January 2026 SPCP Insights
In this issue:
The latest Sip 'n Share News
Save the Date 2026 Convention
Where Beauty Trends Influence Cosmetic Tattooing
Tip: Tattooing Freckles
Get Published: topics for next issue
The latest Sip 'n Share News
The January 12, 2026 Sip 'n Share replay is now available in the member portal.
Long time member, Molly Klipp, CPCP presented Beauty Biz AI Playday — using AI in your business. In February she will present Part II.
In March there will be interviews with surgeons who do restorative surgeries. This is a great for our new CPTP holders and those wanting to expand their knowledge.
Join us each month for this free education for our members... and Members can earn one learning credit hour for each Sip 'n Share. For more details check the EVENTS calendar in the members portal to see the date and time.
LIVE IG EVENT - Terry Lively, CPCP did a live IG December 15th. It was a live interview with SPCP Member Samantha Cham. In the interview they discussed Samantha's path from breast cancer survivor to paramedical tattoo professional and why she chose to attend this years summit and take the CPTP exam. You can watch the replay here.
The 2026 SPCP Annual Convention — Re-Invented is coming… and you’re not going to want to miss this.
September 19–21, 2026
Sunny Phoenix, Arizona
We can’t spill all the details just yet but get ready for something completely different from the traditional conventions you’re used to…
Think course-style learning, hands-on training, and real skill-building for the PMU artist who’s ready for more than just more hour-long presentations.
This will be an intimate, limited-seat experience (just like our 2025 Summit 👀), with special discounted tickets for SPCP members.
SPCP members can now access Early Saver ticket pricing for only $799 USD, offering substantial savings for those who know they plan to attend.
While the agenda and presenters will be announced later, this limited-time member benefit is available through February 28, 2026.
Become a
Certified paramedical tattoo Professional
Online Exam Applications starting Feb 15, 2026
Find out more about the application process on our website here:
https://spcp.org/paramedical-tattoo-certification
Where Beauty Trends Influence Cosmetic Tattooing
And Why some lessons are Best Learned without the Bruises
Vicki Hansen, Cpcp
There is an old saying about “learning at the school of hard knocks.” It is a rough place to get an education, yet I continue to watch new artists insist on enrolling after training. Youth? Confidence? Ego? All the above?
Those of us who have been in this industry long enough have already paid tuition.
Let us rewind to the era of large, square brows with defined edges, soft shading, and light concealer framing the shape. In traditional makeup and on social media, they were showstoppers and photographed beautifully.
I watched new artists idolize a well-known brow artist who translated this traditional makeup trend directly into permanent makeup. Fresh work looked incredible. But experience had already taught me how this would end.
Hard tattooed lines at the top and bottom of a brow, with soft shading floating between, do not age kindly. I survived my own version during the PAMELA ANDERSON/BAYWATCH BROW era of the 90s. At the time, it felt iconic.
Spoiler alert: it was not.
In permanent cosmetics, heavy saturation at the brow edge inevitably heals into a gray line. The soft, fluffy stippling disappears, leaving behind a muted brow with a visible edge. I watched those same IG-famous artists quietly stop posting healed work and shift to highlighting fresh results instead.
A telltale sign.
And yes, I hate being right.
Permanent Cosmetics Meets 2026 Makeup Trends
In 2026, beauty is playful, expressive, and deeply personal. Classic trends lean soft and timeless, while dramatic personalities still crave bold color and artistic flair.
Our job as PMU artists is not to chase trends.
It is to understand them, then translate desire into permanent enhancement that ages gracefully and avoids fad-driven regret.
Trends That Harmonize Beautifully With PMU
Natural-Focused Looks: Still King
Traditional makeup in 2026 emphasizes softly blurred lips, skin-like bases, and gentle color application. Cloud-like lips and luminous skin dominate everyday wear.
PMU sweet spot:
Soft lip blush with gently diffused edges
Natural brow techniques, whether hair strokes or translucent shading
Lash-line enhancement instead of thick, dramatic liner.
Heavy, saturated brows are out in traditional makeup this season and should remain out in permanent makeup as well.
Why it works:
Subtle, natural trends translate beautifully into permanent results that do not feel dated. Classic makeup is always a classic.
The Blurred, Lived-In Aesthetic
Blurred lips, cloud fades, and soft cheek tones are everywhere. Clients want ease and less time in front of the mirror.
We have been here before.
Cheek blush tattoos had a moment, and clients still occasionally ask for them. What many do not realize is that today’s sheer foundations, tinted moisturizers, and SPF products make that color invisible. Worse, even faded cheek pigment permanently disqualifies clients from future laser and IPL treatments.
As beauty-conscious clients age, they often forget about that old pigment until the laser reminds them.
This is where restraint matters.
A soft touch of traditional makeup achieves the “skin-but-better” look safely. Permanent makeup should function as a supportive structure, never a full-face replacement.
When Traditional Makeup Trends Should NOT Drive PMU
Heavy Lines and Maximalist Expression
Graphic liner, bold shapes, and high-contrast designs may look striking in makeup, but they do not age well in skin.
Bold, dense lines blur over time. What starts crisp often heals muddy.
PMU best practice:
Frame and enhance rather than replicating dramatic trends.
Let clients explore bold color with temporary makeup.
Translate bold intent into controlled depth, such as soft lash enhancement or nuanced brow shaping.
Educate clients that permanent makeup should echo trends, not copy them.
Trend-Only Color Fads
Ultra-cool tones, electric blues, lilacs, chrome lips, and maximalist blush placement are trending again.
We have already learned this lesson.
Permanent eyeshadow and contouring from the early 2000s taught us that blue, purple, green, and brown pigments often healed like bruises in various stages of recovery. A subtle pop of color above the liner could work. Full permanent eyeshadow? A nightmare to wear, conceal, or remove.
Permanent makeup requires longevity.
Best practice:
Avoid trendy, ephemeral colors as permanent pigment choices.
Favor neutral, customizable tones
Use subtle shapes to enhance, not dominate.
The Bottom Line
Clients should be encouraged to play with trends using traditional makeup; while keeping their permanent makeup as a soft, natural foundation they can build upon for years to come.
Nothing is worse than an unhappy client with an unfortunate healed result.
And nothing builds trust faster than an artist who knows when to say:
“This is beautiful… just not permanent.”
Tattooing Freckles
Saville Warren-Pena, CPCP
Clients who have had freckles most of their lives love this process because they can pick their favorite ones to add back to their everyday natural appearance! However, you do need good training or your client could be stuck with grey unnatural looking freckles instead of ones that look like they belong to her.
Having trouble with placement when tattooing freckles?
Here's a tip! Get get a black light flashlight. When you shine it on the skin you can see where there is naturally more melanin in the skin to guide your placement for a subtle and realistic look. Pigment type and technique are also important.
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Call for Trends Articles & Tips
For the February Newsletter, we are featuring tips and articles on Best Next Steps for You. (Is it business classes, technical training, planning to attend convention, or is it time for a personal coach to help you grow? What tips or info should our members know?) Include: How to choose your next training, trainer, or mentor/coach.
Please send your submission (with any related images) to [email protected].
Deadline: February 20, 2026. Questions? Email [email protected].
