PMU stands for Permanent MakeUp and in the PMU industry many terms are coined such as SPMU (semi-permanent makeup), micropigmentation, cosmetic tattoo, etc. They all meant to refer to the same thing and within PMU technologies and service types there are slight variations which terms are more frequently used. For example, within Brow PMU services there are Microblading, Microshading, Combo Brows, Powder Brows, Nano Brows, Bold Brows and they are all different techniques, but overall it's all basically a combination of stroking and shading techniques. The difference is pattern and which device is used. These terms are somewhat commercial (coined by PMU academies around the world) and can be confusing. Experienced PMU artists will understand which technique is from where and what it really means. Keep in mind that PMU is still in a development mode from regulations standpoint and frequently used terms might be different from state to state and country to country. ​ In short, PMU is a cosmetic (sometimes called medical for areola and scalp tattoo) pigmentation technique using a needle-like manual/electric devices to embed select pigments under the skin. The largest difference between body art (aka body tattoo) and PMU is the precise location of pigmentation. PMU procedure embed pigments between epidermis and dermis layer carefully, so it can fade out over time. The misconcept we often encounter during consultation is why PMU is not really "permanent" like body art? Big difference is PMU is mostly for cosmetic purpose and the expression of each thin line or one touch of shading by machine can create a huge impact on how you look. Imagine you have slightly asymmetric brows or eyeliners or lips and they are "permanent". Your life will be devastated. Body art work is still an artwork, but symmetry is not as critical as PMU and they are not done on the face (well, mostly). No one will notice slightly - I mean hair thin - asymmetric triangle in body art, but it's impossible to bring highest level of details in dermis layer. Single stroke or shading is in micrometers (µm) and even though these days body art needles and PMU needles share a lot in common and often interchageably used, PMU's final work quality can depend on a single stroke while body art work's quality may depends on the overall definition more than a single stroke. To be able to create illusional effect giving enough realism in brows, eyeliners, and lips by delicate touch of a single hairline stroke or one pass of shading, it is important to express those with pigments in greater detail. Over a period of time body art work smears slowly. That can be a disaster for brows, eyeliners, and lips, right? Fading naturally without smearing followed by a maintenance touch-up is the right way of cosmetic tattoo.