Picking the right lip pigment shade can make all the difference for your clients. When it comes to permanent makeup, the goal is to enhance natural beauty and boost confidence with colors that perfectly suit each person's skin tone. More often than not, the perfect shade helps in creating a seamless and flattering look, ensuring your clients walk away with a big smile.
So, why is finding that perfect match so important? Getting the right lip pigment isn't just about the aesthetic appeal. It’s about making sure your clients feel their best. A well-matched shade complements their natural skin undertones and highlights their features. It can also improve the final outcome of the procedure, making your work look more complete and consistent.
Understanding Skin Undertones
Ever wonder why some colors look fantastic on certain clients but fall flat on others? It usually comes down to skin undertones. These subtle tones beneath the surface influence how pigments appear once healed.
There are three main types of skin undertones: cool, warm, and neutral.
Cool undertones include hints of blue, pink, or purple. If your client looks great in silver jewelry or has veins that appear bluish or purple, they most likely have cool undertones.
Warm undertones have a yellow, peach, or golden cast. Clients with greenish-looking veins, or who tend to glow in gold jewelry, probably fall into this category.
Neutral undertones sit in the middle. They have a balance of both warm and cool hues. Clients with neutral undertones might struggle to identify whether gold or silver suits them better because both tend to work well. Their veins may appear bluish-green, making this undertone more flexible when it comes to matching pigments.
To help determine undertones during consultation, use a white sheet of paper next to the client’s clean skin. The contrast can highlight any hidden undertones, making your shade selection more accurate.
Matching Lip Pigments to Undertones
Once you identify the undertone, you can match it with pigments that complement the skin instead of clashing with it. Pigments that don't align with the undertone can look off once healed. They might appear dull, overly intense, or even take on an unexpected hue. Below are some general guidelines:
For clients with cool undertones:
- Choose berry-based pigments with hints of blue or purple.
- Colors like mauve, dusty rose, and plum usually look soft yet striking.
- Avoid warm orange or peach tones, which can create imbalance.
For clients with warm undertones:
- Aim for pigments with coral, peach, or terracotta qualities.
- Shades like cinnamon rose, brick, or warm pink can help bring out a healthy, natural glow.
- Stay away from blue-based colors, which may appear unnatural on warmer skin tones.
For clients with neutral undertones:
- You’re free to use a wider range of pigments, but avoid overly warm or icy colors.
- Soft beige-pinks, rose nudes, and muted berry tones can all work well without pulling too much in either temperature direction.
Let’s look at a simple example. Say a client walks in with golden undertones and slightly tanned skin. You wouldn’t want to go with a pinky berry color that might read too purple on them. Instead, a soft terracotta or muted coral would enhance their glow without clashing with their complexion.
Always remember that healed results may differ slightly from initial application. So think one step ahead. Consider how underlying tones will interact with pigment over time.
Tips From MARA PRO Artists
Even if you're skilled at recognizing undertones and choosing pigments, there's no one-size-fits-all. Experienced PMU artists rely on a few proven best practices that ensure consistency and great results session after session.
1. Test First
Before the main procedure begins, do a quick pigment swatch test near the lips. Let it sit and check it under natural light. This step helps you spot any tones that might shift once healed, and it gives your client a preview of the result.
2. Customize When You Need To
Pigment lines are often mixable. If your client’s undertone isn't clearly defined, or if they have scar tissue or healed pigment, mixing custom shades gives you more control. Learning to mix pigments well helps you match tones with greater accuracy.
3. Document Everything
Keep a detailed record of the pigment or combinations used, how the color healed, and the client's feedback. This lets you refine techniques and build pigment formulas you can trust for future procedures.
4. Talk About Aftercare
Even the most perfect pigment match can fade poorly if the client doesn't follow proper aftercare. Walk them through clear instructions about keeping the area clean, avoiding certain skincare products, staying out of the sun, and healing timelines. Help them understand that healed results partly depend on how they care for the skin afterward.
Success as a PMU artist also means knowing how to adjust when needed. Some clients may react slightly differently to pigments. Staying flexible and honest during the process builds more trust with your clients.
Perfecting Your Client’s Lip Blush Experience
Choosing the best lip pigment shade is part science, part artistry. It starts with identifying undertones, matching those tones to color families, and being ready to tweak shades as needed.
When you understand how the skin reacts to pigment and how undertones affect color healing, you can create results that truly complement your client’s features. This attention to detail enhances your artistry and leaves clients feeling more confident in their final look.
No single pigment will suit everyone. But with some testing, careful observation, and informed product choices, you’ll have what you need to offer consistently beautiful results. Stay up-to-date with pigment trends, keep practicing custom blends, and never stop learning from each client session. The little things make a big difference, and mastering them helps set your work apart.
To find the right balance between skin tone and pigment, artists need colors that deliver consistent results across varied clients. If you're ready to explore a wide selection of shades that suit every client who walks through your door, browse the Mara Pro Shop collection and discover the perfect lip pigment for every skin tone.