If you’re a PMU artist, your eyes and your hands are your money makers. You can train your hands, but your eyes will need some help.
As you’re doing a PMU treatment – or lashes for that matter – you need to see what you’re doing with uttermost clarity. But the thing is, most of us don’t have perfect eyesight, and as our eyes get tired throughout the day, it can get worse.
Magnifying glasses to the rescue! If you haven’t already, it’s time to get a pair. Here’s why, and a list of our picks.
Will Magnifying Glasses Help with Your Work?
Short answer – probably.
A piece of equipment definitely worth investing in, magnifying glasses will compensate for any sight-related difficulties you may have and minimize eye fatigue, to begin with.
They take away some of the strain on your eyes, same as reading glasses, only you don’t need a prescription.
In case you’ve noticed you’ve been having headaches more often since you started working in PMU, eye strain may be the cause. Magnifying glasses might help with that.
While these benefits to your wellbeing are a priority, magnifying glasses will also have a positive effect on your work. If you see better, your work will be better.
You’ll be able to place your microblading strokes with more precision. Those outlines will be crisper than ever. And lash isolation will be a piece of cake. A clear vision will likely help you work faster, too.
And it’s such a teeny tiny expense.
Of course, not every pair will suit everyone, but luckily, magnifying glasses come in different versions: those that look like regular eyeglasses, a visor-type thing, a headband contraption, or a ring light with a magnifier if you’re not a fan of glasses.
Here’s a list of artists’ favorites in each category:
Best LED Light: YOCTOSUN LED Head Magnifier
With multiple adjustable options, the Yoctosun LED head Magnifier is one of the most versatile models of magnifying glasses you can get at a very affordable price – under $20.
Like most magnifying glasses for PMU artists, it has a built-in LED light, but unlike many models, you can adjust the brightness with a flick of a switch. The battery is rechargeable and you can charge it at any USB port, including power banks.
This model has an advanced designed:
- Can be worn as eyeglasses or a headband
- You can switch between 5 levels of magnification
- It features comfortable rubber nose pads
- Its lenses are high-quality acrylic, scratch-resilient.
The only potential downside to this model is its bulkiness – some artists simply prefer more compact design.
Best Visor-Type: Mag Eyes
A more compact option is a pair of slim, visor-type magnifying glasses. Out of the available models, artists seem to like Mag Eyes the most – it’s a highly-recommended product within the community.
The good thing about this model is that you can buy the magnifying lenses separately, so you don’t have to waste money on a pack of multiple different intensities if you know what works for you already.
A potential downside is the fact that it doesn’t have built-in light, but some artists don’t need it anyway.
Best Eyeglasses-Type: Zoom Vision Magnifying Glasses
Some artists prefer the most basic eyeglasses-type models. The Zoom Vision ones are great because they have a built-in light, which some other models don’t, yet this feature doesn’t make the design bulky.
But what really sets this model apart is the fact that it was designed to fit on top of regular eyeglasses, which can be a complication. So if you can’t work without your prescription glasses yet you need some extra help, this model is a good choice.
Best Compact: YOCTOSUN Rechargeable Magnifying Glasses
A similar model to the Zoom Vision glasses, but with a rechargeable battery, which is always a plus. Another pair where you get a set of lenses of different intensities that you can quickly and easily switch between.
You have the option to wear them resting behind your ears, or use the headband to make the wearing more comfortable.
Best Ring Light with Magnifier: Innqoo LED Esthetician Light
Alternatively, if you don’t like wearing complex contraptions on your head, you can get a free-standing ring light with a built-in magnifying glass you stand above and look through.
This is something many artists have in their salons, as it’s both a wide-lighting light source and a magnifier. So it can be used to take pictures, although a ring light specialized for that will obviously work better.
The Inqoo model comes with a wheel-stand, which is very practical as you can move it around, but it can also be mounted onto a surface, if you have a suitable piece of furniture nearby.
It’s a slightly pricier than the headband magnifying glasses, but it’s a worthy investment, especially if the first option doesn’t work for you for any reason.
Magnifying Glasses + Quality Lighting = Perfect Precision
Magnifying glasses can’t help much if your lighting isn’t up to speed. Yes, the built-in LED light most of them have are great, but that only serves as an auxiliary light source. You still need to invest in quality primary lighting.
Here’s a buyer’s guide through lighting up your salon, with recommendations.
Final Note
It’s not a bad idea to get your eyesight checked every once in a while. Artists tend to neglect their eyesight, so in case you haven’t been to an ophthalmologist in a while – this is your sign!
