How to choose a permanent makeup artist

Why the artist matters more than the price

Permanent makeup is not a product you buy, it is a skill you trust someone with. The same treatment in two different pairs of hands can heal beautifully or leave you saving for a correction. Because the result lives on your face for years, choosing the right artist is the most important decision you will make, far more than shaving a few pounds off the price.

Look at training and experience

A good artist never stops learning. Techniques, pigments and machines evolve constantly, and the best artists invest heavily in keeping their skills current. Ask how long someone has been working, who they have trained with, and whether they hold recognised accreditation.

For context, Megan has worked in permanent makeup since 2018 and has invested over twenty thousand pounds training with leading artists around the world. That kind of commitment is what separates a true specialist from someone who took a single weekend course.

Check the method, not just the photos

Beautiful photos are easy to find. What matters underneath is how the work is applied. Microblading uses a hand-held blade to cut strokes into the skin, while machine work, the technique Megan uses, deposits pigment far more gently. Machine work tends to heal better, hold its colour longer and cause less trauma to the skin, which means less risk of scarring. Unlike microblading, it also suits all skin types, including oilier skin. If an artist only offers microblading, that tells you something about the breadth of their training.

The right artist listens first and designs around you, never around a template.

Ask to see healed results

Fresh, just-finished photos always look crisp. Healed photos, taken weeks later once the skin has settled, are where the truth is. A confident artist will happily show you healed work, because that is the result you will actually live with. If a portfolio is all day-of shots, ask why.

Make sure they can correct, not just create

An artist who also corrects and removes other people's work has a deeper understanding of pigment than one who only creates fresh sets. They know how colours fade, how to neutralise a tone that has gone wrong, and when removal is the wiser route. Correction and removal is one of Megan's specialisms, and that experience feeds directly into how cleanly her new work is designed.

Trust the consultation

The right artist listens before they pick up a machine. A proper consultation is about understanding your features, your routine and what you actually want, then designing around you rather than applying a house style. Megan takes a deliberately person-centred approach, and her consultations are free, in person or by video, with no obligation to book.

Red flags to watch for

A few things should give you pause:

• Prices that seem too good to be true, often a sign of minimal training or a hidden charge for the essential follow-up session.
• A portfolio with no healed results, only fresh, day-of photos.
• Microblading offered as the answer for every skin type, including oily skin.
• No consultation, no aftercare guidance, and no interest in your medical history.
• Pressure to book on the spot rather than space to decide.