PMU Equipment & Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary difference between a rotary PMU machine and a coil machine?
- Rotary uses a motor-driven cam; coil uses electromagnetic coils (Correct answer)
- Rotary is louder and faster; coil is quieter and slower
- Rotary can only do lips; coil is used for brows
- Rotary requires disposable cartridges; coil uses permanent needles
Correct answer: Rotary uses a motor-driven cam; coil uses electromagnetic coils
Rotary machines use a rotating motor/cam to drive the needle, while coil machines use electromagnetic coils to create the up-and-down motion.
Question 2: Which needle configuration is BEST suited for shading and powdering effects in PMU?
- Single needle (1RL)
- Curved magnum (curved mag) (Correct answer)
- Triple needle (3RL)
- Flat shader
Correct answer: Curved magnum (curved mag)
Curved magnum needles distribute pigment over a wider area with softer edges, making them ideal for shading and powder brow effects.
Question 3: At what angle should a PMU artist typically hold the handpiece when performing a hair-stroke technique?
- 90 degrees (perpendicular)
- 10–20 degrees (nearly flat)
- 45 degrees (Correct answer)
- 60–70 degrees
Correct answer: 45 degrees
A 45-degree angle is the standard working angle for most PMU machines to achieve proper needle penetration depth and stroke control.
Question 4: What does 'machine speed' (measured in Hz or voltage) affect in PMU work?
- The color saturation of the pigment used
- The rate at which the needle penetrates and retracts per second (Correct answer)
- The sterilization effectiveness of the device
- The maximum needle depth setting
Correct answer: The rate at which the needle penetrates and retracts per second
Machine speed (Hz/voltage) determines how many times per second the needle strikes the skin, affecting trauma level and pigment implantation.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'needle depth' in PMU?
- The length of the needle cartridge from tip to base
- How far the needle protrudes from the tip of the cartridge during operation (Correct answer)
- The gauge (thickness) of the needle wire
- The total travel distance of the needle inside the machine body
Correct answer: How far the needle protrudes from the tip of the cartridge during operation
Needle depth refers to the amount the needle extends beyond the cartridge tip as it operates, determining how deep pigment is deposited in the skin.
Question 6: What is a 'nano needle' most commonly used for in permanent makeup?
- Lip blushing with heavy saturation
- Fine, precise hair strokes on brows, particularly for oily skin types (Correct answer)
- Full eyeliner with thick lines
- Scalp micropigmentation shading
Correct answer: Fine, precise hair strokes on brows, particularly for oily skin types
Nano needles are ultra-fine single needles that create crisp, precise hair strokes and work well on oily or combination skin types.
Question 7: Why is it important to use a new, sterile needle cartridge for each PMU client?
- New cartridges hold more pigment per stroke
- To prevent cross-contamination and transmission of bloodborne pathogens (Correct answer)
- Reused needles produce sharper lines
- Regulations only require new cartridges for lip procedures
Correct answer: To prevent cross-contamination and transmission of bloodborne pathogens
Using a new sterile cartridge for each client is essential to prevent cross-contamination and transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B/C and HIV.
PMU Equipment & Techniques 2
What is the primary difference between a rotary PMU machine and a coil machine?