Permanent Makeup Myth Busters 101
Run an internet search of ‘permanent makeup training’ and you might be astonished to learn the top ‘hits’ offer training courses from 2–5 days.
Learn permanent makeup in 5 days? Is that possible? The ladies behind the makeup counters at Nordstrom receive more training than 5 days and they certainly don’t use needles to apply their wares.
Permanent makeup is a tattoo. It’s not like a tattoo, it is a tattoo, and as such would you consider allowing someone with only 5 days training to permanently alter your face or the face of a loved one?
Due to the lack of regulations from state to state regarding permanent cosmetics, the industry is wide open to greed, misrepresentation and false claims. This combination can result in misery to an unsuspecting and client as well as someone wishing to learn the art of permanent cosmetics.
Never would a self respecting tattoo artist consider apprenticing a fledgling without at least a one year commitment. Professional and respected tattoo artists do not run diploma-mill schools. It’s unheard of and would be an injustice to the public as well as the tattoo profession. Inadequately trained tattooists are commonly referred to as 'scratchers'.
So how can these 'few day' permanent makeup trainers get away with such an irresponsible act of collecting big money from ‘want to be’ permanent makeup technicians and offer so little in return?
The answer is easy: because they can.
It goes back to the lack of regulation. Tattoo artists have traditionally been very responsible with self-regulation, in that they have always held themselves quite accountable and have worked hard to dispel the image of the seedy tattoo parlor of old, especially since the enactment of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Act.
But the permanent cosmetics industry is another story.
It began back in the mid 1980’s with a company called ‘Perma-Derm' owned and operated by a hypnotist burst onto the scene in America with something that was very popular in Asia; permanent cosmetics. They held 2 day classes, usually in hotel meeting rooms, sold supplies, charged a lot of money, gave certificates for “dermalogy’, made big promises about how much money a person could earn and eventually landed in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission.
Result
(1998) (criminal) sentenced to 67 months in jail for contempt
(2004) (criminal) sentenced to 8 months in jail for a second contempt
Contemptuous Conduct
failed to make required disclosures re: permanent makeup classes and misrepresented potential earnings in connection with paralegal training
Underlying Final Order
(1991) misrepresented training and certification given to attendees of his permanent makeup workshop
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/scofflaw/cases.html
Their fictitious word ‘dermalogy’ was found to be misleading and infer the practice of medicine and their promises of extravagant potential earnings were found to be fraudulent.http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1998/02/dantesen.shtm
But the scene was set. Short term training of large groups became commonplace.
If one looks closely at some of the prominent names involved in short term training, one will see a common denominator. Many are also large supply houses of related equipment, sundries, anesthetics and pigments. So not only is the excited and hopeful student sorely undereducated, but they are convinced to spend thousands of dollars on products before leaving with their ‘certificate’ in hand.
It’s at this point the problem affects the consumer.
For the person considering permanent cosmetic procedures, know this; a certificate on the wall does not mean ‘certified’. Anyone with a printer can produce a certificate. Proper certification can only be obtained from an approved certifying body. A driver’s license is issued only by the Department of Motor Vehicles and no other entity can issue a license to drive regardless of how well a person may drive. This might sound ridiculous but if a person who is considering a permanent cosmetic procedure believes that a practitioner is qualified simply because they say they attended a class and have a certificate to show for it, this DMV analogy will make good sense.
So can a person learn the art of safely applying good permanent cosmetics well in a few days?
No. There is simply too much to learn to expect the average person to master cosmetic tattooing techniques and administer the procedures safely in a such a small time frame.
Can a person expect to be instantly successful upon completion of a cosmetic tattooing class?
No. It takes time to build a portfolio, and to establish a good reputation within the practitioner’s community. Unfortunately, many technicians who have been unsuccessful at making a living from procedures, have turned to training.
The permanent cosmetics industry and the consumer have one saving grace:
The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP)
The SPCP was founded in 1990 and remains the largest nonprofit individual membership supported organization worldwide. Dedicated to promoting safety, excellence and high professional standards, the SPCP provides innovative learning experiences and education enhancing materials including a professionally developed certification exam, subject matter experts to provide guidance to its members, associated professionals, regulators, media and the general public. The SPCP, through its global membership, sets the highest industry guidelines and standards by applying sound principles of its Code of Ethics http://www.spcp.org
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