Permanent Makeup – Is it Right for You?
I’ve always been intrigued with the idea of microblading and lip blushing, but I wasn’t sure if permanent makeup was the right choice for me. So, I went and got a consultation and learned all about permanent makeup. Read on to see if it is the right decision for your beauty investment.
What is Permanent Makeup?
First things first, what is permanent makeup? Well, it’s a tattoo! It’s done the same way as a traditional tattoo with a needle and depending on what you are doing will determine whether a machine or hand needling technique will be used. The ink for permanent makeup is different from traditional tattoos, in that it is 80% plant-based dye that can be removed with a laser. While you do still have to use a laser to remove the ink, it is easier to remove than traditional tattoo ink.
What do you need to know and consider?
Depending on where you live and who you go to, your consultation could be similar or completely different from the one I experienced. The permanent makeup artist I spoke with takes a more natural approach and setting realistic expectations is of the utmost importance - that should be true regardless of who you choose for your treatment.
A wonderful thing about permanent makeup is that it can be used to correct color discrepancies and help address asymmetry issues, which can be life-changing for people.
However, permanent makeup isn’t for everyone, and if you have any of the following things going on, you may want to reconsider permanent makeup.
The younger the skin the more likely your body is to release the ink and the color is going to fade
The oilier your skin the more touch-ups needed
Individuals with dry lips may not get the results they want
Multiple sessions are needed for all permanent makeup
The ideal time to get permanent makeup is in the fall/winter
You should not get permanent makeup within 3 weeks of a major life event
Everything You Need to Know About Lip Blushing
Lip blushing is a specific technique used to color the whole lip. It is a washing of tint similar to watercolor that creates a diffused color through the lip to leave patients with a natural look. Lip blushing is an enhancement, it’s not lipstick or lipliner and it can be used for lip color correction.
Two treatments at least will be needed for lip blushing, the first session is used to correct your natural lip color and initial lip blushing and the next is used as a touch-up and to make sure your lips are the desired color. (Lips tend to bleed a lot and get swollen quickly during this treatment which makes the 2nd touch-up appointment so important.)
Important Things to Note:
If you get lip filler, lip blushing should be completed prior to lip filler. The ideal timeline is an initial lip blushing appointment, lip filler 2-3 weeks later, and the lip blushing touch-up appointment 2-3 weeks following filler.
You will need 2 appointments
Everyone will need some level of color correction
The swelling that occurs makes a second appointment for a touch up essential
2-4 treatments are recommended for lip blushing
You must have an “even canvas” before you can add color
The first touch up is usually needed 6-8 weeks following initial treatment and then touch-ups will be needed every 1-2 years
Lip tattoos traditionally last longer than brow tattoos
If you aren’t satisfied with your lip blushing results, removal is available but is difficult and time-consuming
Lip blushing is painful - more so than brows especially
Topical numbing is used for treatment and is applied 30 minutes prior to the tattoo process
Following Treatment:
No greasy foods
You must use a straw for the first 3 days
No smoking
Your lips will drain fluid following treatment
You must keep your lips as dry as possible
You should expect scabbing over the course of the first few days
Bland food is recommended for the first few days and you should take all foods and drink consumed into consideration to help keep symptoms to a minimum
Gel ointment will have to be applied for the first 3 days following treatment
Vaseline can be used for days 4-7 following treatment but not before because it can pull the pigment out of the lips, so you must wait until the scabs are fully formed before using it.
What about Eyebrows?
When it comes to permanent makeup and eyebrows there are a couple of different options:
Microblading – Manual hair strokes done with a handheld blade to create natural hair-like strokes
Combo Brows – Microblading and shading with more condensed hair strokes in the front part of the brow and more shading toward the ends of the brows giving more shape and definition
Powder Brows – All shading for more of a thick and blocky eyeshadow look – a needling machine is used for anything with shading similar to a traditional body tattoo
Ombre Brows – Ombre brows are powder brows but lighter in the front and denser toward the ends
What’s Most Important When it Comes to Microbladed Brows?
The most important thing when you are deciding to have your eyebrows done with permanent makeup is to have a realistic brow goal and make sure that you have realistic expectations. Some of that will fall on the permanent makeup artist which is why it’s important to only use someone you have complete trust and confidence in.
It’s important to remember that while this is permanent and a tattoo, the ink does fade over time, and thus touch-up maintenance appointments are needed. Each time you have your brows touched up, the blade strokes increase, and your brows will end up looking like powder brows (a thicker more makeup-like look) because of the multiple touch-ups that will be needed over time.
This ink will fade over time because it’s a plant-based ink, but the good news is that if you are unsatisfied with the results of your permanent makeup brows it can be easily lasered to remove unwanted left-over ink because the ink is designed to have your body break it down over time (about 80% of it)
You should expect fading to take place over 6-18 months, with individuals with oily skin breaking down the ink faster. Touch-ups will be needed every 6-18 months depending on skin type and age.
Initially, you will need two sessions to do your eyebrows, spaced 4-6 weeks apart allowing the patient to come back and have a touch-up and discuss any future shaping and density they would like to accomplish, though most touch-ups are required at the front of the brow because that is where your brows are the most likely to fade and the fastest because that is the oiliest part of your skin. It’s important to be very careful not to do much extra tattooing because you don’t want to over traumatize the skin.
Now, what I was wondering was about color! How do you choose a color for your eyebrows and how does this work for clients with white or graying eyebrows?
It’s always recommended to stay with a brow color close to the color of your natural brows or the color your natural brows once were if you have graying brows. The color is also dependent on the amount of natural hair that you have. If you have gray or white brows and are wondering what your options are, it’s recommended to stay with a color close to your natural brow color, hair color, or the most dominant color other than gray or white in your brows.
What Do You Need to Know About Permanent Makeup for Brows?
Lifestyle – if you live in a hot climate or spend a lot of time outside, this might not be the treatment for you. If you do decide to move forward, plan to schedule treatment for the fall/winter
Your features and current brow shape - While you can re-shape your brows, it’s important to remember you can’t completely change your brow shape and you must understand that realistically there are certain elements that must be adhered to due to your facial structure and features.
You will not be able to get your eyebrows wet for 10 days following both the initial treatment and the follow-up treatment. For days 4-7 of recovery, you may wash your brows once at night with Dial Gold Soap only.
The best way to heal your brows is dry healing so no water is allowed!
You must use the designated ointment for the first 48 hours
No Sun, sauna, or swimming during the healing process
You will have to apply a thick layer of Vaseline/Aquaphor for the first week after treatment so plan accordingly
Do not plan this treatment within 3 weeks of any major life events
Expect scabbing for the first 24-48 hours after treatment
You should also expect lymphatic drainage for the first 48 hours or so and that will have to be delicately blotted away
You should expect your eyebrows to be itchy following treatment
It can take up to 2 weeks to heal following permanent makeup treatment
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO KEEP YOUR BROWS DRY!
Helpful tips and tricks:
The more mature your skin the better candidate you are
When you go in for your consultation bring a visual goal with you
Bring Pictures of other people’s lips and brows to show your artist what you are looking to achieve
Go to your appointment with your makeup done the way you want to look following treatment
After learning all about permanent makeup and all the options, I decided that it wasn’t for me. I know myself and I know how neurotic I get about these things and I think I would make myself crazy! So, while I think permanent makeup is amazing and an incredible option for others, it’s not the right option for me currently. However, I never say never, so maybe in the future!
If after learning more about permanent makeup you think it’s an option for you, I suggest setting up a consultation and meeting with a few different permanent makeup artists to find the right fit for you! In the meantime, I’ll be busy applying my Tattoo lip stains and fill in my brows with Anastasia of Beverly Hills stencil and powders.
Peace, Love, and Permanent Makeup
XX,
Jenna
