The PMU Machine Learning Curve: How to Train Yourself to Master Any Device

If you’ve ever upgraded to a new PMU machine and suddenly felt like a beginner again, you’re not alone. Even the most experienced artists go through this awkward, frustrating phase known as the learning curve.

In Episode 111 of the Tatter-a-fact PMU Podcast, Teryn Darling pulls back the curtain on what really happens when you switch machines, why so many artists panic, and how you can train yourself to push through and come out stronger than ever.

Why Artists Struggle with New Machines

A PMU machine isn’t “just a tool”, it’s an extension of your hand. When you’ve mastered one device, you know exactly how it feels, how pigment implants, and how skin responds.

The moment you switch to something new, everything changes:

• Vibration can feel foreign and throw off your muscle memory.

• Weight and balance affect how steady your hand feels.

• Stroke length and power change the way pigment enters the skin.

• Needle compatibility shifts your visibility and precision.

• Voltage sweet spots aren’t universal—what worked before won’t feel the same now.

At first, this can feel like failure. But in truth, it’s growth.

The Learning Curve is Not Failure

Many artists give up too soon. They decide:

• “This machine doesn’t work.”

• “My retention is terrible.”

• “I’ll never get this.”

But as Teryn reminds us, the learning curve is not failure, it’s the process of building new muscle memory.

Feeling awkward is temporary. What matters is whether you lean into it or run back to your comfort zone.

How to Train Through the Curve

Think of switching machines like learning to write with your non-dominant hand. It feels shaky at first, but with practice, you can make it fluid. Here’s how:

1. Be Patient With Yourself

Great results take time. Even with 25 years of experience, Teryn went through frustrating transitions every time she switched machines.

2. Experiment With Intention

• Try different needle configurations.

• Adjust your hand speed.

• Explore voltage ranges instead of copying someone else’s settings.

3. Track Healing Results

Healed work tells the truth. If trauma looks higher or retention looks lower than before, use that as feedback to adjust technique.

4. Listen to Your Machine

Every device has its own rhythm, vibration, and sound. Train yourself to notice the subtleties, it makes adapting faster.

5. Repetition Builds Confidence

Muscle memory comes from reps, reps, reps. Practice on pads or synthetic skins until the awkwardness fades.

Common Mistakes Artists Make

1. Giving Up Too Soon – Putting a new $800 machine back in the drawer after 2 or 3 procedures.

2. Blaming the Machine – Declaring it “broken” instead of recognizing the learning curve.

3. Copying Another Artist’s Settings – Voltage numbers don’t transfer across different brands.

4. Forcing Old Habits – Trying to use the new machine exactly like the old one instead of adapting.

Avoid these mistakes, and you’ll find yourself on the fast track to mastery.

Why the Learning Curve is Worth It

Pushing through this uncomfortable stage does more than just help you master one device. It builds:

• Resilience – the ability to handle frustration without quitting.

• Adaptability – critical for when new technology or products hit the industry.

• Confidence – knowing you can handle any machine that lands in your hand.

• Efficiency – better healed results and faster procedures once you’ve mastered it.

As Teryn says: “We don’t grow when we’re comfortable. We grow when we’re uncomfortable.”

Training to Shorten the Learning Curve

Education is the bridge between frustration and mastery. The Girlz Ink Academy is here to guide you:

• 👉 Machine & Movements Course  – Master hand speed, stretch, pressure, and depth for any device.

• 👉 Needle Theory Course  – Learn how needle type + machine interaction impacts healed results.

• 👉 Color Theory Course  – Understand how pigments behave differently depending on delivery.

• Need pro supplies for practice? Shop Girlz Ink Store Machines .

Watch the Full Episode

FAQ: Mastering the Machine Learning Curve

Q: How long should I expect to “struggle” with a new machine?
A: Most artists feel comfortable within weeks, but full confidence may take a few months of steady practice.

Q: Can I skip the awkward phase by taking more courses?
A: Courses can shorten the curve by giving you strategies, but there’s no substitute for time and reps.

Q: Why don’t voltage settings transfer across machines?
A: Each machine is engineered differently. Seven volts on one brand won’t equal seven volts on another.

Q: What if my healed results still look worse after months?
A: That’s when education matters. Enroll in courses to sharpen fundamentals and analyze your technique.

Q: Is it worth upgrading machines if the old one “works”?
A: Yes. Machines evolve. If you want to stay relevant, you must adapt and grow with the industry.

👉 Ready to train through the curve instead of running from it? Enroll in an Academy course today and take control of your growth as an artist.