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In this episode, Teryn Darling sits down with industry veteran Robin Hays Velez, a PMU artist with over 32 years of experience, to talk about what it really takes to last in permanent makeup. From pigments and needle choices to burnout, ethics, and regulators… nothing is off the table.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s true, what’s hype, and what actually matters for long-term success in PMU, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn

• Pigment science: The real differences between iron oxide and organic/carbon pigments and when to use which.
• Eyeliner tattooing: Why Robin sometimes refuses carbon and how she works safely on mature or crepey lids.
• Needle mastery: Liners vs shaders, diameters, tapers and why one needle can’t do it all.
• Saturation levels: How to achieve low, medium, or high saturation results without over-traumatizing the skin.
• Industry ethics & longevity: Setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, and staying educated through the noise of social media.

🎓 Girlz Ink Online Academy:

• The Needle & The Prick
• Beyond the Epidermis: Color Theory
• Machine & Movements
• Li-FT® Saline Removal

🛍️ Shop PMU Supplies: www.girlzink.com

❤️ About Tatter-a-Fact®

Host: Teryn Darling — PMU artist, educator, and founder of Girlz Ink
Guest: Robin Hays Velez — 32 years in PMU, advocate for education, ethics & client care

The Tatter-a-Fact® PMU Podcast brings you real talk, proven techniques, and non-biased education for permanent makeup artists at every level.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music
and follow @GirlzInkStudio + @TatterAFactPodcast + @TatGirlzInk for more PMU education, inspiration & truth.

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

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In this episode, Teryn Darling sits down with Chantal Chadderton, founder of PMU Pros, a 4-day international PMU expo and conference in Durban, South Africa, bringing together top educators, artists, and brands from around the world.

They talk about what really makes a great PMU conference, quality education, supportive community, ethics, organization, and a whole lot of passion. Chantal shares how she’s building something special for artists ready to grow, connect, and elevate their craft.

✨ You’ll hear:
• Why attending a PMU conference can change your career
• How real-life community beats online competition
• What to expect from PMU Pros 2026—live demos, workshops, vendors & VIP perks
• Travel and ticket tips (and how to make it a tax-savvy trip!)
• Why investing in good education protects you and your clients

If you’ve ever dreamed of learning from the best, meeting like-minded artists, and reigniting your love for PMU, this episode will light that fire.

🎟️ Learn more:
PMU Pros Website → https://inspiredliveevents.com/
PMU Pros Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/pmu.pros.event/
Girlz Ink Online Academy → https://www.girlzinktraining.com/

About Tatter-a-fact® PMU Podcast
Hosted by Teryn Darling, founder of Girlz Ink®, Tatter-a-fact dives deep into the art and science of permanent makeup—technique, skin, needles, pigments, business, and truth-talk.

Follow Girlz Ink:
Instagram → 

• GirlzInk: https://www.instagram.com/girlzinkstudio/
• Tatgirlzink: https://www.instagram.com/tatgirlzink/
• Tatter-a-fact: https://www.instagram.com/tatterafactpodcast/

Online Academy → [link]

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

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Think you know your pigments? Think again. In this episode of The Learning Curve Series, Teryn Darling dives deep into the pigment learning curve, breaking down the truth about iron oxides, organics, and hybrids so you can finally understand why your pigments behave the way they do.

Learn what really causes gray brows, migration, and fading, how particle size and carbon black impact healed results, and what adjustments to make when switching pigment types. Whether you’re an artist moving from iron oxides to organics (or the other way around), this episode will help you stop blaming your pigments and start perfecting your results.

✨ Ready to go deeper?
Explore Teryn’s online PMU courses: www.girlzinktraining.com

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

Think one needle fits all? Think again. In Part 2 of The Learning Curve Series, Teryn breaks down the myths, the learning curve, and the freedom that comes with mastering liners, shaders, and mags. So you can achieve beautiful results on every skin type and every style (powder brows, lips, eyeliner, areola, and more).

What you’ll learn:

• Why one needle can’t meet every client request.
• How to adjust speed, pressure, stretch, passes, and angle when switching configs.
• Why larger groupings implant more pigment with fewer passes.
• The “dip” difference: small vs. large needles.
• Embracing the awkward phase of learning and coming out stronger.

✨ Want to go deeper? Check out Teryn’s online course The Needle & The Prick—the ultimate training in PMU needle theory. [Enroll here ➜ The Needle & The Prick Course]

Girlz Ink® resources: supplies, pigments, machines, aftercare, online trainings, and free PMU education because ethics, innovation, and education are who we are.

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

Switching to a new PMU machine can feel like starting all over again. Suddenly your healed results look different, your depth feels off, and frustration sets in. But that’s not failure, it’s the learning curve.

In this episode, Teryn Darling walks you through what really happens when you pick up a new machine: the vibration feels strange, the stroke is different, the voltage doesn’t behave the same, and your muscle memory needs time to catch up. She shares her own big switches, from a cheap starter pen to a coil, and then to rotary machines and how patience, adjustments, and reps made all the difference.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why every artist “sucks” at first with a new machine (and why that’s normal)
• How vibration, stroke, and voltage changes impact your work
• What adjustments to make with speed, pressure, and stretch
• Why documenting healed results is your best teacher
• How muscle memory, patience, and consistency build confidence

✨ This is Part 1 of the Learning Curve Series. Next up: needles and pigments.

If you’ve ever left a brand-new $800 machine sitting in a drawer, this episode will inspire you to pick it back up and push through the curve because greatness lives on the other side of frustration.

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

If you want a long, thriving career in PMU, consistent healed results, confident color choices, and the ability to pivot on tough skin, this episode is your blueprint. Teryn breaks down the core fundamentals every permanent makeup artist must master (and keep revisiting): skin science, pigment theory, needles, machines, hand movements, stretch, depth, and saturation strategy. Whether you’re doing powder brows, nano brows, combination brows, eyeliner tattooing, or lips, this is the real talk that levels up your results and your reputation.

What you’ll learn:

• Skin: overtones/undertones, oily vs. dry vs. mature, reading & reacting to “misbehaving” skin
• Pigments: inorganic vs. organic, base tones, concentration, aging, when/why to modify (orange/yellow/red)
• Black carbon: when it’s risky, when it’s appropriate
• Needles: singles, liners, shaders, mags; diameter, texture, angles, and movement pairings
• Machines: stroke, speed, give; syncing your hand speed & depth control
• Saturation strategy: soft/airy vs. full saturation—how to get bold looks without overworking skin
• Signature trainings vs. true fundamentals—how to think critically, pivot, and deliver consistent healed results across all skin types
  
  

Who this is for: 

• Aspiring, beginner, and advanced PMU artists who want consistent healed results, confident pivots, & lifelong careers
• Artists offering powder/ombré brows, nano/combo brows, eyeliner, lips, and corrections
  
  🤩 Make sure to follow us on Instagram! 🤩
  💙 Teryn @tatgirlzink
  💜 Tatter-a-fact Podcast @tatterafactpodcast
  💖 Girlz Ink Studio @girlzinkstudio

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

In this episode of the Tatter-a-Fact PMU Podcast, Teryn dives deep into the truth about topical anesthetics in permanent makeup, what works, what doesn’t, and what every artist needs to know to keep clients safe and results beautiful.

From melting and migrating formulas that ruin mapping and stretch… to the real facts on whether anesthetics affect pigment retention… to the rise in reported cases of pupil dilation during eyeliner tattooing, this episode is packed with education, safety protocols, and myth-busting.

You’ll learn:

• Why some anesthetics melt, drip, or migrate and how to prevent it
• How oily carriers interfere with mapping, stretch, and healed results
• What to do if your client experiences pupil dilation (step-by-step safety protocol)
• Why anesthetics don’t “ruin retention” when used correctly
• How to choose melt-free, eye-safe products and avoid dangerous knockoffs

At Girlz Ink, we’re raising the bar in PMU—through education, integrity, and real talk. Tune in and empower yourself with knowledge that protects your clients and your craft.

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

In today’s episode of the Tatter-a-Fact PMU Podcast, we’re diving deep into a question every permanent makeup artist will face at some point:
“My client is allergic to nickel… should I still move forward with the procedure?”

With 25+ years in the industry and over 20,000 procedures under her belt, Teryn shares her real-world experience, breaks down the science behind nickel in PMU pigments and needles, and explains why she feels 100% confident tattooing even clients with known sensitivities, without the stress of patch testing or doctor’s notes.

Topics we cover:

• Do all PMU pigments contain nickel?
• Are patch tests reliable (and worth the wait)?
• What EU REACH regulations say about pigment safety
• Understanding OMG Needles and surgical-grade stainless steel
• How to use consent forms and addendums to legally protect yourself
• Why cheap pigments + low-quality needles are a big NO in our industry

Teryn also talks about her role in formulating the Loaded and OMG Pigment Lines, what makes pigments truly safe, and how you can confidently tattoo even your most sensitive clients when you know what’s in your products.

💡 Whether you're a new PMU artist or a seasoned pro, this episode is loaded (pun intended) with education, inspiration, and Girlz Ink truth bombs.

🛍️ Shop OMG Needles & Pigments → www.girlzink.com
🎓 Take Your PMU Skills to the Next Level → www.girlzinktraining.com
📍 Catch Teryn LIVE at PMU World in Miami | Sept 8–11 | Use code: GIRLZINK10

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

In this powerful episode of the Tatter-a-Fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling sits down with Jessica Ashley of Stunna Beauty to talk about one of the most debated procedures in the permanent makeup world: tattooed freckles.

From ombre brows and lip blush to the artistry of freckles, Jessica shares how she transformed a personal obsession into a signature PMU service now loved by clients across the country. But not everyone in the industry is on board—and that’s exactly why this episode matters.

🔥 Inside this episode:
• The growing demand for tattooed freckles across all Fitzpatrick types
• How social media filters are shaping real beauty choices
• The difference between brows and freckles in pigment saturation and placement
• Why artists need to unlearn perfection for freckle work
• The hard truth about bullying in the PMU community
• How to balance artistry, safety, and client confidence
• The tools, needles, and pigments Jessica swears by
• Her complete online freckle tattoo course and color formulas

This episode is all about expanding your mindset, supporting creativity in PMU, and empowering artists to make space for procedures they may have once misunderstood.

🎧 If you've ever considered adding freckles to your PMU services—or you’ve been judged for already offering them—this is your sign to lean in.

🔗 Find Jessica Ashley on Instagram: @stunnabeauty1
📚 Explore PMU education, supplies, and support at: girlzinktraining.com

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV

Send us a text

In this episode of the Tatter-a-Fact PMU Podcast, host Teryn Darling sits down with Katri Pagliaro, a permanent makeup artist and first-time inventor who’s making BIG waves in the industry. After four years of passion, prototypes, and perseverance, Katri launched The Pendulum—a never-before-seen pencil sharpening tool designed specifically for PMU artists who use China markers for pre-draws and mapping.

Teryn and Katri dive deep into:

• The 4-year journey of developing a product from scratch
• The power of solving a real problem in the PMU world
• Why The Pendulum is replacing the razor blade
• The emotional rollercoaster of launching a tool in the beauty industry
• The reality of being a first-time PMU product inventor
• Entrepreneurial advice for beauty professionals
• How this tool is transforming training for new permanent makeup artists

Whether you're just starting your PMU career or you’ve been in the game for years, this episode will inspire you to think big, create boldly, and pursue your ideas with confidence.

Follow us on Instagram:
🩷  Katri Pagliaro: @pendulum_pmu
🩷 Teryn Darling: @tatgirlzink
🩷 Girlz Ink Studio: @girlzinkstudio  

Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Pendulum Sharpener
• Watch The Pendulum Tutorial
• Girlz Ink Online PMU Courses

🎸 Composition and guitars - Russ Letizia
🥁 Drums and studio engineering - Mike Zerbe
🎼 Recorded at The Compound in Las Vegas, NV