Permanent makeup dates back to the Ice Age when crude natural substances were used to create color and instruments were developed for placing colorful art in the skin.  It is believed that Cleopatra had permanent makeup and many Egyptian mummies have been recovered with tattoos of the face and body.  In Japan, Tebori, a full-body tattooing procedure intricately performed by hand, is a highly regarded form of ancient art. 

Over the years, advances in technology and skill have impacted the methodology, tools and colors that are used for cosmetic tattooing.  Today, a variety of methods, tools and pigments are available to chose from to provide the best results.

Permanent makeup is now commonly referred to as micropigmentation but also is representative of many other terms:  dermal pigmentation, dermapigmentation, microdermapigmentation, dermal graphics and cosmetic tattooing to name a few.  The terms 'permanent makeup' and 'permanent cosmetics' are probably the most widely recognized by the general public.

Today the industry is growing rapidly!!!  Various organizations have sprung up which help to educate the public and nurture growth inside the industry: