Beyond the Blade: Why I Stopped doing Microblading?
When I first entered the permanent makeup industry, microblading was absolutely everything. However, over time, observing how traditional microblading aged on various…
Read essay →The Olivia Yu Journal,
a record of the craft.
Technique, healing notes, atelier moments, and a private window into the work. A growing reference of 28 entries across 8 chapters.
Olivia's Insights
Olivia Yu Wins 2026 UK Semi Permanent Makeup Specialist Award
Recognised at The London Hair & Beauty Awards 2026 for excellence in semi-permanent makeup artistry and natural healed results. I’m incredibly honoured…
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Why PMU Artists Need to Stay in Sync with the Trend
I recently met a client who needed a color correction. Her brows were dark, heavy, and saturated—a style from years ago that…
Read essay →Permanent Make Up
Is Permanent Makeup Safe? Risks, Regulations, and How to Choose Safely
You’ve been considering permanent makeup for a while, but you’ve seen the horror stories. Photos of brows turned grey or orange. Stories…
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How to Prepare for Your Permanent Makeup Appointment
Your PMU appointment is two weeks away. Your artist has confirmed the booking. You’re excited, slightly nervous, and wondering whether there’s anything…
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What Is Permanent Makeup? A Complete Beginner’s Guide
If you’ve heard friends mention “PMU,” seen Instagram before-and-after photos that look almost too good to be true, or wondered whether you…
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The Complete Guide to Permanent Makeup in London
If you’ve ever wished your eyebrows looked freshly groomed the moment you woke up, your lips held a soft natural tint without…
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Why Natural Healed Results Matter More Than Fresh PMU Results
One of the biggest misconceptions in permanent makeup is judging the treatment immediately after the appointment. Fresh results are only the…
Read essay →Lip Brush
Lip Blush Aftercare: Your Day-by-Day Healing Timeline
Your lip blush will look beautiful the moment your artist finishes — and then, predictably, slightly chaotic for the following two weeks…
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Lip Blush vs Lip Filler: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Walk into any conversation about lip enhancement in London and two names come up: lip blush and lip filler. Many clients use…
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Lip Blush Colour Selection: Choosing the Right Shade for Your Skin Tone
You’ve decided to book lip blush. You’ve researched the technique, found an artist you trust, and you’re working through the final decisions…
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Dark Lip Neutralisation: PMU for Pigmented or Discoloured Lips
If your lips have ever been described as “naturally dark,” “pigmented,” or “discoloured,” you’ve probably had a confusing experience with lip products…
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Lip Blush Aftercare: Your Day-by-Day Healing Timeline
Lip Blush Aftercare: Your Day-by-Day Healing Timeline Your lip blush will look beautiful the moment your artist finishes — and then, predictably,…
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Korean Lip Blush: The Complete Technique and Healing Guide
If you’ve ever wished your lips had a soft, natural rosy tint that didn’t disappear by lunchtime, didn’t transfer onto every coffee…
Read essay →Brows
Brow Shape Selection: How to Choose the Right Shape for Your Face
You’re considering permanent makeup for your brows. You’ve researched microblading and nano brows. You understand the techniques. You’re ready to book a…
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Combination Brows: When Hair Strokes Plus Shading Is the Right Choice
If you’ve researched permanent makeup for brows, you’ve probably encountered three options: microblading, nano brows, and “combination brows.” The first two are…
Read essay →Permanent Eyeliner
Permanent Eyeliner Colour Selection: Beyond Black and Brown
When most clients book permanent eyeliner, they assume the colour choice is simple — black or brown. The reality is more nuanced.…
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Permanent Eyeliner: Styles, Process, and What to Expect
Permanent Eyeliner: Styles, Process, and What to Expect If you’ve ever struggled to apply eyeliner symmetrically, watched it smudge by midday, or…
Read essay →Nano brows
Brows for Oily Skin: Why Microblading Often Fails and What to Choose Instead
You have oily skin. You’ve been thinking about microblading. You’ve researched it, found a studio, possibly even had a consultation. And somewhere…
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Eyebrow Mapping: The Foundation of Perfect Permanent Brows
Before a single needle touches your skin during any brow PMU procedure, your artist will spend 20 to 30 minutes doing something…
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Microblading vs Nano Brows: Which Technique Is Right for You?
Two techniques. Similar results. Very different processes. If you’ve been researching permanent makeup for your brows, you’ve almost certainly hit a wall…
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Nano Brows Tutorial: The Precision Technique That’s Replacing Microblading
Walk into any premium PMU studio in London today and you’ll notice something interesting: experienced artists are quietly moving away from microblading…
Read essay →Microblading
Microblading Correction: Fixing Old, Faded, or Botched Brows
If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking at your brows in the mirror with regret. Maybe they’re blocky and grey. Maybe one…
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Microblading Aftercare: The Complete Day-by-Day Healing Guide
Half of your microblading result depends on what happens in the chair. The other half depends on what happens during the four…
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How to Do Microblading: Understanding the Technique Behind Beautiful Brows
Microblading looks simple from the outside — an artist draws hair strokes into your brows and you walk out with fuller, more…
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Microblading Step-by-Step: What Really Happens During Your Session
Microblading Step-by-Step: What Really Happens During Your Session If you’ve decided microblading might be right for you, the next question is usually…
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Nano Precision Brows™ vs Microblading — What Is The Difference?
Although Nano Precision Brows™ and microblading are often grouped together, the techniques are actually very different. Traditional microblading uses a manual…
Read essay →Education
Why Choosing A Permanent London PMU Artist Matters
Permanent makeup is not only about the treatment itself. It is also about long-term continuity, aftercare support, healed results, and having…
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