Is Permanent Makeup Safe in California? Full Safety Guide + 2025 Updates
Permanent makeup is no longer a trend — in California it has become an essential part of daily beauty routines, especially here in Orange County.
But along with popularity come the same questions over and over:
• How safe is permanent makeup?
• What licenses should an artist have?
• Who regulates PMU in California?
• Can I trust any studio?
• What changed in 2025?
1. Is Permanent Makeup Safe in California?
Short answer: yes — when the artist follows the law.
In California, permanent makeup is regulated just as strictly as tattooing. Artists must follow the Safe Body Art Act, and every licensed studio must comply with:
• strict sterilization standards
• single-use supplies
• proper registrations
• licensing requirements
• sanitation inspections
The procedure itself is safe — but only if the artist and studio follow the rules.
2. What licenses does a PMU artist need in California?
Many clients don’t know this, but in California an artist cannot legally work with only “certificates from courses.”
A PMU artist must be registered as a Body Art Practitioner in their county.
The artist must:
• complete a Bloodborne Pathogens training
• pass the exam
• obtain county registration
• work only inside a licensed body art facility
IMPORTANT:
Course certificates ≠ legal license.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions clients have.
3. What documents must a PMU studio have?
For a studio to operate legally, it must have:
✔ Body Art Facility Permit
Issued by the county. In Orange County this is handled by Environmental Health.
✔ Compliance with sanitation standards:
• sterile, sealed packaging
• single-use needles
• proper sharps disposal
• hot water sink
• surface disinfection
• sanitation logs
✔ Passed inspection
Licensed studios are required to undergo regular annual inspections.
4. 2025 Regulation Updates — What Changed?
In 2025, several updates were introduced to strengthen client safety:
✔ Stricter requirements for pigment storage
(to prevent bacterial contamination)
✔ Updated Bloodborne Pathogens standards regarding viral infection prevention
✔ Tighter rules on single-use materials
✔ Studios must maintain more detailed sterilization and sanitation logs
These changes aim to protect the client — and make working “off the books” much harder.
5. How to know your artist is legal? (Client Checklist)
You have the right to ask for documentation.
A safe artist will show it without hesitation.
Ask to see:
✔ Artist’s Body Art Practitioner registration
✔ Studio’s Body Art Facility Permit
✔ Current Bloodborne Pathogens certificate
✔ Sealed, sterile single-use needle
✔ Fresh gloves, mask, protective barriers
✔ Disinfection of workstation before your appointment
✔ Inspection logs
If the artist avoids the questions, gets irritated, or “can’t find” documents — that’s a red flag.
6. What do clients worry about the most? (Real questions)
These are real questions clients Google or ask me during consultations:
• “Can I get an infection?”
• “Can I catch anything dangerous?”
• “Do you use single-use needles?”
• “Do studios get inspected?”
• “Where can I check licenses?”
• “I’m scared to go to a beginner — how do I choose safely?”
• “Are pigments FDA-approved?”
The truth is simple:
If the artist and studio are legal — the risks are minimal.
If they are not — the risks are huge.
7. Important: A license ≠ experience
A license means the artist is legally allowed to work.
Experience means the artist knows how to deliver a safe, beautiful, and stable result.
In California you can find:
• unlicensed artists with questionable sterilization, and
• licensed artists who lack strong technique.
Safety =
legal + clean + skilled + experienced.
8. How I ensure safety at Airy Vibes PMU (15+ years of experience)
My approach:
✔ Registered Body Art Practitioner in California
✔ Working in a fully licensed Body Art Facility in Costa Mesa
✔ Only single-use, sealed needles
✔ All supplies are sterile and opened in front of the client
✔ Full disinfection before each appointment
✔ Medical gloves, barriers, protection films
✔ Detailed sanitation and sterilization logs
✔ High-quality, tested pigments only
✔ Clear aftercare and safety instructions
These are not “extra benefits” — this is the mandatory standard every professional should follow.
If you want your brows, lips, or lash line enhancement done in a clean, safe, fully licensed environment — I’d love to welcome you to Airy Vibes PMU, Costa Mesa 🤍
Book Free Consultation
Before the permanent makeup procedure, you can make an appointment and come for a free consultation.
During the consultation, we will create a sketch of your eyebrows, lips, or freckles in several different shapes, discuss the color, and I will answer all your questions. This consultation does not obligate you in any way.
or use button "Book Now" below:
