Should we tattoo over old, faded PMU that's not our own work?
Well, it really depends on a few things.
How much pigment is left?
Can you see any skin through the PMU?
What color is the leftover ink?
Is it pink, blue, black, gray, black or purple?
Or maybe a mix of colors?
How's the skin looking?
Are there scars, indents, is it thick, thin, porous, sensitive, or sun-damaged?
How has the old PMU settled in?
Is it splotchy, speckled, spattered, or at different depths?
What's the skin type?
Is it sensitive, oily, normal, or dry?
Will our new work be visible once it heals with the old work?
And finally, what does the client expect? Do they know that the old PMU won't just disappear? Are they aware that healing isn't guaranteed? Will they badmouth your efforts to friends and family, saying they invested and it didn't pan out?
If you've tried it and weren't happy with how it turned out, and you gave it another shot, was it worth the letdown? Now it's our problem, and we can't even make the client happy despite putting in more effort. It seems like working over old PMU isn't the best idea.
In 2025, I've decided not to take on clients with super thin, sun-damaged, reactive, or resistant skin types. Plus, I'll be limiting my acceptance of past PMU clients. Honestly, it's just not worth it to me.
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