, rates will vary widely from artist to artist. This is often due to things like the quality of inks and tools the artist uses, how much continuing education they’ve completed, and their overhead costs such and rent and utilities. Rent almost certainly costs an artist much more in Seattle than it does in a suburb, and they will understandably pass those costs down to their clients. Know what you’re willing to pay, and seek out the very best artist within your budget. On the other hand, a tattoo on your face is not the time to pinch pennies or seek out a sale.
Policies. Make sure you read and understand each artists’ individual policies so there are no surprises down the road. Do they require a deposit to book? Non-refundable deposits or “booking fees” are common practice in this industry so don’t let that deter you. How much notice does the artist require if you need to cancel or change your appointment to a different day? Artists have policies in place to make sure their businesses stay profitable and that they are making the best use of their time. Our clients take time to research their artist and often save money for a long time to invest in services, so artists generally have a hard time filling an appointment that a client cancelled at the last minute.
Once you’ve followed these steps and decide to go for it, I’m sure you’ll love it! There’s nothing quite like waking up and having permanent makeup that shaves time off your morning routine—except for finding the perfect artist for you—that’s the best!
-Jamie
Here’s a link to another great article about choosing an artist by Tina Davies, microblading pioneer, and the creator of the high-quality inks I use: https://tinadaviesstudio.ca/blogs/news/selecting-an-artist