Your Top Most Asked Questions Regarding Permanent Makeup!

What Exactly Is Permanent Makeup?

Permanent Makeup or Cosmetic Tattooing refers to the pigment implantation into the upper layer of the dermis. Pigment can be implanted with machine or non-machine tools. Popular areas of permanent makeup are Brows, Eyes, Lips, Scalp, Areolas and Scar Camouflage.

Is It Really Permanent?

Permanent cosmetic procedures are considered permanent because pigment is tattooed into the upper part of the dermal layer of the skin and cannot be washed off. However, as with any tattoo or colorant (pigment) in general, fading can and often does occur, requiring periodic maintenance referred to as color re-enhancement or color refreshing. How often you need touch ups will be based on technique, area tattooed, aftercare and clients health.

What Is Microblading?

Microblading also falls into the permanent makeup category. Microblading has had a lot more media attention in recent years but has actually been around for much longer and has had names such as “feathering”, “hair strokes”, “eyebrow embroidery”. Some are promoting microblading or eyebrow embroidery as a semi-permanent process; and that the color only reaches the epidermal (outer) layer of the skin. By definition and tattoo industry standards, color is tattooed/implanted into the dermis of the skin. If pigment particles do not reach the dermis, they will disappear during the healing phase of the skin. Pigments fade in the skin over time, but that does not make the process semi-permanent. It is impossible to predict how much pigment will fade away and how long it will take to do so.

Is Permanent Makeup Painful?

Will it hurt? Is our most commonly asked question! We always answer, Yes and No. We don't advertise these services as a relaxing appointment. There will be discomfort. We try our utmost best to make sure you are not in actual pain but soreness and discomfort is common. We use a variety of techniques and anesthetics to keep your comfortable but your personal pain tolerance and lifestyle will also play a factor.

Is Permanent Makeup Safe?

If proper sterilization and disinfection guidelines are met, permanent cosmetics should be completely safe. However there are more and more cases of artists ignoring these guidelines and clients developing infections or permanent damage. We have made a list of basic best practices an artist should have visible:

1. All Needles should be new and sterile for each client. Unopened new and sterile needles should be opened in your presence. If you are unsure or skeptical, ask for them to open new needles in front of you.

2. Disposable sterilized one-time use machine parts or tools should be purchased by the artist, and disposed of in a sharps container immediately after the procedure has been completed. Sharps container should be in clear view and will usually be yellow or red and clearly marked. This also includes disposable coverings, you should clearly see that all coverings are fresh and disposable.

3. Personal protection equipment such as disposable one-time use aprons and gloves should be new for each client and changed during the procedure when needed. Artist should not be touching anything that doesn't have a barrier film protecting the surface, including phones. Artist should also not be reusing gloves during the procedure. Your artist should be presenting themselves as neat and clean.

If at any point you feel unsure please ask your technician or refuse the service. It is better to be safe than develop complications.

I Got My Eyebrows Done And Now I Hate Them!

This reaction can be immediately after the procedure or somewhere down the line after they have healed. It is very unfortunate when this happens. Your consultation is the first step to making sure you are getting exactly what you are looking for. We recommend our clients bring reference photos and come with their eyebrows done so we have a better understanding. Things to look out for:

1. If you cannot communicate with your technician, it is possible your desires will not be realized.

2. If your technician recognizes your requests, but does not take your desires for color or design into account, you should not proceed with the procedure.

3. Most well-trained technicians will not perform a procedure if the design and/or color requested by the client is not reasonable. If your requests are turned down by one or more technicians, re-think what you are asking for.

Permanent cosmetics are not easily removed. Make good decisions up front. You can enjoy the liberation permanent cosmetics provides when you do your research and choose a qualified professional that you work well with. It is very easy to see a look on social media that suits one person but may not work well with your features.

There is a healing process that your fresh tattoo needs to go through in order to achieve the desired effect. In some cases fresh tattoos will have a different color than the healed color, this is sometimes done to counteract fading. Fresh tattoos also look alot darker than when they are healed. Your artist should check in with you 8 weeks after the first procedure to assess future steps.

HOWEVER! There are times where it seemed that you and the artist were on the same page and once you looked in the mirror they were completely different than your agreed pre-drawing. Please notify your artist immediately! Sometimes having a consultation with another experienced artist is beneficial to see your course of action. If you have noticed that your color has shifted or faded, depending on the intensity we are able to colour correct to neutralize any unwanted tones. Please book a consultation to further discuss your options.

Don’t see your question on the list? Email us and we will add it!