- Price the first session and the touch-up together
- Microblading with touch-up ≈ $293 in our example; lip blush ≈ $335
- Spread training costs over your first clients: about $30 each
To price microblading and other permanent makeup (PMU), price the whole treatment, not just the first session: the long first appointment, the touch-up 6–8 weeks later, pigments and needles for both visits, your training costs, and then card fees and profit on top. PMU artists who price only the first session usually end up doing the touch-up for free.
Why PMU pricing is different
Permanent makeup has costs that most beauty salon services don't:
- Two appointments for one price. Most clients expect a touch-up after 6–8 weeks, so one booking uses two slots in your calendar.
- Long first sessions. Consultation, mapping, numbing and the procedure itself often take 2–3 hours.
- Expensive training. Courses, starter kits and certificates can cost thousands before the first paying client.
- Single-use supplies. Needles, blades, pigment cups, numbing and aftercare are used per client, every time.
Get these into the price and PMU can be one of the best-paid services in a beauty salon. Leave them out and it becomes one of the most tiring ways to earn very little.
The PMU pricing formula (touch-up included)
It is the same formula as for nail services or lash extensions, with two differences: you add the hours and products of the touch-up, and you spread your training costs over the clients you expect to treat.
Worked example: microblading with a 6–8 week touch-up
A PMU artist working in a rented treatment room uses these numbers:
- Time: 2.5 hours for the first session (consultation, mapping, numbing, procedure) and 1 hour for the touch-up: 3.5 hours in total
- Labor: $35 per hour for their skilled time
- Overhead: $15 per booked hour (room, insurance, software, licence)
- Products: $25 for the first session and $10 for the touch-up
- Training: about $30 per client (explained below)
- Card fee 3% and profit 15%, so we divide by 0.82
So microblading with one touch-up included should be about $293 in this example. That is about $83.62 for every hour it uses, which looks high until you remember it has to pay for your training, your skill and two appointments.
Price every treatment on your menu at once in the free demo →
Example PMU price list
Same numbers: $35 an hour, $15 overhead per hour, $30 training per client, divide by 0.82.
| Treatment | Time (first + touch-up) | Products | Labor | Overhead | Training | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microblading | 2.5 h + 1 h | $35 | $122.50 | $52.50 | $30 | $293 |
| Powder / ombré brows | 2.5 h + 1 h | $40 | $122.50 | $52.50 | $30 | $299 |
| Lip blush | 3 h + 1 h | $45 | $140 | $60 | $30 | $335 |
| Eyeliner | 2 h + 1 h | $35 | $105 | $45 | $30 | $262 |
| Color boost (12–18 months) | 1.5 h | $15 | $52.50 | $22.50 | – | $110 |
Example numbers, rounded. Prices in your area may be higher or lower; use your own time and costs.
A color boost is a separate service for returning clients, a year or more later. Price it by its own time and products, not as a "quick touch-up".
Should the touch-up be included in the price?
You can price PMU two ways. In our example:
| Touch-up included | Touch-up charged separately | |
|---|---|---|
| First session | $293 in total | $220 |
| Touch-up | $73 | |
| What clients see | One clear price | A lower first price, then a second bill |
| Risk for you | Clients who skip it still paid for it | Some clients skip it and judge your work unfinished |
Example numbers. First session = ($25 + $50 × 2.5 h + $30) ÷ 0.82. Touch-up = ($10 + $50 × 1 h) ÷ 0.82.
Most PMU artists include one touch-up within a fixed window, for example 6–10 weeks. After that, charge it as a color boost. Write the window in your booking confirmation so nobody is surprised.
Training, licences and the cost of getting started
A microblading or PMU course, a starter kit and certificates are a real business cost, just like a machine in an esthetics clinic. Spread them over the clients you expect to treat while you pay them off:
Once training is paid off, keep the $30 in your price for new courses and better equipment, or count it as extra profit. Local licences, health inspections and insurance belong in your overhead per hour, because you pay them whether you see 5 clients a month or 50. Our salon equipment ROI guide uses the same payback idea.
Deposits, consultations and patch tests
- Take a deposit for every PMU booking. A missed 2.5-hour session is one of the most expensive gaps in a beauty salon calendar. See what no-shows really cost.
- Deduct the deposit from the final price, and explain clearly when it is refundable.
- Charge for consultations that take real time, or take the fee off the treatment when the client books.
- Allow time for a patch test where it is needed, and book it as a short paid or included appointment.
Common PMU pricing mistakes
- Pricing only the first session. The touch-up then costs you an unpaid hour and more pigment.
- Copying the cheapest artist nearby. New artists often start low; that is not a cost-based price.
- Forgetting training costs. A $4,000 course is paid for by your first clients, whether you plan for it or not.
- Free extra touch-ups. Decide in advance how many are included and when the window ends.
- Big launch discounts. On long services a discount cuts deep into profit; see salon discount math.
- Never raising prices as your portfolio, demand and skill grow. Our guide to raising salon prices shows how many clients you can lose and still earn more.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for microblading?
With 3.5 hours of work in total (first session and touch-up) at $35 an hour, $15 an hour of overhead, $35 of products, $30 of training cost per client, a 3% card fee and 15% profit, microblading with one touch-up included comes to about $293. Use your own costs, because rent and experience vary a lot.
Should the microblading touch-up be free?
It should be included in the price, not free. Price the first session and one touch-up together, include it within a fixed window such as 6–10 weeks, and charge a color boost after that.
How much should a PMU color boost cost?
Price it by time and products like any other service. A 1.5-hour color boost with $15 of products comes to about $110 in our example.
Why does lip blush cost more than microblading?
Lip blush usually takes longer and uses more pigment, so it carries more labor, overhead and product cost. In our example that makes it about $335, compared with about $293 for microblading.
Should I take a deposit for permanent makeup?
Yes. PMU appointments are long and hard to refill at short notice, so most artists take a deposit at booking and deduct it from the final price. Explain the refund rules clearly before the client confirms.
Simple numbers for beauty businesses: pricing, profit and team pay, explained with real examples. More about us. Follow @salonprofitlab on Instagram for weekly tips.
This guide uses example numbers for illustration. It is not accounting, tax or financial advice.
