Tatter-a-fact® PMU Podcast

Hosted by Teryn Darling

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Episodes

130

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Teryn Darling is a legend in the Permanent Makeup industry. She's dedicated 20+ years to the craft of permanent makeup and in that time she's grown her company, Girlz Ink, into a global brand and industry standard. Teryn's overcome a lot of adversity and has done pretty well for herself in the PMU world! She's developed her skills as a cosmetic tattooer and to do that she had to develop her skills as an entrepreneur and business woman. Expect smart, sharp conversations. Teryn doesn't hold back so these episodes will be interesting, honest and real! She loves talking business and digging deep to get to know people; how, why and why not they do things.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 227 min

Chapter 2: The Girl Who Wanted Her Own Money

Send us Fan MailLong before Girlz Ink. Before PMU. Before pigments, podcasts, stages, mentorship, and entrepreneurship... there was a kid in Maine trying to figure out how to make her own money. In Chapter 2 of Tatter-a-fact: The Story Series, Teryn Darling shares the story of her earliest hustles, from babysitting and collecting cans to riding her bike to a local farm before sunrise to pick peas for $7 a bushel. What seemed like ordinary childhood jobs at the time we quietly building something much bigger: work ethic, responsibility, resilience, consistency, and the desire for independence. But this episode isn't really about money.It's about what money represented.Freedom.Security.Possibility.It's also about growing up believing you weren't smart enough, struggling in school, comparing yourself to others, and slowly discovering that intelligence comes in many forms. While some kids were earning A's and preparing for college, Teryn was learning lessons that couldn't be measured on a report card—showing up, solving problems, building confidence, and figuring things out one uncomfortable step at a time.If you've ever felt behind, doubted yourself, worked harder than everyone around you, or dreamed of creating your own freedom, this chapter is for you.In This Episode:• The connection between money and freedom• Childhood hustles and early entrepreneurship• Babysitting, farm work, and earning independence• Responsibility, consistency, and work ethic• Academic struggles and self-doubt• Different forms of intelligence• Why confidence often comes after action• The quiet beginnings of an entrepreneurial mindsetAbout Tatter-a-Fact: The Story SeriesFor years, most people have known Teryn Darling as an artist, educator, entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of Girlz Ink.The Story Series is different.This is where she shares the story behind all of it—one chapter at a time.The good. The painful. The funny. The weird. The embarrassing. The beautiful.All of it. Subscribe and follow for future chapters as Teryn shares the experiences, lessons, failures, and defining moments that shaped the person she would eventually become.#Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #Storytelling #Leadership #Motivation #SelfGrowth #BusinessOwner #Podcast #GirlzInk #TatterAFact #SuccessMindset #WorkEthic #Confidence #FemaleEntrepreneur #PersonalDevelopment #SmallBusinessOwner #PMUArtist #EntrepreneurMindset

May 29, 2026Episode 142 min

I Thought I Wasn't Smart: The Childhood Story That Shaped Everything | Chapter 1: The Red Wagon

Send us Fan MailChapter 1: The Red WagonI spent years believing I wasn't smart.I thought smart people got good grades.I thought smart people were in accelerated classes.I thought smart people understood math and science.That wasn't me.Meanwhile, at twelve years old, I was pulling a little red wagon through my neighborhood collecting cans, building work ethic, resourcefulness, independence, and an entrepreneurial mindset long before I understood what any of those words meant.Welcome to Chapter 1 of Tatter-a-fact: The Story Series.For years, you've known me as a PMU artist, educator, mentor, and business owner. But very few people know the beginning.The anxious kid.The insecure kid.The kid who struggled in school.The kid who quietly believed she wasn't smart enough.This new series is my attempt to tell the whole story—the good, the painful, the funny, the embarrassing, the beautiful, and everything in between.In this first chapter, I take you back to my childhood in South Portland, Maine, the family that shaped me, the insecurities I carried, and the little red wagon that became one of the earliest signs of who I was becoming.Because maybe success doesn't begin when the world notices you.Maybe it begins much earlier.Maybe the signs are already there.And maybe you're not behind.Maybe you're becoming.In This Episode:• Growing up in South Portland, Maine• Childhood anxiety and learning to read the room• Family, community, camping, and small-town memories• The story behind "Relax, Peanut"• The little red wagon that sparked independence• Early signs of entrepreneurship• Why I believed I wasn't smart• Redefining intelligence, resilience, and success• The lessons we only understand when we look backIf this story resonates with you, I hope you'll join me for future chapters as I share the experiences, failures, successes, insecurities, and defining moments that shaped who I became—and who I'm still becoming.Maybe you're not behind. Maybe you're becoming.

May 15, 20261 hr 4 min

What Nobody Tells PMU Artists About Clients

Send us Fan MailSome conversations age well, and this is one of them. With everything happening in the PMU industry right now, we felt this discussion about clients, professionalism, bad reviews, refunds, boundaries, and business growth was more relevant than ever.In this episode of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling speaks on the real side of being a permanent makeup artist, the parts of the PMU industry that people don’t always talk about openly.From getting more PMU clients outside of social media, to handling difficult client situations, bad reviews, refunds, and unrealistic expectations, this episode is packed with honest advice and real-world experience for both new and established PMU artists.Topics include:• How to grow your PMU clientele through real human connection• Why networking still matters in the beauty industry• How to professionally respond to negative reviews• PMU refunds and protecting your peace of mind• Setting client boundaries during procedures• Guests in the procedure room and phone etiquette• Why professionalism and communication matter more than ever in PMUWhether you offer microblading, powder brows, nano brows, lip blush, eyeliner tattooing, or saline tattoo removal, this conversation will resonate with artists navigating today’s permanent makeup industry.

May 1, 202659 min

PMU Taxes: Our Experience

Send us Fan MailTaxes… not exactly the most exciting topic, but one of the most important if you’re a PMU artist or business owner. In this throwback episode of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling breaks down the fundamentals of taxes, organization, and financial responsibility specifically for permanent makeup artists and small business owners. From quarterly tax payments to tracking your income and expenses, this episode walks through the habits that can help you avoid stress, stay compliant, and feel more confident running your business.Because the reality is—many artists aren’t taught this side of the industry… and end up learning the hard way.✨ In this episode, we cover:Why PMU artists should be paying quarterly taxesHow to estimate what you owe using your previous year’s incomeThe risks of waiting until the end of the yearHow to track your money in, money out, and net profitThe importance of hiring a bookkeeper (or getting organized yourself)What counts as a write-off and how to save your receiptsWhy separating business and personal finances mattersHow to build better habits around money as a business ownerThis episode is a reminder that building a successful PMU career isn’t just about your technique…it’s about how you manage your business behind the scenes.Because when you understand your numbers, everything changes.📲 Follow us on Instagram for more PMU education, business tips, and behind-the-scenes content:@GirlzInkStudio @TerynDarling

April 17, 20261 hr 8 min

From Broke to Financial Freedom: Advice Every Beauty Entrepreneur Needs

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful throwback episode of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, we sit down with tax expert and entrepreneur Marc Rizzo to talk about something most permanent makeup artists avoid, but absolutely need to understand: finances.From taxes and write-offs to investing, debt, and building long-term wealth, this conversation is packed with real, honest advice that can completely change the trajectory of your career, not just as a PMU artist, but as a business owner.Mark shares how he went from having nothing to building financial freedom, and how the same principles can be applied to anyone willing to stay disciplined, get organized, and think long-term.We also dive into common mistakes artists make—like not claiming income, poor bookkeeping habits, and waiting too long to get financially organized—and how those decisions can impact your future in ways you might not even realize yet.This episode is your reminder that success isn’t just about making money… it’s about keeping it, growing it, and using it to build the life you want.✨ In this episode, we discuss:Why PMU artists need to understand taxes and financial planningThe truth about cash income and reporting earningsHow to legally reduce your tax liabilityThe importance of organization, receipts, and bookkeepingRoth IRA vs traditional IRA (and why it matters)How to build wealth through real estate and investingThe mindset shift from “broke” to financially freeWhether you’re just starting out or already established in the industry, this episode will challenge how you think about money, and inspire you to take control of your future.Because at the end of the day…financial freedom isn’t luck, it’s strategy.📲 Follow us on Instagram for more PMU education, business tips, and behind-the-scenes content:@girlzinkstudio and @teryndarling

April 3, 2026Episode 1251 hr 40 min

The PMU Education Gap No One Talks About | Why Artists Struggle With Healed Results, TAF #125

Send us Fan MailWhy do so many permanent makeup artists still struggle with inconsistent healed results, even after investing in training?In this episode of the Tatter-a-Fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling is joined by special guest Rose Prieto of @beautyandbrowlounge for an honest conversation about the PMU education gap that many artists don’t realize is holding them back.Together, they break down why so many artists feel confused, underprepared, and inconsistent in their work — especially when it comes to skin assessment, pigment selection, healed results, needle knowledge, and making the right decisions during a procedure.In this episode, they discuss:Why healed PMU results can feel inconsistentThe importance of proper skin assessmentPigment behavior vs pigment colorCarbon black vs iron oxide pigmentsWhy one-size-fits-all PMU doesn’t workHow poor foundational education impacts artist confidenceThe connection between PMU fundamentals and long-term business growthIf you’re a PMU artist, cosmetic tattoo artist, brow artist, or student looking to improve your healed results and confidence, this episode is packed with valuable insight.Connect with our guest:Rose PrietoInstagram: @beautyandbrowlounge

March 20, 2026Episode 1241 hr 29 min

Microblading, Nano Brows & PMU Misinformation: What Artists Need to Know | TAF #124

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling sits down with award-winning PMU artist and educator Brittany Wallins to talk about the controversy surrounding microblading in today’s permanent makeup industry.They discuss how misinformation spreads online, why some techniques get unfairly criticized, and why education, skin analysis, and ethical decision-making matter far more than choosing one technique over another.Topics include microblading, nano brows, powder brows, PMU training, pigment science, and how artists can stay adaptable as the industry evolves.Whether you're a new PMU artist or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable insight into technique selection, industry trends, and the importance of staying open-minded in permanent makeup.Follow Brittany on Instagram: @beautybybcanada

March 6, 2026Episode 1231 hr 45 min

PMU Reality Check: Pigments, Technique & Truth | TAF #123

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Tatter-a-f6act PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling sits down with Marielle Rebecca of BROWHAUS INK for an honest, no-fluff conversation about the realities of permanent makeup.They break down client expectations vs PMU reality, pigment myths, technique fundamentals, filtered social media standards, and why there are no absolutes in PMU (except safety and ethics). This episode dives deep into organic vs inorganic pigments, fallout misconceptions, ethical touch-ups vs removal, and what artists need to focus on to build longevity in today’s changing PMU industry.If you’re a PMU artist craving real education, honest perspective, and guidance beyond trends and hype — this episode is a must-listen.🎧 Topics include:• Pigments & technique explained• PMU myths vs reality• Client expectations & brow blindness• Fundamentals over trends• Removal, correction & ethical decision-making• Building a sustainable PMU career

February 20, 2026Episode 1222 hr 1 min

Trends, Truth & Responsibility in PMU | TAF #122

Send us Fan MailIn Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Teryn Darling is joined again by Alex Mechenici of Alex PMU Academy to unpack the truths the permanent makeup industry doesn’t always want to hear.From trend-driven techniques and social media misinformation to pigment science, photo editing ethics, and long-term healed results, this episode challenges PMU artists to think critically, work responsibly, and return to strong fundamentals.In this episode, we cover:The dangers of trend-based PMU techniquesWhy Instagram results don’t always reflect healed workHair strokes, hyper-realism & techniques that don’t age wellPigment ingredients, color shifts & long-term outcomesPhoto editing, filters & unrealistic client expectationsAccountability, ethics & responsibility in PMU educationWhy fundamentals matter more than viral techniquesIf you’re a permanent makeup artist navigating education overload, unrealistic expectations, and fast-changing trends, this episode will help you refocus on ethics, longevity, and excellence in PMU.🎧 Be sure to listen to Part 1 before diving into this episode.

February 6, 2026Episode 1211 hr 59 min

PMU Pigments, Laser Removal & Aged Results | TAF #121

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling sits down with internationally respected PMU educator Alex Mechenici for a powerful, science-driven conversation every permanent makeup artist needs to hear.This episode goes beyond trends and social media brows and dives into pigment science, saline vs. laser removal, aged results, and critical thinking in PMU education. Together, Teryn and Alex unpack why certain pigments age beautifully, why others create removal nightmares, and why understanding the why behind your work matters more than ever.What You’ll Learn:• Saline removal vs. laser removal in PMU• Iron oxides vs. organic pigments (and common misconceptions)• Carbon black, titanium dioxide & yellow pigments explained• Healed results vs. aged results—the true measure of skill• Why PMU education must evolve with responsibilityGuest Spotlight:Alex Mechenici is a globally recognized PMU educator, speaker, and researcher known for her uncompromising, science-first approach to permanent makeup and removal education. She teaches internationally, runs her PMU academy in the UK, and is widely respected for raising industry standards through critical thinking and ethical education.📲 Follow Alex on Instagram: @alex.pmu.academyThis is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 dives deeper into industry correction, marketing myths, and the future of PMU education.🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe.