THEM needle cartridges are made specially for permanent makeup artists ("Special for PMU artist", as it says on every box). In this review we walk you through every THEM configuration we stock: what the codes mean, which colour line does what, which needle suits which technique, and short videos from the THEM team. Every cartridge in this article links straight to its product page, so you can compare and order in one go.
THEM at a Glance
- 10 configurations: 1RLLT from 0.20 to 0.33 mm, 1RLMT from 0.30 to 0.35 mm and 3RLLT in 0.25 and 0.30 mm
- Three colour lines: Turquoise, Rose and Atlantic (dark blue), so you recognise the right needle at a glance
- Box of 20 sterile, individually packed cartridges, also available in sets of 3 or 6 boxes for selected needles
- Universal connection for standard cartridge machines
- Medium-stiffness membrane for an even pigment flow and a soft entry into the skin
Watch: The Most Asked Questions About THEM
Do THEM cartridges fit every machine? What do the colours mean? What membrane do they use? The THEM team answers in under a minute.
Three Colour Lines, Three Jobs
According to THEM, the colours are first of all a design element. But they also make choosing easier, because each line groups needles with a similar purpose.
Turquoise: Fine Lines, Contours and 3RL Shading
The Turquoise line holds the finest single needles for crisp contours and lines, and the 3-needle groupings for faster, velvety colour filling.
- THEM No.6 0.20/1RLLT: thin contours and lines
- THEM No.8 0.25/1RLLT: fine pixel work and lines
- THEM No.8 0.25/3RLLT: shading and saturation
- THEM No.10 0.30/3RLLT: shading and saturation, a favourite for lips
Rose: The Universal All-Rounders
THEM calls the pink cartridges the most universal line, suitable for most areas and permanent makeup techniques. If you are building your first THEM order, start here.
- THEM No.8 0.27/1RLLT: shading and saturation
- THEM No.10 0.30/1RLLT: shading and saturation, our best-selling THEM cartridge
- THEM No.12 0.33/1RLLT: shading and saturation
Atlantic: Medium Taper for Dense and Porous Skin
All dark blue cartridges have an MT (medium taper). THEM recommends them for dense, porous and oily skin.
- THEM No.10 0.30/1RLMT: dense skin
- THEM No.12 0.33/1RLMT: dense skin
- THEM No.12 0.35/1RLMT: porous skin
How to Read a THEM Cartridge Code
Take #10 0.30 1RLLT as an example:
- #10 is the THEM number code (#06 = 0.20 mm, #08 = 0.25 and 0.27 mm, #10 = 0.30 mm, #12 = 0.33 and 0.35 mm)
- 0.30 is the needle diameter in millimetres
- 1RL means one needle (round liner), 3RL means three needles in the grouping
- LT is a long, sharp taper, MT is a medium taper
Three short videos explain one cartridge from each line:
All THEM Configurations Compared
| Cartridge | Needle | Taper | Line | Typical use (per THEM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No.6 0.20/1RLLT | 1 needle, 0.20 mm | Long | Turquoise | Thin contours and lines |
| No.8 0.25/1RLLT | 1 needle, 0.25 mm | Long | Turquoise | Fine pixel work and lines |
| No.8 0.27/1RLLT | 1 needle, 0.27 mm | Long | Rose | Shading and saturation |
| No.10 0.30/1RLLT | 1 needle, 0.30 mm | Long | Rose | Shading and saturation |
| No.12 0.33/1RLLT | 1 needle, 0.33 mm | Long | Rose | Shading and saturation |
| No.10 0.30/1RLMT | 1 needle, 0.30 mm | Medium | Atlantic | Dense skin |
| No.12 0.33/1RLMT | 1 needle, 0.33 mm | Medium | Atlantic | Dense skin |
| No.12 0.35/1RLMT | 1 needle, 0.35 mm | Medium | Atlantic | Porous skin |
| No.8 0.25/3RLLT | 3 needles, 0.25 mm | Long | Turquoise | Shading and saturation |
| No.10 0.30/3RLLT | 3 needles, 0.30 mm | Long | Turquoise | Shading and saturation |
Every box contains 20 sterile, individually packed cartridges.
1RL or 3RL: Which One Do You Need?
The obvious difference is the number of needles in the grouping. More needles increase the skin's resistance, which helps prevent the needle from going too deep, and they speed up shading with a velvety finish. In the video, the artist uses the 1RL for hair strokes and contour work, and the 3RL for denser shading.
Which Cartridge for Which Result?
Three THEM needles, three results: the 0.30 1RLLT for soft brows and lip blush, the 0.35 1RLMT and the 0.30 3RLLT for saturated lips.
What THEM Builds Into Every Cartridge
- Narrow, elongated tip for precise, visible needle entry. THEM states the narrow tip uses up to half as much pigment.
- 4 mm diameter, so you can follow every movement
- Medium-stiffness membrane: a stable needle stroke, even pigment flow and a soft entry into the skin
- Small module window that, according to THEM, keeps the cartridge free of vibration and noise
- Medical steel needles with a density of 8 g/cm³, a cartridge weight of 2.6 g and 70 dB in operation (per THEM)
- Universal connection that fits standard cartridge machines
Save With Sets of 3 or 6 Boxes
Use one needle all day? Our multipacks give you 60 or 120 cartridges of the same configuration:
- No.6 0.20/1RLLT: set of 3 boxes or set of 6 boxes
- No.12 0.33/1RLMT: set of 3 boxes or set of 6 boxes
- No.12 0.35/1RLMT: set of 3 boxes or set of 6 boxes
Frequently Asked Questions
Do THEM cartridges fit my machine?
THEM cartridges have a universal connection and fit standard cartridge machines. If you are unsure about your model, send us the machine name on WhatsApp and we will check it for you.
How many cartridges are in a box?
Each box contains 20 sterile, individually packed cartridges. Selected configurations are also available in sets of 3 boxes (60 cartridges) and 6 boxes (120 cartridges).
What is the difference between LT and MT?
LT is a long, sharp taper. MT is a medium taper. In the THEM range, all medium-taper needles are in the dark blue Atlantic line, which THEM recommends for dense, porous and oily skin.
Which THEM cartridge should I start with?
THEM calls the pink Rose line the most universal. The No.10 0.30/1RLLT is our best-selling THEM cartridge and a good first choice for most techniques. For fine contours add the 0.20/1RLLT, and for lip shading the 0.30/3RLLT.
Do the colours mean anything?
The colours are mainly a design element, but they also group the needles: Turquoise for fine diameters and 3RL shading, Rose for the universal 1RLLT needles and Atlantic for the medium-taper 1RLMT needles.
Order THEM at PMU Master Boutique
PMU Master Boutique is an official THEM dealer with fast delivery across Europe. Compare all configurations in the THEM collection, see every brand in our PMU needles and cartridges range, or read our guide to PMU cartridges and needle configurations. Need a matching device? Browse our PMU machines.
Not sure which THEM needle suits your technique? Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.
