It is becoming increasingly more difficult to navigate owning a business in the SPMU industry. I wish that this was simply a case of the competition becoming stronger and forcing those of us whom already hold a place to up the ante and raise our game. Sadly this not the case.
The world of microblading, micropigmentation and SPMU is fast becoming similar to that of the injectables business, a race to the bottom, where those of us who still stay true to our morals, preach to customers that they ought to be discerning when deciding on whom to use for their microblading. But with so many academies churning out hundreds of new microbladers daily, most of whom do not have any experience at all in a medical capacity, the market is becoming saturated with people who are innocently trying to make a living and don’t fully comprehend what is at stake when they take on each new customer.
The plight of those attempting to make the best of the pandemic has meant that many women (I say women because we are the ones that it is has most impacted, I am not suggesting that it has not negatively impacted men of course) have become easy targets for academies with a keen eye for preying on the desperate. So many females lost their jobs or had their hours or contracts diminished as they took on the burden of the domestic role on top of their day jobs through the time of Corona virus and COVID 19. It is not in the least surprising that many sought to find a way of producing a second income. The issue here is that these academies make it sound as though starting a semi permanent makeup business requires little money or skill, which is not correct. One should strive to be making sure they are trained as best as possible, with as much skill and experience on non paying customers as possible before they start, not to mention that they should also be attempting to use the best possible products.
When a prospective client chooses to use a microblader who charges £150 for a set, have they considered if this person can truly afford to use the best single use blades? Whether they can afford to adequately sterilise the non single use equipment necessary? Whether they are even adequately insured?
I write this blog post for two reasons. I want to encourage clients to make sure that they make good decisions when choosing a microblader, knowing what is at stake when they don’t. But more than that, I want all these new microbladers to please read this and remember that their new career is just beginning, that they can make it with hard work and consistency, and that they do not need to start their businesses cutting corners. We all need to stand together to implement best practices to make sure that everyone remains safe. I salute every single one of these new business people, and hope that they understand that every client deserves the best of our time and experience, because their confidence is at stake.
Good luck to you all
Galata x