What's PMU Brows?

PMU is an old term (1960s to the end of the 1990s), meaning Permanent Makeup, a tattooing technique where pigments are implanted into the skin. There are several techniques within PMU, such as microblading, nanobrows, powder brows, lip blushing. Common areas for PMU application include eyebrows, eyeliner, and lip color.

This term was used when there wasn't much knowledge about skin layers or ink implantation, and the procedure was intended to be PERMANENT, the same as a tattoo. Many artists still use this name because it's the most recognized term to "describe" what we do.

We do have an updated term, which is Semi-permanent makeup, coined after understanding that facial "tattoo" needs to be done more superficially and with less ink to prevent it from expanding and changing color over time, for a natural result.

I like to use this photo to show the difference between techniques. Image 1 and 2 are procedures done by me, semi-permanent. In Image 1, we have Nanobrows strokes, and in Image 2, we have microblading strokes. The amount of ink implanted in the skin in images 1 and 2 will never become image 3, it will lighten until it disappears completely. Image 3 is an outdated PMU technique that unfortunately was done too deep into the skin with a lot of ink implantation and ended up becoming a tattoo. Not natural at all.

Conclusion: If you want something permanent, it won't be natural because you need to use more ink and go deeper. If you want something natural, less ink and more superficial will last not that long, but for me, this is the best option.

I hope that now you can differentiate and make the best choice for you.