A letter from Pui · Lead Artist, N&Beauty
Is Permanent Makeup Safe? Pigments, Hygiene, and What to Check Before You Book
Hi — it's Pui again, the artist behind N&Beauty. A few people have written to me asking, honestly, 'is this safe?' I think that's exactly the right question to ask before anyone puts a needle near your face, so I wanted to walk you through what I actually do, pigment by pigment, tool by tool — not to convince you of anything, just so you know.
Chat on WhatsAppWhy I only use genuine pigment — and why I ask you to photograph it
I use manufacturer-original pigment only, including PhiBrows, and nothing mixed or unbranded. Before we even begin, I ask you to take your own photo of the pigment box and label — brand and reference number included. It's a small thing, but it means you always have your own record, in your own hands, of exactly what went into your skin.
On my side, I also keep a note of the pigment used for every single treatment I do. If a question ever comes up later, months or years from now, we can both look back and know precisely what it was.
- Manufacturer-original pigment only (including PhiBrows) — never mixed or unbranded
- You photograph the pigment box and label yourself before we start
- I keep my own record of the exact pigment used for every treatment
If you ever need it, I can give you the Safety Data Sheet
I'm not a doctor, so I won't pretend to give medical advice here — but I do want you to have real documentation if you ever need it. If you've had a treatment with me and later need to show something to a doctor, or before an MRI, just ask and I'll send you the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for your pigment as an English-language PDF.
This is available on request to clients who've actually been treated here, since it needs to match the specific pigment recorded for you. Please always let your doctor know you have permanent makeup, and let them guide anything medical — I'm just here to make sure you have the paperwork ready.
Hygiene: how I handle needles, single-use items and surfaces
This is a needle procedure, so I don't cut corners here. The needles I use are medical-grade stainless steel, single-use, and opened from a sealed, individual pack in front of you — never reused. Single-use items like the pigment cups and the bed sheet are fresh for every client and thrown away afterwards. Everything that isn't disposable — the bed, the machine and the work surfaces — is thoroughly disinfected with alcohol between every client.
About allergies: if you have any at all — to anaesthetic, to metals, anything — please tell me before we book rather than after. I use medical-grade stainless steel needles, but whether someone reacts can vary from person to person. I can arrange a patch test in advance for a small fee as a way to check for a possible reaction beforehand — it's a helpful precaution rather than a guarantee, and for anything you're worried about I'll also suggest checking with a medical professional.
- Needles: medical-grade stainless steel, individually sealed, single-use, opened in front of you
- Single-use items (pigment cups, bed sheet): fresh for every client, then discarded
- Bed, machine and surfaces: disinfected with alcohol between every client
- Tell me about allergies in advance — a patch test is available (a precaution, not a guarantee)
A few things worth checking, wherever you go — not just here
I'll say this even though it's not really about my studio: at any studio, anywhere, it's completely fair to ask them to open a brand-new needle in front of you before they start. A place that takes hygiene seriously will do this without hesitation. If someone seems uncomfortable showing you that, please take it seriously — it's telling you something.
Ask about their pigments too — do they know exactly what's in them, and can they tell you the brand? A calm, specific answer is a good sign. A vague one isn't. These are simple questions, but they matter more than almost anything else you'll ask in a consultation.
Questions
A few questions I'm often asked
I use medical-grade stainless steel needles. That said, whether someone reacts to metal varies from person to person, so if you have any allergy history please tell me in advance. I can arrange a patch test beforehand as a precaution — it helps check for a possible reaction rather than guaranteeing there won't be one — and for anything you're concerned about I'll suggest checking with a doctor too.
Yes. If you've had a treatment with me, just ask and I'll send you the English SDS PDF for your specific pigment — useful to show a doctor or before an MRI. It's tied to the pigment record kept for your treatment, so please always mention your permanent makeup to any doctor.
No. All equipment is sterilized, I use a fresh sheet for every client, and I disinfect the whole space with alcohol between appointments. If you'd ever like to see a fresh needle opened in front of you, please just ask — I'm always glad to show you.
I only work with manufacturer-original pigment, including PhiBrows, and I ask you to photograph the box and label yourself before we start. I also keep my own record of exactly which pigment was used for your treatment, so there's always a clear trail if you ever need it.
I know 'is it safe' can feel like an awkward question to ask out loud, so I wanted to answer it before you even had to. None of this is about impressing you — it's about you being able to trust what's happening to your own skin, in detail, not just in general. If anything here still worries you, please don't sit with it quietly. Ask me. — Pui, Lead Artist, N&Beauty
About the author
Pui — Lead Artist at N&Beauty
Pui is a PhiBrows-certified permanent makeup artist and the lead artist at N&Beauty in Asoke, Bangkok. She has completed 5,000+ procedures since 2022, and personally answers client questions on WhatsApp and LINE.
Talk to Pui
Have a question first?
Any question about pigments, needles, or allergies — message me anytime on WhatsApp or LINE, no pressure at all, I'm happy to talk it through before you book.