Ready to apply your Microblading skills in the real world?
Embarking on a new career feels wonderful!…
There’s a magical feeling when you hold your microblading tools in your hand, now that you’re officially starting your career as a certified microblading artist.
However, there’s one more step you need to take in order to provide world-class service to your clients. While there are training establishments out there that will allow you to book clients right away, it is absolutely critical that you take some time working with a mentor who will guide you in all aspects: perfecting techniques, communicating with your clients, securing your insurance, and growing your business. These are benefits you will only get from a legitimate microblading apprenticeship.
This is what our Master Instructor, Danielle Greisen, here at MicroBladers Studio + Academy calls “continuous learning”. Although you will learn all these in your microblading certification training, things are a little different once you’re “on the field” —in this case, the microblading facility where you work. When you’ve made it through the classroom setting, you need to commit to learning more, practicing more, in order to become successful in this industry.
Not only that, completing a 6-month apprenticeship is required by the State of Nevada in order for you to receive your Body Art Card. Learn more about licensing, BBP Certification, and insurance here.
So, how do you find the best microblading apprenticeship? How do you know if a training establishment will really provide you with invaluable tools that you can use for the years to come? Here are some things to consider.
Length of An Apprenticeship
Licensing regulations and certification requirements vary per state. Six months is a good duration for an apprenticeship, not just because of state requirements but because of it allows beginner artists to progress in their skills at the reasonable pace.
Microblading is highly technical in nature, which is why artists are also referred to as microblading technicians. In training, you don’t just learn one hair stroke, you learn how to adjust the pressure and depth of your incisions, how to map the brows appropriately, and other necessary sub-skills. These skills need to become automatic to you at some point, and that doesn’t happen overnight.
Find a training establishment that will provide you with six months of apprenticeship, even if you intend to practice in a state with a shorter requirement.
Working On Live Models
Practicing for six months on paper or dummies defeats the purpose of an apprenticeship. Make sure to take a look at the training establishment’s curriculum and see if they specify that you will be working on live models.
Working on synthetic skin is a safe zone for beginners. Now it’s time to find out how strokes and pigments appear on real skin. Here are some good reasons why it’s important to practice on as many live models as you can:
Healing:
Any reputable instructor and PMU academy will teach you that pigment appears different from when it’s freshly applied and when the brows have healed. Only after observing your clients’ brows from their initial session up to the last touchup will you be able to have a good judgment in choosing pigments and giving recommendations.
The Human Canvass:
In case you need reminding, microblading is a form of tattooing. So, any mistake done on your client’s skin might stay there permanently, even though it’s considered semi-permanent makeup. You cannot throw it away and start over like you would on a canvass.
Retention on Skin Types:
Even as a beginner, you know that the retention of pigment will be different on each skin type. This is easy to say in theory but you need to work on skin in order to really see the difference. How many clients with dry skin have you worked on? An oily skin is a more challenging canvass to navigate which is why it is more suitable for microshading, which you should also learn in as an apprentice as will be discussed below.
Mastering the Routine:
As mentioned, one purpose of an apprenticeship program is to make your skills second nature to you. Like it or not, this includes the routine work: sanitation, cleaning your work space, applying pre and post care products, etc. One small oversight can affect the integrity of your work. You need to be doing these routines in a treatment room with several clients for you to get accustomed to them.
These are just some of the reasons why working on live models is very important. As Mrs. Greisen would say, you need to “work on as much skin as possible”.
“Work on as much skin as possible.”
MicroBladers Owner and Master Instructor, Danielle Greisen.
Learning Advanced Techniques
A prestigious microblading academy will train you in more advanced PMU techniques while you are an apprentice. This is how you will know that the program is meant to guide you to your success. What kind of techniques are covered in their program?
It’s important to be updated in newer treatments because it will diversify your client pool which means, you will have more income potential. In fact, learning some of these advanced treatments should be considered necessary and not just be considered a side skill. One example is Microshading. What will you do when you find out your client is not a good candidate for microblading? They may have oily or sensitive skin and it will be a lost opportunity for you if you can’t offer Microshading as an alternative.
You should also find out if they will teach combination treatments like Microblading + Shading (combination brows), as well as Powder Brows/ Ombre Brows, and Microfeathering.
I’d like to see how I can be an apprentice.
Business and Marketing Support
Does the establishment provide business support to its apprentices? This includes management ethics and legal requirements. A legitimate apprenticeship program will guide you in these processes and most importantly, teach you their best practices as a legitimate and ethical business.
Learning how to market yourself as an artist is also important to apprentices. Your instructor or mentor should teach you how to take excellent before and after photos so that you can build an impressive portfolio, how to book your first clients and how to get referrals.
Body Art Apprenticeship Certificate
The program should include a certification upon completion. Here in Nevada, that means receiving a Body Art Apprenticeship Certificate which we give to our apprentices at the end of their six-month training at MicroBladers plus, a Master Artist Southern Nevada Health District sign-off form.
Ability to Earn While You Learn
As you perfect your skills, it is important that you’re able to make some money since you will already be working on your first clients. Does the program allow access to their facility for you to bring in your first clients? Is it an established facility?
The Trainer or Instructor
Most important of all, you need to choose a program that is led and designed by a distinguished and highly experienced artist. It’s not enough that they are reputable. An acclaimed microblading academy will choose no less than a Master Level Artist to guide their apprentices. Don’t settle of mediocre training.
It’s also important that your instructor is thorough and is willing to offer their feedback or lend a hand, if necessary, when you work on your first clients. You will be under your mentor’s guidance for six months. Take some time to read what their students are saying about them and the establishment itself.
A good sign that an apprenticeship program is top-of-the-line is if it’s been structured and designed by the Master Instructor herself.
Tips on Pricing
No matter how prestigious or renowned a microblading training establishment claims to be, the price of their apprenticeship program should not be outrageous. Compare prices and what’s included in the package.
Additional Tips
Now that you know what to look for in a top Microblading Apprenticeship Program, here are some things that are good to know as to why it’s important to become an apprentice before you start taking in more clients.
The Priceless Value of an Apprenticeship
From watching professional artists do their work to trying the techniques yourself, you acquire more knowledge and skills that will accelerate you to becoming a successful microblading artist. This is the real value of becoming an apprentice.
The benefits of ongoing hands-on training is unmatched and will be your foundation for success for the whole duration of your career.
Cultivating Creativity
The environment of your training establishment will highly affect the quality of training that you receive. Make sure to research how the microblading academy conducts their training, what approaches do they take, and what unique methods do they do in order to spark creativity in their students.
Semi-permanent cosmetics is an art. Your goal is to become an artist. Make sure that you are working with the most creative but also disciplined professionals when it comes to techniques and training methods.
As a final note, your training is an investment. Make sure to take these considerations seriously before you pay for an apprenticeship. If you have more questions about training and becoming an apprentice, we will be happy to speak with you.