'Organic vs Mineral pigments' - whats the difference?

My clients who have heard me rave about mineral pigments, the comparison to organic, how they heal and what to expect is endless. I’ve taken the jump, along with so many other techs in the recent years. The reason for this is due to the shift in what I like to call brow consensus. Clients’ expectations have changed, the trends are constantly evolving, and people are after lighter and softer brows.

Prior to this all, most techs in the industry, including myself started their journey and continued to use organic pigments by big named brands in the game. We thought it’s what was best. 

Organic pigments sound great, due to its name. However, since they’re carbon based, end up being less stable under UV light and oxidation compared to inorganic and/or mineral pigments. 

Since its unstable under UV light, once the brows are tattooed, the red/yellow components of the pigment break down way too quickly, leaving behind a grey-ish residue.

Speaking from experience, my clients 5 years ago only cared about one thing – the longevity of the brows. They wanted the tattoo to stay forever, not budge. But didn’t necessarily care about the greyness. That’s why organic pigments worked. But there’s only so many times your client with organic pigment can come back for yearly top ups until you tell them its time to remove. The saturation becomes too much, and you simply can’t cover the grey.

Mineral pigments are the opposite. The consistency is so much waterier, and its components cause it to become chemically more stable than organic pigments. They may not last as long, but chances of you ending up with grey brows are far less with mineral colours. 

Now with the recent shift to more airy, light and softer brows, mineral pigments are the way to go. 

Client’s don’t care about top ups anymore (within reason). As long as they’re not stuck with ashy, grey and blocky brows, they’re happy to come back for top ups to maintain the warmer and softer tones.