PMU Consultation Checklist for Artists

Table of Contents

• Why a Thorough Consultation Matters
• Medical History Review
• Skin Assessment
• Allergy and Sensitivity Screening
• Setting Expectations
• Color Matching and Selection
• Shape Design and Mapping
• Consent Forms and Documentation
• Full Contraindications List
• Putting It All Together

A client sits down in your chair, excited about her new brows. Twenty minutes into the procedure, she mentions she is on blood thinners. Or midway through lip blush, you notice an unusual skin reaction she "forgot" to tell you about. These are not hypothetical scenarios - they happen to PMU artists who skip or rush the consultation.

A solid PMU consultation checklist is not paperwork for paperwork's sake. It protects your clients, protects your business, and sets the foundation for results you are both proud of. Here is every item yours should include.

Why a Thorough Consultation Matters

The consultation serves four critical purposes:

1. Client safety. PMU involves breaking the skin. Medical conditions, medications, and allergies can turn a routine procedure into a serious problem.
2. Realistic expectations. Clients who understand the healing process, longevity, and limitations of PMU are happier clients. Disappointed clients leave bad reviews.
3. Legal protection. A signed, thorough consent form is your primary defense if a client claims they were not informed of risks.
4. Better results. Understanding a client's skin type, lifestyle, and goals helps you choose the right technique, pigment, and approach.

Medical History Review

This is the most important section of your intake. Ask about every item on this list - do not assume clients will volunteer information.

Conditions to Screen For

• Diabetes - affects healing and increases infection risk
• Autoimmune disorders (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's) - unpredictable healing responses
• Blood disorders (hemophilia, von Willebrand disease) - excessive bleeding during the procedure
• Heart conditions - some cardiac medications affect bleeding and healing
• Hepatitis B or C, HIV - requires additional safety protocols; not necessarily a contraindication but must be disclosed
• Epilepsy or seizure disorders - safety consideration during the procedure
• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea) - especially if active in the treatment area
• History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring - significant risk factor for PMU
• Cancer / active chemotherapy or radiation - immunocompromised clients face elevated infection risk

Medications to Ask About

• Blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, Eliquis, Xarelto) - cause excessive bleeding that pushes pigment out
• Accutane (isotretinoin) - must be discontinued for at least 12 months before PMU; thins the skin dramatically
• Retinoids and retinol (topical) - must be stopped 4-6 weeks before the procedure in the treatment area
• Immunosuppressants - affect healing
• Antibiotics - can affect pigment retention
• Blood pressure medications - some increase bruising risk

Recent Procedures and Treatments

• Botox or filler injections (wait at least 4 weeks)
• Chemical peels or laser treatments (wait at least 6-8 weeks)
• Recent surgery in the treatment area
• Previous permanent makeup or tattoos in the area (affects technique and pigment choice)

Skin Assessment

Evaluate the client's skin in the treatment area before proceeding. What you see will influence your technique choices.

What to Evaluate

• Skin type - oily, dry, combination, or normal. Oily skin in the brow area affects microblading retention significantly. Powder brows or combo brows may be a better recommendation.
• Skin thickness - thin, fragile skin requires lighter pressure and fewer passes
• Existing scarring - old scars may take pigment differently
• Sun damage - affects texture and pigment retention
• Pore size - large pores in the brow area can cause pigment to blur or spread
• Active breakouts or irritation - reschedule if active inflammation is present in the treatment area

Fitzpatrick Skin Type

Assessing the client's Fitzpatrick skin type (I through VI) helps predict:

• Healing behavior
• Risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Pigment color selection
• Likelihood of scarring

Allergy and Sensitivity Screening

Essential Questions

• Latex allergy - affects your glove choice
• Lidocaine or topical anesthetic sensitivity - some clients react to numbing agents
• Metal allergies (nickel, iron) - relevant because PMU pigments contain metal oxides
• Previous allergic reactions to tattoo ink or PMU pigment
• Sensitive skin history - general reactivity to skincare products

Patch Testing

For clients with known sensitivities or a history of allergic reactions, consider performing a patch test 24-48 hours before the procedure. Apply a small amount of pigment and numbing cream behind the ear or on the inner arm and monitor for reactions.

This is not universally required, but for high-risk clients, it demonstrates professional diligence and protects both parties.

Setting Expectations

Misaligned expectations are the number one source of client dissatisfaction in PMU. Cover these topics explicitly:

What to Discuss

• Healing timeline - the full cycle including the "ugly phase," ghost phase, and true healed result (typically 4-6 weeks)
• Color shift - pigment will appear darker immediately and lighten 30-50% as it heals
• Touch-up requirement - explain that the first session is the foundation and the touch-up at 6-8 weeks is where refinement happens
• Longevity - give realistic ranges based on the specific service (1-3 years for microblading, 2-4 years for lip blush, 2-5 years for powder brows)
• Results vary - skin type, aftercare compliance, lifestyle, and individual biology all affect outcomes
• Pain level - be honest. "Mild discomfort with numbing" is more accurate than "totally painless"
• What PMU cannot do - it cannot replicate the look of filled-in makeup, it will not look Instagram-filtered in real life, and it will not fix underlying structural issues

Color Matching and Selection

Document your color choices and rationale:

• Natural hair color (for brows) - match to the natural hair, not dyed hair
• Skin undertone - warm, cool, or neutral
• Natural lip or brow color - your starting canvas
• Pigment brand and shade selected - record this for the touch-up
• Any modifiers used - warm, cool, or color correctors
• Client's color preference - natural, soft, or bold

Always assess color in natural daylight, not just under your ring light. If your studio lacks natural light, invest in a daylight-balanced lamp specifically for color matching.

Shape Design and Mapping

Brow Mapping

For brow procedures, document the mapping process:

• Measurement method used (string mapping, caliper, digital mapping)
• Key reference points: brow start (aligned with nostril bridge), arch (aligned with iris outer edge), and tail (aligned with nostril to outer eye corner)
• Client-approved shape - get verbal and ideally photographic confirmation before beginning
• Adjustments discussed - any modifications to the natural shape the client requested

Lip Mapping

For lip procedures:

• Natural lip line assessment
• Symmetry evaluation
• Amount of border extension (if any) - slight overdraw versus following natural line
• Client approval of mapped shape

Photograph the approved mapping before you begin. This protects you and gives you a reference during the procedure.

Consent Forms and Documentation

Your consent form is a legal document. It should include at minimum:

• Client identification - full name, date of birth, contact information
• Procedure description - specific service being performed
• Risks and complications - infection, allergic reaction, scarring, unsatisfactory results, pigment migration, MRI considerations
• Aftercare responsibilities - the client acknowledges their role in the healing outcome
• Touch-up policy - what is included, timeline, and any conditions
• Refund and correction policy - clearly stated
• Photo/video consent - separate from the procedure consent; specify how images may be used
• Medical disclosure acknowledgment - the client confirms the accuracy of their medical history
• Client signature and date

Full Contraindications List

Keep this list posted in your studio and in your intake process. These are conditions where PMU should either not be performed or requires physician clearance first.

Absolute Contraindications (Do Not Proceed)

• Pregnancy or nursing
• Active skin infection in the treatment area
• Active cold sore outbreak (for lip procedures)
• Currently on Accutane or discontinued within the last 12 months
• Hemophilia or severe bleeding disorders
• Active chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Under 18 years of age (in most states)
• Under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Relative Contraindications (Requires Physician Clearance)

• Diabetes (managed)
• Autoimmune disorders
• Heart conditions
• History of keloid scarring
• Blood thinning medications
• Epilepsy
• HIV/Hepatitis (with proper protocol)

Temporary Contraindications (Reschedule)

• Sunburned skin in the treatment area
• Active breakout or irritation in the treatment area
• Recent Botox/filler (wait 4 weeks)
• Recent chemical peel or laser (wait 6-8 weeks)
• Menstruation (optional - some clients are more pain-sensitive during their period)

Putting It All Together

A thorough consultation takes 20-30 minutes and should never feel rushed. Here is the flow:

1. Client completes digital intake forms before the appointment
2. Review medical history and flag any concerns
3. Perform skin assessment in the treatment area
4. Discuss expectations, show healed portfolio, and align on goals
5. Select and agree on color
6. Map and approve the shape
7. Review and sign consent forms
8. Take pre-procedure photographs
9. Begin numbing and proceed with the service

The artists who build loyal client bases are the ones who make clients feel informed and cared for - not the ones who rush to start tattooing. Your consultation process is part of your service quality.

Managing this process with paper forms and text message reminders is possible, but it creates gaps. Digital intake forms that feed directly into your client records eliminate double entry, reduce errors, and look more professional. BrowDesk is building a client management system with PMU-specific intake workflows, so every consultation starts organized. Join the waitlist to try it first.