The PMU Standard

When Should an Artist Should Say NO to the $$ money? Not every client should become your client. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny talks about one of the hardest lessons to learn as a permanent makeup artist: sometimes the best business decision is saying  no to the money . A client may be ready to book and pay, but that doesn't automatically mean you should perform the pro...

Holiday Business Prep with Sasha Haughn: Part 2 We’re back with  Sasha Haughn  for Part 2, and this time we’re turning up the heat. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny and Sasha continue their conversation about preparing your PMU or beauty business for the holiday season, but we’re also getting into the bigger lessons that apply to business owners all year long. From managing a...

Holiday Business Prep with Sasha Haughn: Part 1 The holiday season can be one of the busiest and most profitable times of the year for beauty professionals, but without a plan, it can also become one of the most stressful. In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny sits down with business expert and AAM Board Member  Sasha Haughn  to talk about preparing your...

Is Microblading for Everyone? A client walks in asking for microblading. But is microblading actually what they need? In this episode of  The PMU Standard , AAM President and Director of Operations Michelle Rukny looks beyond individual techniques and talks about something much more important: identifying the right service for the right client. Permanent makeup isn't one size fits all. Skin ty...

A full booking calendar doesn't prove competence. A big following doesn't prove technique. And a certificate on the wall doesn't automatically mean someone is ready to work on a client's face. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , AAM President and Director of Operations Michelle Rukny opens up a conversation the permanent makeup industry needs to have about integrity, training, m...

Caffeine and PMU: What the Research Actually Says Should clients really skip coffee before a permanent makeup appointment? The answer may be different from what you've been taught. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , AAM President and Director of Operations Michelle Rukny takes a closer look at one of the most common PMU pre-care rules: no caffeine before your appointment. Unlike alcohol, c...

That glass of wine the night before your brow, lip, or eyeliner appointment might seem harmless, but it can affect more than you think. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , AAM President and Director of Operations Michelle Rukny breaks down what alcohol actually does in the body and why artists commonly recommend avoiding it before a permanent makeup procedure. Michelle gets into the science beh...

Why are minimum standards for permanent makeup rising, and what does that mean for artists? In this episode of  The PMU Standard , AAM President and Director of Operations Michelle Rukny breaks down the growing push for stronger safety, training, and accountability across the PMU industry. PMU regulations can look completely different depending on where you practice. Michelle looks at how states l...

Pigmentology with Alex Mechenici | Part 4: Continuing the Conversation Through Education The Pigmentology series comes to a close... but the learning is just beginning. In  Part 4  of this exclusive four-part  Pigmentology  series, Michelle Rukny, President of the American Academy of Micropigmentation and Director of Operations, wraps up her conversation with internationally recognized pigment exp...

Pigmentology with Alex Mechenici | Part 3: Permanent Pigments, Performance & Independent Thinking Just because you can't see a pigment anymore... does that mean it's actually gone? In  Part 3  of our exclusive four-part  Pigmentology  series, Michelle Rukny, President of the American Academy of Micropigmentation and Director of Operations, continues her conversation with internationall...

Pigmentology with Alex Mechenici | Part 2: Under-Eye Camouflage, Hidden Pigment & Long-Term Considerations The conversation continues... In  Part 2  of our exclusive four-part  Pigmentology  series, Michelle Rukny, President of the American Academy of Micropigmentation and Director of Operations, continues her conversation with internationally recognized pigment expert  Alex Mechenici  as they...

Pigmentology with Alex Mechenici | Part 1: The Science Behind PMU Pigments What if some of the "facts" you've been taught about permanent makeup pigments were never questioned in the first place? In Part 1 of this exclusive four-part  Pigmentology  series, Michelle Rukny, President of the American Academy of Micropigmentation and Director of Operations, sits down with internationally recognized pi...

Episode 19: Summer PMU | What Every Client Should Know Before Booking Summer is one of the most popular times to schedule  permanent makeup , but it's also the season that requires the most planning. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Operations of the American Academy of Micropigmentation, explains how  sun exposure, swimming, sweating, travel, ex...

Episode 18: What Hot Sauce, Lemons & Lip Blush PMU Have in Common Why do PMU artists tell clients to avoid hot sauce, citrus, and other acidic foods after a  lip blush permanent makeup procedure? Is it really about protecting the pigment, or is there more to the story? In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Operations of the American Academy of Micropi...

Episode 17: The Consultation Mistake That Creates Unhappy PMU Clients One of the biggest causes of unhappy permanent makeup clients isn't poor technique—it's unmet expectations. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Operations of the American Academy of Micropigmentation, explains why the consultation is one of the most important parts of every PM...

Episode 16: Botox & Brow PMU | Why Timing Changes Everything Botox and brow PMU are two of the most popular aesthetic treatments, but timing them incorrectly can affect brow symmetry, mapping accuracy, and long-term permanent makeup results. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Operations of the American Academy of Micropigmentation, explains the sci...

Episode 15: Lip Filler & Lip Blush PMU | Why the Order and Timing Matter Lip filler and lip blush PMU are two of the most popular aesthetic treatments, but the order you receive them and the time between procedures can have a significant impact on healing, symmetry, pigment retention, and your final results. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Opera...

Episode 14: Summer PMU | What Every Client Should Know Before Booking Summer is one of the busiest seasons for permanent makeup, but it's also one of the most important times to plan your appointment carefully. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny, President and Director of Operations of the American Academy of Micropigmentation, discusses how sun exposure, swimming, sweating,...

Episode: The Best PMU Artists Never Stop Learning The most successful PMU artists have one thing in common: they never stop investing in themselves. In this episode of  The PMU Standard , Michelle Rukny explores why continuing education is one of the greatest predictors of long-term success in permanent makeup. From advanced training and board certification to networking, mentorship, conferences,...

Episode 12: You Do Not Need a PMU Studio Yet Opening a studio too early is one of the fastest ways new PMU artists create unnecessary financial pressure for themselves. In this episode of The PMU Standard, Michelle Rukny discusses the growing pressure within the beauty industry to “look established” before building a stable clientele and business foundation. From booth rentals and shared suites to...

Episode 11: What Can the PMU Industry Learn from Oregon's Recent Numbing Ban Oregon’s 2026 anesthetic clarification sparked major concern across the PMU industry, but the conversation goes far beyond one state. In this episode of The PMU Standard, Michelle Rukny breaks down what happened in Oregon, why it matters nationally, and the larger conversation around regulation, anesthetic safety, and...

Episode 10: Eco-Friendly PMU and Tattooing | Realistic Swaps That Don’t Compromise Safety Can permanent makeup and tattoo studios become more eco-conscious without sacrificing sanitation and client safety? In this episode of The PMU Standard, Michelle Rukny discusses the real environmental impact of PMU and tattooing, where studio waste actually comes from, and the realistic changes artists can ma...

Episode 8: Five Red Flags When Choosing a PMU Trainer Choosing the right PMU trainer can shape the entire trajectory of an artist’s career. In this episode of The PMU Standard, Michelle Rukny discusses five major red flags students should watch for before investing in any permanent makeup training program. From fully online courses and lack of hands-on supervision to unrealistic income marketing a...

Episode 8: What To Do When a Procedure Goes Wrong Every artist eventually faces a procedure that doesn’t heal as expected, but what separates professionals from amateurs is how they respond. In this episode, Michelle Rukny walks through a real-world protocol for handling complications, unhappy clients, poor healing, migration, asymmetry, and unexpected outcomes professionally. From documentation a...

Episode 7: Grant Funding for PMU Artists | Money Most Artists Never Apply For Many PMU artists qualify for grants and business funding opportunities without even realizing it. In this episode of The PMU Standard, Michelle Rukny discusses grant funding opportunities available for women entrepreneurs, beauty professionals, minority-owned businesses, and small business owners within the PMU industry....