Ever wondered what all those numbers on the back of your permanent makeup pigment bottles mean? We get it—it can seem a little overwhelming at first! But trust me, once you understand how those CI (Color Index) numbers are structured, it becomes so much easier to pick the perfect pigments and know exactly what you're working with.

Let's break it down and make it as simple as possible!

CI stands for Color Index—basically, it’s a universal system for identifying colors used in pigments. Each pigment has its own unique CI number, which tells you exactly what ingredients are in your ink. The CI number is usually made up of a few letters and numbers, and it's a great way to know what colors are in your pigment, how they’ll behave, and how they might fade over time.

How to Read CI Numbers:

1. CI Prefix:
   The "CI" simply means "Color Index" and is followed by a hyphen and a number.
2. Color Index Number:
   This number is the unique identifier for each pigment. For example, CI 77891 refers to Titanium Dioxide, which is a white pigment commonly used to lighten shades in permanent makeup.
3. Color Description:
   Some pigment labels may also include a color description to give you a better idea of what you're working with. For example, CI 77491 refers to Iron Oxide Red, a red pigment.

Let’s look at some common CI numbers and what they mean:

• CI 77891: Titanium Dioxide (white pigment, great for lightening colors)
• CI 77491: Iron Oxide Red (red pigment)
• CI 77492: Iron Oxide Yellow (yellow pigment)
• CI 77499: Iron Oxide Black (black pigment, often used in brows and eyeliner)
• CI 77266: Carbon Black (a deep black pigment for intense black shades)

Now that you know what’s inside your pigments, making swatch sheets is a great way to see how these colors look and blend together in real life. Watch the video below where we show you exactly how to create your own pigment swatch sheets. This will help you visualize your colors before using them on clients!