Student stories
Elena U. trained at Anna Kara's Permanent Makeup Academy in San Diego (formerly New PMU) in January 2020. She came from photography, took all three basic permanent makeup courses (lips, brows and eyeliner), and today works as a certified permanent makeup artist in San Diego. She has 42 reviews on Yelp with an average rating of 4.9, and she still stays in touch with the Academy for advice. We asked her permission to tell this story, and these are her photos from those days.
Before permanent makeup
Elena did not start in beauty. Before permanent makeup she worked as a photographer, so she spent her days looking at faces, light, color and proportion. Those are the same things a permanent makeup artist has to see before the first line is drawn. At some point she decided to change direction and learn the craft properly, and she chose our Academy.
January 2020: the Fundamental Permanent Makeup course
In January 2020 Elena took the Fundamental Permanent Makeup course at the Academy. It is a five-day course, and she completed all three programs we teach in the basic course: powder brows, lip blush and eyeliner enhancement. The days follow the order we still use at the Academy today. First comes theory, with diagrams and explanations, then practice on a live model with an instructor guiding each step. At the end of the course Anna Kara handed Elena her certificate.
The photos here come from that week: the theory class with the lip diagram, a brows class with the other students, practice on a model, and the certificate handover. Her surname on the certificate is hidden.
Where Elena is today
Today Elena works as a permanent makeup artist in San Diego with her own clients. Her clients leave real reviews, and on Yelp she has 42 of them with an average of 4.9 stars (as of November 2026). That is her own work and her own reputation, and we are glad to have been a part of the start.
We do not say goodbye to our graduates after the last class. Elena still consults with the Academy team from time to time, and we are happy to help. Supporting our graduates as they grow is part of how Anna Kara's Permanent Makeup Academy works.
What her story shows
Her path shows that permanent makeup is a craft you can learn from another field. A photographer's eye helped her, and a beginner's course gave her the technique. Experience and results are different for every student, and we do not promise income or job outcomes.
Graduates of the basic course can continue with the Academy's Advanced courses, and our online learning is growing, with more self-paced courses on the way. If you are thinking about starting your own path, ask the Academy about the basic course and which program fits you.
- Student stories
- Graduate story
- Basic PMU course
- Career change
- Photographer to PMU artist
- San Diego
Alex Kara is Anna Kara's husband. He ran the renovation of the studio and works on the Academy's website and marketing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer or someone from another field become a permanent makeup artist?
Yes. Elena U. worked as a photographer before she took the basic permanent makeup course in January 2020 and is now a certified permanent makeup artist in San Diego. Experience and results differ for every student, and we do not promise income or job outcomes.
What does the basic permanent makeup course cover?
The basic course covers three programs: powder brows, lip blush and eyeliner enhancement. Elena took all three in the five-day Fundamental Permanent Makeup course. Each day starts with theory and moves to practice on a live model with an instructor guiding every step.
Do students practice on real models during the course?
Yes. After the theory part, students practice on a live model with an instructor guiding every step, as Elena did in January 2020.
Does the Academy stay in touch with graduates?
Yes. Elena still consults with our team from time to time, and we are happy to help our graduates grow. Ask our team what support applies to your course.
Can I continue learning after the basic course?
Yes. Graduates of the basic course can continue with our Advanced courses, and our online learning is growing, with more self-paced courses on the way.
Keep reading
About the Academy
Anna Kara's Permanent Makeup Academy teaches permanent makeup in San Diego, California, at 1357 Seventh Ave, Ste C, San Diego, CA 92101. It started as New PMU in North Park.