Finding Your Perfect Speed: A Guide to PMU Machine Voltage and Its Impacts (2024)

PMU artists often wonder about the ideal speed for eyebrow tattooing at the start of their practice. How quickly can they achieve the perfect eyebrow?To determine the correct speed of the PMU procedure, it's important to understand what eyebrow tattooing speed means and what effects it can have.

The PMU machine's voltage level indicates how many times it hits the skin at the same time. At the same time, the higher the voltage, the more times the skin is hit, and the lower the voltage, the fewer times the skin is hit. If the voltage is low, the pixels will be far apart, resulting in sparse pixels. If the voltage is high, the pixels will be closer together, and you will get more compact pixels.

There is a common belief that novice PMU artists lack the skills to operate the machine at a slow speed. At the same time, experienced professionals are able to work at a faster pace. However, this is a misconception, as many factors influence the speed at which eyebrow tattooists work.

Here are some of the most important factors:

1. Skin type of eyebrow tattooed guests:

If the guest's skin is thin or sensitive, it is advisable to use a lower voltage to reduce the guest's skin damage. If the guest's skin is thicker, a higher voltage can also be tried.

2. Types of eyebrow tattooing:

Lining: It often needs to be done at alow-speed cause high-density points are needed, so too fast speedmakes it easy to damage the skin

Shading: It is typically done at high speed because the coloring area is often large, requiring quick movement to complete the work efficiently.

3. PMU artists' hand speed:

Different PMU (Permanent Makeup) artists have varying hand speeds, so it’s important to adjust machine speeds to match their individual habits. This adjustment is influenced by personal temperament and inner state; for example, just as some people naturally walk fast while others walk slowly, an overly fast pace can lead to mistakes. Many artists can produce high-quality work at high speeds, but they can also achieve great results at lower speeds. These two approaches are not mutually exclusive. Therefore, the idea that low speed is only suitable for beginners is misleading.

Is a fast hand suitable for a high-speed machine, while a slow hand is suitable for a low-speed machine? The answer is no.Let's first look at the effect of different hand speeds on different machine speeds.

①A slow hand speed combined with a high machine speedproduces the most saturated pigment color.

The hand speed is low, allowing the machine to remain in the same spot for an extended period. This results in a longer color application time. Meanwhile, the machine operates at a high speed, causing multiple impacts in a concentrated area over time, which leads to a deeper saturation of color. This technique is ideal for achieving darker colors, such as those used in tracing and eyeliner. However, if the number of strikes in the same area is excessive, it can lead to ink buildup and may cause the wound to become larger than desired.

② A slow hand speed combined with a slow machine speed results in medium saturation.

The hand speed is slow, and the machine remains in the same position for an extended period, resulting in a longer coloring time. Additionally, the machine operates at a low speed and produces fewer impacts, which leads to a less intense color over time. These two factors neutralize each other, ultimately resulting in a medium saturated color.

③ High hand speed combined with high machine speed results in medium saturation.

When the hand moves quickly, the machine spends less time painting in one spot. Additionally, the high-speed machine can hit the skin many times to color in a short amount of time. However, the speed of the hand balances out the speed of the machine, leading to moderate saturation. This approach is effective for quick jobs, yielding medium-quality results. However, inexperienced novices may be at a higher risk of injury.

④ Combining high hand speed with low machine speed results in the least saturation.

When hand speed is fast, the coloring time is short. Besides, there is also less impact from the machine. This approach leads to fewer coloring sessions, but if the coloring time and speed are insufficient, color retention may not be saturated. This can cause the pixels to appear scattered. This technique is suitable for the front end of a gradient eyebrow shadow line and blending areas.

At high speed, the machine can impact the skin multiple times simultaneously, enabling rapid and efficient coloring. This method saves time and is particularly suitable for areas requiring heavy pigmentation. However, frequent impacts and excessive penetration can cause damage to the skin. Additionally, if the punctures are too dense, the resulting ink may appear as distinct black lines instead of uniform pixels. This can lead to issues such as ink spilling and clumping, creating unsightly mottled patches.

The advantages of low voltage in PMU (permanent makeup) applications are clear. It provides artists with more reaction time and has a higher fault tolerance rate. When performing more intricate work, eyebrow tattoo artists have better control over their brushstrokes, which allows for more complex and detailed results. However, the disadvantage of low voltage is that the slower impact speed of the machine also leads to a reduced coloring speed. As a result, eyebrow tattoo artists often require more time to complete their work.

The minimum operating voltage of many machines is often too high, posing challenges for PMU artists in achieving low skin damage and high precision in their work. One potential solution is to increase the movement range during eyebrow tattooing, which can help decrease the frequency at which the machine impacts the skin per unit area. However, this approach is not always effective. It would be ideal to have a PMU machine that fully meets the voltage requirements of PMU artists. TheMini Diva has managed to accomplish this. For the first time, theMini Diva can reduce the minimum operating voltage to just 2V, while allowing a maximum voltage of up to 10V. This innovation truly meets the diverse speed needs of PMU artists, and Mini Diva features an ultra-lightweight and compact design.

An excellent PMU master from South Korea with many years of PMU experience, @onsoo-brows provided feedback on the use of the MINI Diva.

"Artists are very concerned about skin irritation, pain, and healing. We are dedicating a lot of thought and research to making our work safer and more precise. In particular, the drawing technique is more intricate and detailed compared to other methods. For drawing, it is important to use a machine that can control the tip of the needle with small vibrations rather than one that operates at high voltages and strong vibrations. Many wireless machines are quite heavy, which can put a lot of pressure on the wrist and make them difficult to control. In contrast, the Mini Diva is light,operates safely at voltages up to 2V, andproduces minimal vibration, making them ideal for use."He praised the Mini Diva for its ultra-low voltage and extremely lightweight design.

In addition to the first innovative design of 2V low voltage, the Mini Diva is also equipped with a Kick-start function to prevent the problem that 2V low voltage can not start the machine when starting so that the machine can be started smoothly at any time and any voltage. PMU artists can also personalize their preferred voltage settings and save them for easy access, eliminating the need for constant adjustments. The Mini Diva is designed with the convenience of PMU artists in mind, making it an ideal choice for their needs.