What to Look for in a Brow Artist

The cosmetic tattoo industry is booming like never before! It seems like everyone found out about how life changing a good pair of brows can be and so many are trying out this career for themselves. Every city now has steep competition with many talented Artists for clients to choose from.

So how does one choose when there are so many options?! After all, you do not want to choose the wrong Artist and end up unhappy with your brows. I have seen far too many unfortunate cases of botched work or damaged skin, and it breaks my heart every time!

Tattooing in general is a sacred art. But cosmetic tattooing is even more intimate. You shouldn’t let just anyone tattoo your face. Brows can have a huge impact on your life, either positive or the negative. You will look at them every single day and so will everyone else. That is why it is important to invest in a quality artist with a proven track record of skill, talent and expertise.

Please be sure to put some thought into your Artist and do a little research to find the best fit for you and to make sure the Artist is qualified. Even if I am not your Artist and you decide to choose someone else, I want you to end up with brows that you LOVE! So here is my best advice on what to look for.

Here are 5 things to look for when selecting your Brow Artist:

1) Sanitation & Licensing

Sanitation and cleanliness is the most important factor with any tattoo procedure. Do not assume the artist is taking precautions- pay attention and ask if you need to! I do not want to scare anyone but tattooing can come with serious health risks if the Artist is not safe, such as cross-contamination, infections, bloodborne illnesses, etc.

Artists should be:

· LICENSED! Their active license with the local health department should be displayed clearly in their studio to ensure they are compliant with health codes and regularly inspected

· Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Certified

· Properly wearing gloves during the procedure

· Keeping their machine wrapped during the procedure

· Using brand new sterile needles for each client

· Maintaining proper needle disposal bins in plain sight

2) Healed Results

“After” photos are great, but you should be most concerned with how the Artist’s work heals because that is what it’s going to look like long-term. Artists may display healed results in their gallery or you may ask for some examples. Make sure their technique produces good retention that it still looks good over time and stays true to color.

3) Safe Machine, Needles & Pigments

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there are unfortunately a lot of Artists that use unsafe equipment or low quality products. A client would probably never know this unless they ask specific questions and do some research. But as an Artist myself, this is something I need to know about my own Artist due to things I have learned over the years.

I would look for or ask about the following:

· Machines made by well-known brands such as Mast, Brow Daddy, Bellar, Xion, Flux, Rook, etc.

· Universal needle cartridges, which have safely membranes to prevent bloodborne pathogen backflow and cross contamination

· Trusted pigment brands such as PermaBlend and LI Pigments

· Quality products for the procedure (such as antiseptic and numbing agent) as well as for After Care (which they should be providing you)

Please do not be afraid to ask about these things and take some time to research brands. Artists like me are happy to be transparent and provide this info.

4) Who trained them?

These days anyone can train and certify other Artists. So I always like to know where they obtained their certifications, and yes there should be multiple certifications if they have invested in mastering their craft! Look up the trainer/academy on Instagram and see if they’re well-known and have solid years of experience, in order to be qualified to provide thorough training that produces quality work.

5) Price Point

I know we are all on a budget but a tattoo, especially one on your face, is the one thing something you do not want to go cheap for. Cheap brows often lead to undesirable outcomes such as unflattering shape, uneven, changing to funky colors, pigment migration, etc. If your brows are botched, you will end up spending a lot more money in removals or corrections later on. I have lost count of all the cases I've seen where clients regret choosing cheap work and some are literally scarred for life, both physically and emotionally. I cannot emphasize enough that you should invest in high quality work- you deserve it!

In most cities, the going rate for quality brows by a well known Artist is $400-700. Anything below may be a red flag that the Artist is inexperienced or that they are taking shortcuts to keep their costs low.

Bonus Tips:

The best artists are always clients themselves. Look for an Artist that also gets their brows done. They will fully understand the experience since they know exactly what it feels like.

All Artists should thoroughly explain the procedure in a thorough consultation at the beginning of your appointment, as well as emphasizing Pre Care and After Care.

An expert Artist will always do Removals as well because it demonstrates advanced knowledge of working with the skin and how to remove or correct when necessary.

Check reviews and client testimonials for an idea of the experience they deliver.

A website and booking tool are good signs of the Artist being an established professional.

Ask how many years of experience they have and look for a diverse portfolio of different ages, skin types and complexions.

Finally, it helps a lot to vibe with your Artist! You’re going to spend a lot of time together- 3 hours for your initial appointment, a touch up appointment, and hopefully many years to come of appointments if they become your go-to Artist for life. It’s great to feel comfortable like you can trust the Artist and bond with them. As Artists, we usually become friends and therapists to our clients, hearing your stories and sharing our own. Finding that great long-term Brow Artist relationship is truly priceless.

I hope you’ve found this info helpful and will use this knowledge on your search for the perfect Artist! Best of luck on your brow journey, gorgeous!

Please comment below if I missed anything or if you have any questions at all.