To an outsider the regulations for permanent makeup in Australia may seem a little disorganised but here is the bottom line: while cosmetic tattooing is perfectly legal, it is subject to a combination of national chemical oversight for inks, infection control, local council dictates and the various skin penetration laws of the states and territories. As a client you would be wise to regard PMU as a minor medical procedure rather than some casual beauty appointment to fit in with your errands.
I am Xavier Montague and there are subjects where the polished account omits what is important; this is one of them. Whether it is brows, lip blush or eyeliner, any form of cosmetic tattooing entails breaking the skin and exposure to blood and pigments, so regulation is of consequence to the practitioner and the client alike. Put simply, there is no all-encompassing national PMU licence in Australia at present, so one has to comply with several systems.
The Nature of PMU
It is well to have an idea of the procedure before the paperwork. Permanent makeup is a means of putting tattoo pigments into the skin for cosmetic purposes, a skin penetration process that is governed by the same safety considerations as tattooing even if the setting is more day spa than back-street ink shop. For more information, you might want to check out this lip tattoo aftercare guide.
Do not be put off by the presentation. A room with beige walls and soft lighting does nothing to mitigate infection risk. The operator must have good habits when it comes to infection prevention and the area must meet procedural requirements because a needle is going to be used.
Reality Check
You might think of it as a longer lasting version of a brow tint. In fact PMU is more akin to a controlled tattoo. There will be some bleeding and swelling, healing is not instant and substandard work can result in scarring, an allergic response or colour you are not happy with. I see the same in dive operations and tourism: a certain polish makes people let their guard down and they cease to ask the questions they should. The best clients with PMU are the ones who are a little nosy about it.
A Matter of Regulation
What eludes many is that Australia has layers of regulation for cosmetic tattooing instead of a single rulebook. This is significant since a practitioner could be compliant in one respect and not in another. National bodies have a hand in therapeutic claims and the like, but for public health and premises matters the states, councils and territories are in charge. The state health department and local council are where you will find the rules that have practical bearing on safety.
National, State And Local
Tattoo ink regulations in Australia come down to the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) which governs industrial chemicals. Then there is the Therapeutic Goods Administration for products with therapeutic claims, though do not labour under the misapprehension that the TGA gives its imprimatur to every pigment in a salon.
Public health frameworks for skin penetration services are set by the health departments of the states and territories. The local government will want to see business registration, approve the premises and make sure you are in line with planning and health by-laws. An Environmental Health Officer is likely to be round to check on waste handling, hygiene and the fit out. For the official word on public health, refer to the information on skin penetration from NSW Health.
On Skin Penetration Laws
Consider this the takeaway from the guide: in the eyes of the law permanent makeup is a skin penetration service. Contamination, the handling of sharps, clean technique and the premises are where the focus lies. One will often look up the PMU regulations in NSW for the clear material they put out, but the principle is universal in Australia: penetrate the skin and infection control standards for cosmetic tattooing take centre stage.
In general the law will cover the lot: from hand hygiene and sterile instruments to the disposal of waste and the use of single-use needles and sharps containers. If a practitioner is unable to put it in plain terms, do not mistake it for some form of artistry, take it as a warning.
Is home tattooing an option in Australia? One is put in mind of a simple yes or no when some put the question to you. The reality of running an operation from home is governed by what the state and council will allow, by the suitability of the premises and public health compliance. You can have a spare room with a beauty lamp and it does not make for a treatment space that is acceptable as of right.
Premises, Hygiene And Setup
In a PMU room there should be the feel of a controlled work area; it is not a multipurpose corner where one waxes at ten o’clock and has lunch after doing brows at midday. Proper premises are a risk mitigant before any pigment cap is poured.
Practical observation tells you a lot. A client will be looking at the healed lips and brows on Instagram but an Environmental Health Officer wants to see how waste is separated, if contaminated items are dealt with safely, the cleaning workflow and handwashing provision.
What A Safe Room Looks Like
It is an organised, cleanable space with the means to keep the clean and the contaminated apart. There are facilities for hand hygiene and PPE like gloves are put to proper use. Tools must be to the required standard of sterilisation and hygiene. Do not reprocess what is sold as single use in the name of saving money.
“Sterile pack on the bench” is not synonymous with safety as some would have it. Cross-contamination is all too easy with gloved hands on a phone or a drawer or the handle of a light during the procedure.
- You want to see a clinical style of treatment area, free of carpet and food and clutter.
- Make sure the practitioner is forthcoming on aftercare and infection signs and when to hold off.
- Observe if gloves are swapped out on contamination rather than just at the outset.
- Enquire as to who does the inspections and if the local council is involved in registration.
Training And Practitioner Duties
There is more to good PMU than a well drawn brow. It is a matter of sound judgement, consultation and infection control as much as technique. Training pathways vary so it is worth giving cosmetic tattoo qualifications Australia a close look. Xavier Montague would say a competent operator can discuss safety without being put out by the inquiry. If they will expatiate on face shapes for a quarter of an hour but are vague over blood-borne infection, the balance is wrong.
Units And Competence
Depending on the training, one may come across skin penetration units like HLTINF005 or the SHBBSKS003 for beauty services. APAN (Australasian Pigment & Aesthetic Network) or the Australian Beauty Association might offer their support or education but do not confuse membership with a government licence.
The onus is on the practitioner for everything from screening and consent to records and the disposal of waste. An unsuitable client with an active infection or unrealistic expectations is to be declined or put off.
Ink Rules And Pigment Safety
Tattoo pigments are something of a mystery to the run of the mill client on the assumption that anything put on sale in Australia has been given a consumer-friendly safety nod. Not so.
On the subject of tattoo ink regulations Australia, the answer is that oversight covers import and labelling obligations, chemical introduction and product safety. AICIS tattoo inks are of note since any industrial chemicals brought in have to conform to the regulatory framework here.
AICIS And TGA Roles
Do not think of the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme as bestowing a gold star on a pigment bottle; its purview is the categorisation and obligations of introducers. The Therapeutic Goods Administration comes into play with certain product types but most cosmetic tattoo pigments are not “TGA approved” in the manner clients suppose.
As to whether ink enters the bloodstream, immune cells can carry particles from the site of the tattoo. Hence the need to be circumspect with unproven or mystery imports and to have a word about patch testing.
Consent, Age And Minors
People are after a national ruling on age limits for tattooing in Australia and find a state by state arrangement. With cosmetic tattooing the rule of thumb is to check the law in your locality and exercise due caution with a minor.
You will not find proper consent on a clipboard and pen that is half-broken and put in front of you over the counter. It is more than that: it involves a discussion of what to expect with aftercare and touch-ups, of alternatives and risks, of how one is likely to heal, and when the procedure is best not done at all.
State Differences Matter
Take South Australia for instance, where the rules on a 17 year old having a tattoo are not universal. Jurisdictions have their own way of doing things with minors, be it by way of public health or consumer law, parental approval or the service in question. Since the line between cosmetic and traditional tattooing can be drawn differently in some places, any practitioner would do well to put in a call to the health authority to be sure of state requirements before taking on a minor.
| Area | What Usually Applies | What Clients Should Check |
| Age And Consent | For minors there may be differences from one state or territory to the next as to minimum age, photo ID and so on. | Minimum age, parental consent rules, photo ID |
| Premises | Registration, a treatment area to oneself, inspections; these are local council and health matters. | Registration, inspections, dedicated treatment area |
| Infection Control | Public health duties when skin is penetrated. PPE, disposal of sharps, single-use needles. | Single-use needles, sharps disposal, PPE |
| Inks And Pigments | Product safety and chemical introduction. One should look at the source of the pigment, batch records, transparency of ingredients. | Pigment source, batch records, ingredient transparency |
| Training | Competency and course units are not all the same; PMU experience and infection control training count. | Infection control training, PMU-specific experience |
Then there is the matter of ABS statistics which make plain that Australia’s population is divided up among states and territories with separate health administrations. A blanket legal answer is apt to be misleading. Put simply, one should look to the jurisdiction at hand rather than an interstate cousin’s Facebook post.
Health Risks You Should Respect
The point in Australia with permanent makeup is not to put people off but to acknowledge that routine cosmetic tattooing has its risks. Provided the client is forthright on medical history and skin behaviour and the operator is careful, they are for the most part manageable.
What tends to trip people up are the small decisions made in and around the procedure: going in for lip work with an active cold sore, sunburnt skin, not being diligent with aftercare or handling the area with unclean hands, or a bargain that is too good for a reason.
Common Problems And Prevention
There are bacterial and viral infections, allergies, granulomas, scarring, colour that does not hold or migrates, and shape that is less than satisfactory. With lips you add in swelling, dryness and irritation. If lip work is on the cards, get through a good aftercare guide prior to booking; it is better than reading it once you are swollen and wish you had not had those spicy noodles.
A patch test for pigments is a conversation worth having if only to put limits on it in the client’s mind. It might put a flag up on hypersensitivity but it is no assurance of a perfect healed colour or no reaction. Screening ought to be thorough, including any autoimmune or keloid issues, medications, past infections or recent cosmetic work.
Choosing A Safe Artist
How to go about picking a safe PMU artist in practical terms? Do not let photos be your only guide. They tell you of the outcome, safety is in the process.
Beginners are often stung by this. An operator can have you looking good in the end and yet be lax on documentation, cleaning or where he gets his pigment. The one who is open about it and unflappable when questioned and consistent to a fault is generally the safest bet.
Your Pre-Booking Checklist
- Put down the business name and physical location and see if the local council has any registration requirements for the area.
- Inquire as to their training in infection prevention and control and whether something like HLTINF005 is in their background.
- Find out what is being used for barriers, grips and needles. Make sure to ask if a client is present when a single-use needle is opened.
- Put in a request for some straight answers on the make and origin of the pigment, how batches are recorded and the protocol should a reaction take place.
- The quality of the consultation will be telling; an explanation of touch-up policy, healing, aftercare, contraindications and medical history is to be expected.
- Should you be put on the spot or made to feel hurried over a matter of basic safety, it is best to leave.
Costs are a moving target depending on where you are in the country, the area being treated and the operator’s experience. But let very low prices give you cause for thought. With PMU, what seems cheap can prove costly down the track when one has to contend with saline removal, specialist camouflage, correction or medical intervention.
Where To Check The Rules
For a client there is no quicker way than to go to your local council or the health department of your state or territory. A practitioner would do well to include his insurer, training provider and the Environmental Health Officer in his list of contacts.
Official sources of consequence are to be found at NSW Health, Queensland Health and the Victorian Department of Health. APAN and the Australian Beauty Association are fine for professional development but they are not a stand-in for public health orders, legislation or the advice of the council.
Who This Guide Is For
We have put this guide together for business owners, new practitioners and would-be clients in Australia who want to see cosmetic tattooing done in a safe and legal manner. It is not meant as a substitute for confirmation of compliance from the state or for legal counsel. If due diligence has to be done in a day, then check the local compliance status, consent procedure, infection control and the set up of the premises first.
Final Takeaway
It is not particularly glamorous but the plain fact is that in Australia permanent makeup is safest when regarded as a regulated skin penetration service rather than an impulse purchase from the beauty counter. Regulations in this country cover everything from national chemical oversight to the rules of the state and the local council; any responsible practitioner or astute client will look at all three.
A word from Xavier Montague: put the awkward questions before a bottle of pigment is uncapped. An uncomfortable consultation is preferable to having to put up with an infection or poor healing for months, or brows with a look of perpetual surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tattoo Ink Regulated In Australia?
In a manner of speaking. There is no blanket approval for PMU products. What you have may fall under import controls, product safety laws or the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme, contingent on the claims and the product.
Can Tattoo Ink Get In Your Bloodstream?
Body processes like the immune response can carry pigment particles and other substances past the point of application. Not every tattoo will result in systemic illness but it is reason enough to be particular about technique and the reputation of the pigments used.
Can A 17 Year Old Get A Tattoo In South Australia?
Do not go by what you are told. Jurisdiction and the nature of the service will dictate the rules for minors so verify the South Australian requirements with the proper authority prior to booking.
Can You Tattoo From Home In Australia?
Provided the home setup is in keeping with the premises standards and the health rules of the state and the council, yes. But a residential address does not absolve a business of its obligations in respect of hygiene and skin penetration.
What Qualifications Should A Cosmetic Tattooist Have?
You will not get a universal answer. Look for someone with solid systems for hygiene and consultation, competency to show for it and documented education in infection control and PMU. HLTINF005 and SHBBSKS003 type units are part of what you might expect to see.
