Lip Tattooing: How to Pick Colors For Melanin-Rich Lips

Hi there!
I'm Tess, I am a world-renowned Permanent Makeup Artist, public speaker, and educator.
In this video, will share with you my method on how I choose colors for my melanin-rich lip clients, when to use yellow, a few colors that I love to use for darker skin tones, when to use pink on darker skin tones, and a few more tips & tricks!
Back in 2017, it was widely ruled in the permanent makeup industry that you couldn't tattoo permanent makeup on dark skin types.
At the time, there was no real knowledge, information, training, or methods in the PMU industry in order to bring successful results to clients with melanin-rich skin.
Driven by my passion to help others and my frustrations with the poor knowledge in the industry, I set foot to creating my world-renowned "Dark Lip Neutralization" technique to make this service possible for ALL clients.
​
In the beginning, I was mocked by other artists when I shared my success with tattooing melanin-rich lips. Now, my technique is world-renowned and it is one of the most sought-after trainings in regards to lip blush tattooing.
To help others, I created this short video so that whether you are a client or artist, you will feel confident going into this procedure knowing the proper colors are being chosen for your skin type.
I hope by the end of this video you will have some clarity and confidence when choosing colors for your clients in permanent makeup! If you liked this video please like and subscribe.
If you are still struggling and would like to learn more, I do have a 9 hour, in-depth online masterclass on tattooing melanin-rich lips on my website! It is lifetime access and you will be awarded with a certificate upon completion as well as have my lifetime support! Here is the link to the info page - www.tesstattoo.com/darkliponline
You can find me, my work, and more educational content on Instagram at:
/ tesstattoo
Tess Marti
@tesstattoo
www.tesstattoo.com

[@pmuinked2269]

She’s the right person to have the gift! She’s changing the industry!

[@Tesstattoo]

I’m crying 😭 ❤️

[@janeadonis361]

I have never come acrossed such informative and easy to learn color theory video like this! You instantly thought me how to process and evaluate the client's lips first before selecting what's the right ink to use. You made it very simple and precise. AWESOME! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HELPFUL AND SHOWING YOUR TIPS. ONE OF THE BEST VIDEO FOR COLOR THEORY RIGHT HERE

[@rinkledua2561]

Yes you are right

[@ednasolis2430]

Amazing info, I’m new to lip blushing and I just instantly fell in love with this procedure, and the course I took went into little detail about neutralization, so this helped me soooo much more in depth😊

[@reinettetylcoat7380]

Thank you so much!! Colour is really scary. Your help is amazing xx

[@SoulfullStudioAcademy]

i learned more in this video than I’ve learned in the class I’ve taken!!

[@svlbeauty758]

This is by far the best video on the subject. I have gathered so much useful information. Thank you.

[@kenyatheone3536]

amazing!! thanks for sharing..this is pure gold

[@bbaestheticsbynyma]

Omg the best video ever. Thank you so much for educating all of us ❤️

[@miizzramirez]

Wow. Thank very much for explaining how to select the neutralization color. looking for the pink or purple in the center of lips. Extremely informative ❤️💖

[@Eunssssssssss]

For me who can't acquire proper PMU knowledge, your video is 'rescue'. Thank you so much

[@lin2997]

Thank you for sharing your amazing knowledge🥰🥰 Every information from you is always helpful💖💖

[@Prettyinkbyamy]

You are so knowledgeable, thank you so much for teaching 💖

[@peerlessstrategies]

Phenomenal video!! Tysm for educating us 💗

[@pamelaagomuo6612]

Wow. Thanks so so much , tess

[@portnova15]

Thank you so much Tess!!!

[@muctaisa]

Thanks Tess, this video will be on repeat 💕

[@MahoganyPinkYT]

This was a great video! Really appreciated!

[@TheAmalia1989]

Thank you soooo much for this informative video!! 💗💗💗🙌🏽

[@bailyortiz6450]

❤ you are like a university professor. The best explanation I have ever watched☺️. Very professional, and experienced. Thank you for being what you are ! Can you please offer some videos on Areola tattooing and Camouflage

[@worldofmango1409]

You are amazing TESS thank you! I Would love to get my procedure done from you. :)

[@kt5983]

Thank you, again, this was awesome!

[@SofiaJafari]

Thank you so much this was so helpful❤️🥺

[@enveeousbeauty9875]

So helpful, thank you

[@fikerleeana1110]

You are amazing such a generous teaching

[@beautishng3730]

So insightful! Thank you

[@ocean.cactus]

Thank you so much for the information,

[@faizaebssa9339]

Thank u for every video u make 💗

[@mells3679]

Very informative, thank you for sharing!

[@funtosgranimation4404]

This is so helpful Thank you so much

[@nhudo7467]

You are amazing!!❤️❤️❤️

[@nenidlc3954]

wow!!! thank you this was so helpful

[@junkmail1111]

This is so informative and helpful, thank you! 😊

[@Sheshe_goingviral]

Loved it!!!

[@jeanfujibayashi1601]

Thank you for the information

[@melissathompson52]

amazing class!

[@Theguywhodoesthings]

the last part scares me

[@IAde-qh5zb]

13:04 - 14:15 very useful how the pigments were summarised and put into groups. I just completed the online dark lip training and was looking for this type of summary. May be useful to add

[@cdurden10]

Hi there , where did you do your online training? If you don’t mind sharing .

[@sali83020]

Thank you so much for sharing this video is so helpfull🙏❤

[@nadiazaghloul9730]

Thank you for sharing your info 😊

[@monaxliza]

This video helped a loy! Thanks so much!!

[@lenablessdone5306]

THANKS SOOOOO MUCH FOR SHARING WHAT YOU LEARN WITH US YOUR THE BEST...

[@BestBecky78]

Ugh.... you're in Canada, we need you here in in the 🇺🇸 😊🥰

[@DBDIARIES13]

great tips. thank you..

[@DartIlove]

Great video, Thank you

[@anamariah1502]

Amanzing information thank you very much ❤

[@nouralhuda6101]

thank you so much for this info

[@Tesstattoo]

Thank you!!

[@amyalishia1888]

Thank you

[@biharibalania]

Amazing video

[@agatasoldato8670]

Amazing ❤

[@indianfamilyinmaltatouk]

Awesome video

[@Svetlanasingh]

Thanks

[@americaponashemu]

thanks, dear, for useful video 👍👍👍

[@brain2777]

I have dark skin, and I got hypo pigmentation from lip tattoo. Its been a month already, I still see parts of the lip that look very pink. Hope it get recover... :( There are many people out in this market they dont know what they are doing. So be careful about who you choose to do this procedure with. I learned my lesson in very hard way. @Tess your video is very informative, thanks. I hope it save lot of people from getting permanent discolouration

[@Tesstattoo]

It takes 6-8 weeks for the tattoo to completely heal! Sometimes it can be a normal part of the process! (Not sure if you watched the end of the video). However in some cases, damage can be done and I agree, artists need training for this - the problem is that some artists don’t care enough to invest to make themselves better when they know they need it. I hope your lips heal perfect and I hope this video can help others avoid mistakes! 💓

[@alessicapryor5202]

Can you do one on darker skin complexion ? Face and body

[@emphasizebeauty6671]

V informative

[@priscillamonarrezfitness4666]

Hi Tess, the first session do you mix a pink with the orange? Or do you just tattoo the whole lip orange first ?

[@dshonette1]

16:07 where are you located bc I want this procedure done but I do not want anybody just playing around with my lips… especially when you showed the pic of what could go wrong. I want you to do my lip blushing. You really went in and explained in great detail colors and your process. I would totally trust you ❤

[@MarieAmicalola]

Lip neutralization was tried on me. She used what looked to be neon orange. It was very painful and all of the ink seemed to come out over the next few days. (There was orange on my washcloth when I washed my face.) My lips are still their natural color.

[@albacorrado4609]

Master, is the Red Rodger color warm, neutral or cold? greetings and thank you very much for your great class 🙏

[@iblessyou.forextrablessing7597]

Thank you so much. I quarrel with my model. I insist to use Tatoo pigment to neutralise lips. My Perma blend can only perform well in the centre. I understand this trauma. It’s a sure thing. So sure. Aftercare lip balm moisture . As long as client is willing to go on that journey a few sessions lips start to stabilise. I use pink as taught in class. But mind you for dark portions pink for semi permanent ink don’t work well . Trauma getting frustrating. I use thin thin needles. I am left with lip frame. Where my pink is not performing. So I am here

[@almaalsa2738]

hi Tess, what about if there's a client already did wrong tatto and without neturlazation, still depends on the center of her lips? thanks

[@lorim.3697]

So I see the question asked when determining the clients ( lip color), you responded bottom lip. There is a spot in your video , where what I saw was pink, but you said her lips were ( purple), that threw me off big time . Sorry I didn’t jot down the video time frame, any idea? Also can you provide the online courses you offer, as well as their cost ? Thanks and great information and video . Since I’m a colorist, hoping that knowledge will help me out in the pmu endeavor. 🙏😇

[@YusraAli313]

You are a queeeeeeen . Love you from Afghanistan 🇦🇫♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@rinkledua2561]

Hello ma'am thank you very much for this video .pl share the link for ink CLR you have shown in this video

[@tyemeccaalkebulan4425]

Great vid.where did u get ur scrubs

[@Tesstattoo]

Uniformevogue.com!

[@browboutiquelondonmicrobla527]

So if i use yellow & orange to neutralize dark lips fitz 6, what would be the target color?

[@nanthithasujesh2711]

Hi Ms Tess…thank you for your detailed video..I have done my lip tattooing but colour got faded after 6weeks..I doubt is it from glutathione tablets which I took..hope you will reply on it..

[@theyammi214]

What do you use for numbing?

[@forlifers691]

Can you recommend starter kits

[@junefaamalieloto6682]

Please don’t forget Pacific Islanders 🌺👄 just got my lips done last week in the healing process..

[@asmaaebrahem1168]

Should I do lip neutralization first and wait for healing then go with the target color or do both in one session?

[@iansabeautie7845]

The second Client picture what color did u use on her

[@sanazdavari9134]

hello Tes thank you. this was really informative. just a question. can we use tattoo inks like eternal and world famous for lips ? i have read many articles that says only use pigments for face

[@connyeparlberg626]

Yes you can, she is showing it to you in her videos😁

[@j.morganstyles435]

Thank you for sharing your skills with the world. I am a new PMU artist. While working on a client at my hair salon, God randomly led me to this video, which was soooo informative and helpful. I was instantly sold on learning from you. I have now enrolled in the online course, and am excited to learn more about lip neutralization. That small investment will change my life and the lives of others for the better. I'm looking forward to tripling my income, while working less, through PMU. You are the best at what you do and a huge inspiration. Thank you for being willing to help others. I hope to one day meet you❤ God bless

[@Tesstattoo]

Omg!! God bless you and thank you so much! This means so much to me ♥️ please enjoy the class 🙏🙏🙏

[@kellysantos4804]

how was the class dear? did you learn a lot and practicing in clientes? the results are good?

[@joylopez9126]

Hey Tess. I have a pink pigment that has blue in it. Am I able to use it with clients Fitz 1-3? Or do you recommend not to use pigments with any blue/black/violet on any lip?

[@janeerosa3354]

Do you do the neutralization then have them come back for the color of their choice once healed?

[@iansabeautie7845]

I thought u can’t use tattoo ink as permanent makeup? And can skin color tattoo ink be used to camouflage a scar?

[@user-xb1ur2bh8n]

how long will I have to wait after the neutralizing step to get the target color

[@bestfemaletattooartistmumbai]

Oh I didn’t know you can use tattoo pigments. Is it safe to use these tattoo pigments on lips 🎉eyebrows too?

[@itskourtneymarie]

So would you use a pass of yellow and then a pass of a light pink?

[@iansabeautie7845]

I see u use tattoo ink for pmu. What’s the difference between Pmu ink and tattoo ink ?

[@turnbacktimebeauty9179]

Hi Tess, that is so good, thanks. Where can we get the colour chart and the rest of the colours on our iPad

[@Tesstattoo]

Thank you! Sorry I don’t understand what you’re looking for

[@hpasquale83]

Good Morning! ☺️ … and, again, Tess, thank you, I have taken many of your classes and enjoy them, each time! I believe what you’re being asked is where can they get the color wheels/saturation charts, etc on THEIR iPad like you have on yours. I would imagine it is a program, of sorts… anyway, I hope that was of help to you both. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you, again, for sharing all of your expertise! 😍🙏🏽

[@Tesstattoo]

Ah I see! They are just from Google!

[@asmaaftab2792]

Thanks a lot I wants to learn please... from which country you are from

[@dr.kamleshmaywad8636]

Amazing information... thank

[@chelsiehannon5408]

Tess - do you recommend using the same hue but varying the saturation of the color based on which parts of the clients' lips are more and less saturated? For example, one of the clients in the video has low saturation and lower value in the outside parameters of the lips and more saturation/higher value in the middle of the lips, so theoretically couldn't you use a less saturated orange in the middle and a more saturated orange in the parameters to make the overall healed results look the same throughout the lips?

[@Tesstattoo]

Hi Chelsie, you can get even results without all that extra work and here’s how it works in color theory: As we know, complimentary colors neutralize each other whereas analogous colors blend in easily together and do not neutralize. What we are trying to neutralize in dark lips is the darkness (value). We aren’t trying as much to neutralize saturation or hue. So therefore our main goal is to neutralize the value to be lighter. The brightest and lightest colors on the color wheel are yellow and orange and we consider all dark lips as “cool” because the darkest and most dull colors on the color wheel are blue and purple which share the most similar color characteristics to dark lips. The inner part of the lips is already light. So when you use a bright and light orange, what happened as is it blends in with what is similar to itself (the inner pink part), but neutralizes the opposite to itself (cool and dark areas), to create one uniform final result. If you check out all my healed results they all come out perfectly uniform without targeting special areas. Hope this helps!

[@chelsiehannon5408]

@@Tesstattoo wow, the fact that you spent so much time providing such a thorough answer makes me respect you even more than I already did! Thank you so much; your explanation makes total sense. Can’t wait to take a class with you in person!

[@CoMuff1]

So if the client is really dark do you use all yellow or do you mix in the Orange. You didn’t mention orange when you showed the girl with lots of melanin .

[@bbygrlpt2]

Does this workd for uneven lips??

[@millionairemoney9922]

I really hope I didn't make a mistake. Can I send you pictures? it's day three and I think she broke the skin by going over too many times... in one area!!!

[@mells3679]

Does this same concept apply when neutralizing darkness in the body (such as the arm, leg, buttock etc)

[@Tesstattoo]

It can be done! I wouldn’t do it anywhere else but nipples/scars and stretch marks as far as tattooing goes

[@mweerapol]

🙏💗💗💗🙏

[@brain2777]

@Tess, can these hypo pigmentation can be corrected? if its permanent?

[@Tesstattoo]

I recommend to see a dermatologist or doctor. I know many will recommend hydrocortisone cream. 💓 Overtime it can get better also, you can see an experience artist to get it properly evened out!

[@kcoleacademy4720]

R u looking at the top lip or middle of the bottom lips for the color

[@Tesstattoo]

Bottom middle

[@darlenec.5564]

Hi there. Out of curiosity, do you recommend that people that have keloid skin NOT get this procedure?

[@Theguywhodoesthings]

not good for those with keloid history

[@tappaafsar3809]

How to neutralise pink colour with original lip

[@BeautyLifewithLC]

When you say "Center of lips" are you referring to the top lip? Because the bottom lip I saw pink...

[@Tesstattoo]

Bottom!

[@punkvala246]

Hi, can I ask you why do you use tattooing inks as neutralizers instead of using pmu neutralizers? Don’t they have strange healed results?

[@Tesstattoo]

Tattoo inks usually have stronger healed results.

[@punkvala246]

@@Tesstattoo ok, so the correction will stay forever or it still will be needing touch up in the future? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@Tesstattoo]

@@punkvala246 it still needs a touchup. It doesn’t last forever because of the technique

[@punkvala246]

@@Tesstattoo thank you for all your answers!

[@s_keri7126]

Really need some advice here guys? Anyone 😭 I did my lip neutralization last Friday (which was like 5 days ago) then on the following Monday I noticed a little red pigmented looking color just right above my lip…. And it won’t go away😭 I’m really scared it could be pigment migration! Does anyone has any advice for me or know what it could be ?? Tyysmn. 🥺 I’m desperate 😩

[@user-rs2ue1cz6m]

Did it go away

[@s_keri7126]

Yep. Completely gone a few days after

[@cleopheefautrat6545]

Superbe 👍 mais il faut que se soit fait avec un vrai professionnel qui sait ce qu'il faut faire et ne pas faire 👌🫶 Merci pour cette vidéo je réside en France 🤟🌞

[@orinocoproductions5994]

The purple looked pink to me also yikes

[@motiongraphic3967]

Learned all that now I got zero clients