Thick Pigments? Poor Retention? Let’s Fix That! | TAF #103

PMU besties, get ready for one of the most educational + honest episodes yet! In this week’s Tatter-a-Fact, Teryn Darling and her wife + business partner Kat are diving deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in the permanent makeup world: pigment viscosity and retention problems. 

Whether you’re confused by why some PMU pigments are thick, struggling with healed results that aren’t lasting, or just need a little boost in your color theory + machine technique knowledge… this episode is for you!

What you’ll learn in this episode:
•  Why some PMU pigments (like Aqua + OMG) are thicker or thinner—and the real science behind it
•  How to easily thin out brow pigments without compromising healed-in results (hint: Soft FX 💧)
•  What pigment “viscosity” really means and why it matters for implantation
•  The difference between carbon black vs. iron oxide vs. hybrid pigments
•  Why yellow pigment molecules behave like mini sponges (yes, really!)
•  The real reason pigment retention can suck (spoiler: it’s not always the pigment)
•  The truth about shallow implantation + low saturation brow trends
•  What “ultra-micronization” means and how it affects pigment performance
•  Why switching from carbon-based to inorganic pigment lines requires a learning curve

Whether you're using Aqua Pigments, Loaded, Velvet, OMG, or another PMU pigment line, this episode gives you the behind-the-scenes formulation wisdom you didn't know you needed.

Perfect for:
•  New permanent makeup artists trying to improve retention
•  Experienced artists transitioning away from carbon-based brow pigments
•  Artists struggling with pigment thickness, needle flow, or healed-in color
•  Anyone who loves Teryn’s PMU nerd-out moments 🧠✨

Girlz, Ink 2025

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