SIX REASONS YOU SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINERS

Search for microblading training online and you’ll get thousands of results. Some of these are legitimate academies and trainers, but most aren’t. You can thank the explosive growth of microblading on social media for this flood of less-than-professionals.

How can you tell the real trainers apart from those who are just in it for the money? Well, a good rule of thumb is to stay away from social media “influencers” and their large training classes. This is easier said than done, though. These influencers spend thousands of dollars to make themselves look professional.

Here, at Academy of Advanced Cosmetics, we place an emphasis on professionalism. With that in mind, we’ve created a list of the top ten reasons why you should stay away from social media trainers. Keep reading to learn all six!

REGULATIONS AND LAWS

Microblading and micropigmentation are governed by the specific laws and regulations in individual states. These aren’t procedures that just anyone can walk in off the street and begin performing. They’re complicated and carry the risk of spreading infectious disease if not done correctly.

Permanent makeup and tattooing aren’t the same thing, but they’re very, very close. This means that the risk of cross-contamination is high, unless all instruments and machines are properly sterilized and the highest possible safety measures are taken.

You’re not going to get this level of training from a course you signed up for on Instagram. You need to receive professional microblading training by someone who knows the ins and outs of sanitation and safety.

You can find a great resource of individual state laws and regulations here.

THEY’RE INEXPERIENCED

Most social media influencers and trainers are new to the world of microblading. They come from a background in cosmetology, sure, but they’ve only been involved in permanent makeup for less than five years.

You’d never know they’re so new to the field from how they market and present themselves on social media and their websites. This speaks volumes about the effectiveness of microblading marketing, but doesn’t do much to inspire confidence in real professionals.

Ask someone who promotes themselves on social media how long they’ve been microblading for. Don’t sign up for their course If their answer is less than five years, as this may be risky. This just isn’t enough time to learn the intricacies of permanent makeup.

LARGE TRAINING CLASSES

Another drawback to social media trainers is that their classes are usually very large. They spend thousands of dollars to promote a “one-day microblading certification course,” which is then held in a hotel conference room with 1,000 participants.

These large classes are breeding grounds for bad, and even dangerous, training. They’re impersonal and you won’t learn about proper safety techniques. Sure, you’ll end up with a certification, but not much in the way of actual knowledge.

NO ONGOING SUPPORT

You’ll be hard-pressed to find any ongoing support or education from social media microblading trainers. This isn’t entirely their fault, as their business model relies on holding new trainings and getting new clients. That being said, you don’t want to learn something and then have zero support in the future.

This is an area that we take to heart at the Academy of Advanced Cosmetics. We believe in hands-on, one-on-one training. We believe in offering ongoing support and refresher courses so that all our students become professionals.

Which would you rather be at the end of the day: someone with a certification from an “Instagram microblading guru” or a professional?

NO CERTIFICATIONS OR PREREQUISITES

It’s incredibly important to get your bloodborne disease certification before taking any sort of permanent makeup or microblading class. Not only will this give you a solid foundation for practicing proper safety, but you’ll start to become familiar with industry terminology.

Most social media trainers aren’t going to require you to get any sort of certification before taking their courses. This would mean less students and less money for them. They’re not interested in anything like that.

Here’s a test. Ask a potential microblading trainer if they know the difference between tattoo ink and permanent makeup. If they do, you’re on the right track. If they don’t, end the conversation right there.

YOU WON’T GET INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

We mentioned this point in passing above, but it’s worth highlighting once more. Social media trainers and their various conferences and courses aren’t one-on-one. They’re large and impersonal. Instead of getting actual training, you’ll likely watch a lot of videos and do some group practice. You may get a couple of minutes of individual pointers and tips, but that’s about it.

Another way to put it is that social media influencers aren’t very professional. They have a lot of flashy marketing, but little in the way of standards, knowledge, or industry awareness. These are not the people you want to train with for a successful career!

Now that you know the importance of getting professional, hands-on training, take a look at our upcoming course schedule. Find a time that works for you and sign up today to take the next step in your career!