Tugba Polatkesen, owner of Feathered Brow Studio in Canberra, explains how to determine if cosmetic tattooing is a suitable service to train in and offer at your business.

Tugba, briefly outline the training you have undertaken in your career.

“I first began my studies in 2017 at The Sydney College of Hair and Beauty graduating as a certified Cosmetic Tattooist. I continued my training with multiple world renowned PMU artists such as BROW DADDY, Permanent Beauty by Lily, and Brows by Linnie. Studying and working alongside these amazing artists allowed me to hone my craft, perfect my skills and become really knowledgeable in all facets of brow tattooing including ombré, combination, nano hair strokes, colour correction, pre-draw art, pigment product knowledge, contraindications, skin disorders and complications, as well as saline removal.

No matter where and with whom you have trained, it’s important to take away what works best for you and to work on what you enjoy most when creating beautiful brows.”

Why did you decide to train in cosmetic tattooing?

“My brow journey began as a hobby; I was 16 years- old with a passion for eyebrows! I decided to turn my hobby into a business and Feathered Brow Studio was born. My goal was to ensure that I had as much knowledge, training and experience as possible.

Suffice to say, forever-changing trends in the brow industry have certainly kept me on my toes. There is always so much to learn, one soon realises that it’s imperative to keep up-to-date with everything brows, especially training and current trends!”

What challenges have you faced as a cosmetic tattooist that other therapists ought to be aware of?

“There are many challenges in this industry, although one in particular that comes to mind is: what I may have been taught may not always be the only way to achieve the best possible result. In time, with practice and further training with different artists, one develops a combination of different options for various techniques and practices. It didn’t take me long to realise making mistakes are invaluable lessons to learn, which have prompted me to educate myself even more.

Our reputation, experience and need to keep up-to-date with new and innovative products and technology within the PMU industry is a constant challenge. Training is also expensive, but be sure to reinvest in yourself. Make it a priority so that your skills and knowledge will benefit your clientele on all levels. I always try to be the best artist that I can be. Remember: great brows get you new clients; your work is your trademark!

Another ongoing challenge is in increasing clientele, as well as retaining clientele. Something to always be mindful of is that the best of the best started somewhere. You can also achieve success if you are passionate about your craft and truly want to make a difference.”

What are the greatest advantages you’ve encountered in offering services in cosmetic tattooing?

“There is so much more to eyebrows that meets the eye. My motto is ‘when you look good, you feel good’. I feel incredibly blessed to be part of an industry that strives to help people feel and look their best, whether that be through their brows, skin, body, makeup, or hair. When you’re working on clients one-to-one their mental health becomes a sensitive part of your business. To know that you have helped someone feel better about themselves is not only rewarding, but truly humbling. I feel honoured to be able to share my gift with women, especially as brow makeovers give instant results resulting in instant gratification.

The cosmetic tattoo industry is growing rapidly on a global scale. So much is being shared on social media – a wonderful tool to showcase specific skills and brow styles. Being able to connect with audiences online has allowed me to expand my clientele internationally. Not only have I gained traction and increased demand for my services, but with everything we need to know at our fingertips, brow artists and clients alike can easily find their desired services.”

You are also a trainer in cosmetic tattooing. What qualities would you recommend people have if looking to undergo training in cosmetic tattooing?

“A few qualities I would recommend to anyone looking to undergo training in cosmetic tattooing would be…

• To have a sense of beauty, and knowledge of the face, brows, and skin
• A desire to listen and understand clients’ desires
• An ability to work well with your hands
• To be thorough
• An attention to detail
• Empathy
• To have a high care factor for your client and for what you are doing.

As a professional certified brow tattooist, I do offer 1-to-1 training. However, I only offer this to experienced brow artists as there is much to learn in this course and two days for a beginner with no brow experience is nowhere near enough.

My advice to anyone considering the cosmetic tattoo space is to please make sure you do your research regarding courses, academies, reviews, trainers, and equipment.”

For beginner cosmetic tattooists, Tugba recommends the following trainers:

• Arch Affinity, VIC
• PD Artistry, ACT
• Boss Brows, VIC/ACT
• Brow Squad, QLD
• Distinctive Features, VIC
• A Touch of Brow, WA.

Photography: iStock/Supplied

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2024 print issue of Professional Beauty magazine. Read it here.

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