As any PMU artist will know, it’s essential to use equipment that’s precise, hygienic, and gives you the most control over your work – and that starts with cartridges.

But with so many brands and configurations available, how do you choose the best cartridges for your treatments and clients?

We’re going to make things easy on you by comparing two cartridge types from the same brand. DarkLab offers Vertix Nano and Vertix Pico cartridges, both of which are excellent choices for PMU, but with a few notable differences.



What are the needles made from?


Vertix Pico cartridges are made with high-quality medical grade stainless steel, while the Nano cartridges are made from Japanese surgical steel. If you’re not sure of the difference, surgical steel is a type of stainless steel that has a high amount of corrosion resistance.

Both needle types meet hygiene and safety requirements for PMU – more about their safety features further on – but neither option is inherently better than the other!



What features do the cartridges have?


Both cartridge types are choc-full of features to make your job easier and to create the best possible results with every treatment.

The Nano and Pico both come with slim, elongated and transparent tips - allowing you a great view of the pigment flow and needle depth - as well as a secure low-tension membrane to prevent the backflow of fluids and reduce stress on the machine motor.

The Pico has a new internal system for stability with reduced needle vibration, which minimises any discomfort for your client during treatment. This also helps to enhance precision when implanting pigment.

The Nano has a few additional features like a detachable tip case to allow you to adjust the needle, an improved internal tip design for great saturation and pigment flow, and dual side vents to create a decompressing vacuum action which helps to minimise spraying.


What safety and hygiene features do these cartridges have?


Many elements of the cartridges have been designed with hygiene in mind, from the secure membrane which reduces the backflow of fluids to protect you, your machine and client, to the elongated tip reservoirs which reduce splatter.

All Vertix cartridges come sterilized in individual blister packs and go through a two-step quality control process with both automated and human checks.



What configurations are they available with?


Pico cartridges come in a few different configurations and sizes, and are colour coded by needle size for easy identification.

PICO cartridges come in boxes of 20, with a variety of needle diameters, sizes and configurations included in the range. The PICO needles are the first from Vertix to include a sloped configuration and both medium and long taper needles are available, depending on your preference. PICO cartridges are available in ultra-thin 0.20mm diameters, with an even thinner 0.18mm being added to the range very soon!

The Vertix Nano cartridges are also available in a range of configurations, sizes and diameters which includes Liner, Shader and Curved Magnum. Diameters start from 0.20mm, making them perfect for the ultra-precise details of the PMU treatment.

Nano cartridges can also be bought in a sample pack of 40, containing 5 cartridges of the 8 most popular configurations. This is ideal for anybody new to Vertix cartridges or to permanent makeup who wants to try multiple styles to find the right cartridges for them and their treatments.



What machines do they work with?


Both the Vertix and Nano are universal fit cartridges, which means they can be used with almost any rotary PMU machines. Nevertheless, always make sure to check for compatibility with your chosen machine before ordering! If you’re unsure you can always send us a DM or contact our customer service department on [email protected].


Which needle is best for which treatment?


Every PMU artist will have a different preference about which needles are best for their treatments. There are a lot of factors to consider: their chosen technique, the advice of their teacher or school, and of course personal preferences.

Different needle cartridges are required for different treatments – while hair stroke brows require thinner, round liners, powder brows need different configurations, sizes and diameters to pack in colour. Ultimately, as you try out and test treatments, techniques and configurations, you’ll soon find which work best for your needs.

Taper is also an important factor, as a short to medium taper creates a larger puncture but distributes pigment more evenly, while long to extra-long tapers cause less trauma to the skin. Which taper you use on your client will depend on your preference as an artist and the skin type of the client you are working on. Stubborn skin might be more difficult to work on with a long-taper cartridges and you may need to change it up to implant the pigment in the way that you want.



Both the Nano and Pico are available in a range of needle sizes, tapers and configurations. The Nano range of liners and shaders all come with a medium or acupuncture taper, while the Pico range offers medium taper, long taper and sloped long taper.

Ultimately you should pick the cartridge that feels right to you and provides the best results for your clients!