Permanent Cosmetic Makeup is a process where pigments are inserted into the dermal layer of the skin, permanently.
Although techniques may vary, the results are always the same: permanent waterproof color, hassle-free and always fresh!
Benefits
To those individuals who have ......
An active lifestyle
Contact lenses
Visual impairment
Hay fever and watery eyes
Little or no brow hair
Alopecia (absence of hair)
Sparse or light lashes
Difficulty in makeup application
Unsteady or arthritic hands
Scars resulting from accidents, trauma, or surgery
Allergies to conventional cosmetics
A desire to always look their best!
Are Permanent Cosmetics for you? Permanent makeup is the art and science of implanting color into your skin. It is putting the right color in the right place so you can look better naturally, Permanent Cosmetic Makeup is a process where pigments are inserted into
the dermal layer of the skin. Because the outer most layer of skin the epidermis, is shedding and always renewing itself, you are looking at your color through a thin veil of skin. When a procedure is completed, the color will appear darker than the final result. This is because the color is in BOTH the epidermis and the dermis. The color in the top layer
will flake off during the healing process lightening the overall effect,. It is a cosmetic procedure that requires skill,talent and experience. Although everyone's tolerance level is different, most clients agree permanent make-up procedures are far more comfortable than anticipated. New topical anesthetics have been developed especially for permanent makeup eyeliner, eyebrows and lip color procedures. These creams and gels are applied to the desired area
before and during the procedure to assure you of the most comfortable experience possible. A slight tingling may be felt. As the anesthetic wears off after the procedure, cool packs are very soothing to the area. How Long Will It Take To Recover? You'll look like you've had a good cry for several hours following eyeliner. It is advised to apply ice for 15 minutes at a time during the first few hours. Eyebrow procedures have the least swelling. Lip color sometimes involves temporary swelling. Some people choose to take a Benadryl before lip color...if you're not driving, then this is OK. Also, please let your professional know if you have a history of fever blisters so that medication can be prescribed and taken for a full 5 days prior to your appointment date. How Long Will My Makeup Last? Permanent cosmetics las a long time, but not forever. As you become accustomed to your new makeup it is not uncommon to want more. You will want to freshen up your makeup every few years. The darker the color the longer it will stay unchanged in your skin. Natural delicate colors are oftentimes more vulnerable to the effects of the sun, swimming and the breakdown by the body's natural response. How Safe is Cosmetic Tattooing? Very safe, according to the Center for Disease Control, as there has not been any incidence of HIV or Hepatitis B, attributable to cosmetic tattooing in over 6 years. I follow the strictest OSHA guidelines and sanitation. All procedure supplies are disposable and used only once for your safety. Can I Get My Procedure Cheaper? Remember the saying "You get what you pay for." It saves you money and embarrassment to get it done right the first time! Digital application is the most advanced technique in the industry and shows the beauty of evenly distributed color and long lasting results. Will It Really Be Permanent? Technically, permanent cosmetics procedures are considered permanent because the color is implanted into the upper reticular part of the dermal layer of the skin and cannot be washed off. I use inorganic and organic pigments.
You wont see eyeliner that is "tattoo blue" or brows that are off color. I cannot guarantee the exact color that will result in your skin, but it will be a pleasing color. Can I Remove My Permanent Makeup? Because it is easy to add color and difficult to take away, your technician will be conservative in the initial application of your new color. Take advantage of the consultation to discuss your wants and needs. Your cooperation will largely determine the end result of your procedure. Slight changes in shape and color are mostly achievable.
PERMANENT MAKEUP PRE- AND POST-CARE INSTRUCTIONS/ AFTERCARE, PERMANENT MAKEUP PROBLEMS
When scheduling an
appointment date for a permanent makeup procedure, keep in mind the
healing time of the procedure. You will need a few days afterward
without social plans or strenuous activity. You will not look your
best (swelling, oozing, & looks like wet paint) so plan activities
around the house. Plan a shopping trip ahead of time for items you will
need: ointments, straws, napkins for blotting, Q-tips, OTC pain
reliever, prescriptions, a good book or movies. Get ahead on your dirty
work - no lawn mowing or chores that will get dirt/ bacteria on the
healing area. Do not have a procedure right before going on
vacation because 1) you need healing time – you will not look like you
had a makeover at the mall, 2) you may not be able to avoid sun, wind,
or other items listed in post-care instructions, 3) if you had a
question or permanent makeup problem it would be best to be near
your permanent makeup artist and local physician. Do
not wear your good clothes for the procedure because pigment might
splatter on them. Pigment washes out of most clothes, but not your
favorite ones. Wear something comfortable. We have heated throw blankets
if you get cold easily.
Antihistamines like Benedryl
taken before the procedure may reduce swelling and help you relax.
Benedryl also helps eyes not be so watery during eyeliner procedures.
Watery eyes can dilute the pigment that is being implanted. Permanent
eyebrow swelling is mild and barely noticeable. Permanent eyeliner swelling is moderate. Permanent lip color swelling is severe. Arnica Montana and Bromelain may reduce swelling. It
is rare to have a healing problem with permanent makeup eyebrows or
eyeliner. If there is going to be a permanent makeup problem, it will be
with the lips. Two unpleasant lip complications are Candida infections
and hyper-pigmentation. These two permanent makeup problems can fool
permanent makeup artists and doctors, resulting in not getting the best
treatment for the type of problem that it is.
For EYELINER * Do not wear contact lens during the procedure or for 24 hrs after. * Bring sunglasses to wear home. Eyes may be light sensitive. * Do not dye or perm lashes for 2 days prior. * Do not use eyelash curler the day of the procedure. * If
you have had any type of eye surgery, consult with the physician about
how long you should wait before having a permanent eyeliner procedure.
Most physicians are giving a 2 month ok after cataract, lasik, and
blepharoplasty.
For EYEBROWS * Do not tweeze, wax, or dye brows for 2 days prior. * Electrolysis should not be done for a week prior.
For LIPS * If
you get cold sores you will need an antiviral prescription. Physician
usually instructs to begin taking it 3 days before procedure, for a 7-10
day course. * If
you have had any type of lip surgery, consult with the physician about
how long you should wait before having a permanent makeup procedure on
the lips. Most physicians are giving a 3 week ok after lip
filler injections like collagen or Restylane. Permanent makeup artists
have noticed poor color retention in lips that have received collagen
injections within the previous 6 months, longer for restylane. There has
even been a little pigment migration along lip edges with Restylane. It
may be best not to have lip filler injections and permanent lip
color within the same year. If the lip surgery involves an incision
(like a lip implant), the incision needs to mature about 6 months before
tattooing on top of it. * Oral
prosthesis dentures/ partials/ braces and tongue piercing bars may
increase risk of getting bacterial and/or fungal infection from the
mouth to the lips. Frequent or recent sinus infection puts lips at risk
of infection. Denture wearers generally carry a higher candida/ yeast
count. Cutaneous candidiasis/ candidosis is more common in older women
(angular stomatitis - perlèche, angular cheilitis). Recent antiobiotic
therapy can be responsible for a high candida count. Steroid medications
and antacid drugs can allow candida to overpopulate. Smokers tend to
have a high count also. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it
isn’t there. The bacteria-yeast
balance in the mouth can get out of whack, and the oral saliva will get
in the holes made by tattooing lips. Lips can get infected easily.
Bacterial infections clear up more quickly than Candida Albicans
infections. It is possible to have
a co-infection when both bacteria and fungus are involved. It is
possible to get a candida infection right after clearing up a bacterial
infection. More lip infection information will be on the lips special
problems page.
Post-procedure Instructions
GENERAL PERMANENT MAKEUP POST-PROCEDURE AFTER-CARE INSTRUCTIONS Cold
packs have not shown to make a noticeable difference in reducing
permanent makeup swelling, but they feel good on the skin and are a
comfort measure. Cooling a skin wound is beneficial; freezing it is not.
Using refrigerator
temperature cold packs is safer for damaged dermis than freezer
temperature cold packs. The traumatized tissue is already in a delicate
condition and can get frost damage. Slight cooling of the skin a few
times after a permanent makeup procedure can be done by applying wet tea
bags, cloths, or gel compresses that were placed in the refrigerator
(not freezer) in a ziplock bag. If you like to use bags of frozen peas,
place a wet washcloth between your skin and the bag. Clients that leave
it alone and let nature take its course heal better than the ones that
frantically try to help the process. Cold packs are contraindicated for
anyone with poor skin circulation, Raynaud’s, cold allergy/ cold
urticaria, and other skin/ vascular/ blood disorders that react to cold
temperatures.
Inappropriate/overuse use of ice packs on fragile facial skin may cause cryotherapy complications.
The freezing can cause ice crystals to form in the skin cells and
damage them. Additional swelling can rush in after removal of the ice
pack as skin warms. In short, your efforts to reduce swelling with
repeat freeze-warm cycles can have the opposite effect and increase
swelling.
The ice pack initiates primary constriction of blood vessels, then in
response, vessels dilate and the area swells (reactive hyperemia of skin
microcirculation). Oxygen is needed to heal wounds. Prolonged
application of extreme cold reduces the blood flow that brings oxygen to
the skin cells and may cause wound hypoxia and acidosis. A certain
amount of skin perfusion pressure (SPP) is needed to maintain
transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) for healing. Hypothermia
increases risk of infection by reducing tissue oxygenation in
hypoperfused tissues. Oxidative killing by neutrophils is a defense
against pathogens, and rate of bacterial killing depends on sufficient
tissue oxygenation.
* A
permanent makeup procedure is the equivalent of a skin-deep wound -
like a scratch you might get around the house. Expect it to ooze a
little, scab a little, and heal in a similar time frame. * May cool
the skin a few times after permanent makeup procedure with cold pack
(or wet and chill chamomile tea bags) for 10 min. every couple of hours
the first day. Don’t overdo it. May switch to warm moist pack (or tea
bags) after the second day. * Keep moist with healing ointment at all times while outer healing occurs (3-5 days eyes, 7-10 days lips). Recommendation: GenTeal PM Ointment, Shoshanna EDEN SALVE, and Dr Dan's CORTIBALM lip balm. GenTeal
PM makes a great healing ointment after permanent eyeliner because it
is ophthalmic / safe for eyes - you can also put some of it in your eyes
if they feel dry and irritated. GenTeal is preservative free. Sometimes
it is the preservative in a product that people are allergic to. Make
sure the box says PM because the other GenTeal formulas
are not thick enough to use as a vaseline. Use healing ointment
continuously throughout the day until outer healing is complete. Apply
antibiotic ointment twice a day for 2-3 days. The antibiotic ointment is
more likely to cause a red itchy reaction with prolonged or continuous
use. The antibiotic ointment can be whichever brand you like to use at
home (bacitracin, polysporin etc). You may use your
favorite moisturizers, serums, or healing ointments that have vitamins
in it. Clients do best with water soluble or non comedogenic / pore
clogging products that let the skin breathe - especially for the
prolonged use of ointment for lip tattoo. If a product stings or burns
when you apply it do not use it. * Notify
permanent makeup artist or physician at first sign of allergic reaction
or infection. If you suspect a problem is developing, the first thing
to do is switch the type of ointment you are using. The ointment is
often causing the problem. An occasional slight healing itch is normal.
Constant intense itching, abnormal thick yellow discharge,
yellow crust, hot burning pain, lumps, bumps, and blisters are not
normal. * Avoid
strenuous activity for 2 days. Increased blood pressure and dilated
blood vessels increases swelling and oozing. Also, sweat running into a
wound stings. * No Scrubbing. Do not rub, wipe, or scratch area. Use patting motions only. * Keep
area clean. Blot or rinse off oozing. Soap/ cleansers may be used as
long as they are not alcohol based and do not have anti-aging acids or
acne acids in it. Some cleansing chemicals might burn or bleach. If you
wouldn’t use a product on any other type of injury, don’t use it on the
healing permanent makeup. Rinse and pat dry.
* Do
not expose the area to full pressure of the shower. You don’t want the
water to beat on it, but water will not erase the tattoo despite the
myths being told. Not keeping it clean sets it up for infection. Germs
love the extra warmth generated by inflamed tissue, and they like the
moistness provided by the oozing and ointment. Germs will be breeding in
it. Clean it and keep ointment on it. Scabs that dry out take longer to
heal off.
* Do
not smash your face in a pillow while sleeping, especially the first
couple of days. The skin is drilled full of holes and can tear or kink.
The compressed tissue does not get adequate flow of blood and oxygen.
The dependent side swells more, can ooze more, and have more color loss.
* Do not peel or pick at crust, this could cause pigment loss, scarring, and delayed healing. * Do
not expose to sun or tanning bed while outer healing progresses. Use of
sunblock after healing is completed will help prevent premature fading. * Do not swim in fresh, salt, or chlorinated water for 2 weeks. * Avoid environments that would cause dirt or germs to contact area while healing. * Do not apply topical cosmetics over area while healing. * Ibuprofen or your favorite pain reliever may be used to reduce swelling and discomfort. * Final
healed result is at about 1 month. If a touchup is needed, it is not
done any sooner than 1 month after the first procedure. Performing a
touchup too early could cause scarring. Some colors (especially eyebrow
colors) take that long or longer to see how they are going to settle in
and look. Brows may need
additional fill-in strokes. Eyeliner should not need a touchup. * Many
anti-aging products and services containing acids, lighteners, and
exfoliates cause premature fading of pigment. Avoid pigmented area. Stay
about 1/4 inch away from permanent makeup. * Do
not use laser hair removal or foto-facial too close to pigmented area
to avoid an accidental hit. Most laser operators know how protect a
permanent makeup tattoo from the light by placing a tongue blade
perpendicular/ 90° right angle against the edge of the brow or lip.
Specifics For EYELINER
* Do not wear contact lenses during the procedure or for 24 hours after. * Have
sunglasses available. Eyes may be light sensitive or even dilated
immediately after. The sunglasses are also handy for hiding puffy eyes. * Do not dye, perm, or use eyelash curler for 2 weeks. * Do
not use mascara until outer healing is complete (3-5 days). Most
clients are returning to work in 2 days and are noncompliant about this,
so at least begin with a new tube of mascara due to risk of bacterial
presence in used tubes. Stay a little farther out on the lashes, not too
close to the liner. Remove with vaseline or baby oil without rubbing it
into the liner. * Eyes will be swollen for a few days. Eyes may feel dry or irritated. Lubricating refresher drops may be used.
Specifics For EYEBROWS
* Do
not dye, wax, tweeze, or use electrolysis for 2 weeks in the cosmetic
tattoo area. You can tweeze outside / around the permanent makeup.
* It
can take a little time for the eyebrow tattoo to soften up, and to see
how the color is going to do. After the skin is healed over you can put
brow powder on it to mask it while waiting. Many women buy eyeshadow to
use as brow powder because there are more tones available. Just make
sure it is matte and doesn’t have sparkles in it.
Specifics For LIPS
* Lips
will ooze a couple of days. Blot and reapply ointment. After sleeping,
crust will have dried on the lips. Rinse with water or put more ointment
on to loosen crust, blot and reapply ointment. Most tissues like the
ones you blow your nose with will leave lint on the lips. Use something
stronger and lint-free like Bounty hand towels. A soaking wet cloth
feels good to blot with. * Lips will be tender at first. Drink through a straw. Choose foods you can place in your mouth with a fork without touching lips. * Place an old towel on the pillow you will sleep on until the oozing stops so you won’t ruin good pillowcases or pillows. * Do
not excessively stretch lips while they are healing with big smiles, or
pucker lips with smoking. Those motions push and pull against the lip
edges, applying tension and friction between the strong normal skin
surrounding the mouth and the broken inflamed lip edges. Lip skin is a
continuation of the delicate mucous membrane in the mouth. It is not
strong like normal skin. * On
the third day, lips stop oozing and start peeling. This is when the
chapped lip feeling is strongest. You may relieve the chapped lip
feeling by lightly massaging the lips after placing a thick layer of
ointment on them and making gentle circular motions with one finger. The
light, wet massage helps get loose skin off that is ready to come off
without yanking out skin that is not ready to come off. The massage
relieves the chapped feeling for several hours, then it returns, and you
can massage again. * Lips
will peel for a week. Other than the massage mentioned above, allow it
to flake off on its own. Picking and pulling off skin that is not ready
to come off will cause pigment loss and can pull out deeper tissue. The
edges or lip liner will be the last to fall off. Pulling this off will
result in an uneven splotchy line or an indented scar (like messing with
a pimple). * Try to keep toothpaste off lips while healing. * Do not have teeth bleached while healing. * During
the peeling process it may look like there is not much color there.
Color is more apparent by the second week. Final result is not judged
for 2 months. * It
is normal to have discomfort or a feeling of pressure the day of the
lip procedure. The next day should be minimal. If you begin having pain
on the 3rd or 4th day after being pain-free, it is a signal that
something is wrong. It is usually one of three things: 1) Infection, 2)
Cold sore, or 3) Allergic contact dermatitis from antibiotic ointment.
Switch ointments to rule out that as the cause, and consider a culture
to determine bacterial vs yeast infection. We
take cultures at our office. We offer consultation and culture
collection for anyone who has had permanent makeup procedures elsewhere
and is having a healing problem. The lab will send a bill for their
services if health insurance does not cover the expense. * Lip
infections after permanent makeup procedures are usually described as
burning pain. Bacterial lip infections have a yellow gooey discharge,
but begin peeling as expected on day three. Candidal lip infections do
not begin peeling on time as would be expected with healthy healing lips
(possibly due to candida adhesion properties), and may have a velvety
appearance. Candida lip infections have one or more of the following
depending on the strain or severity of the infection: cracking and
bleeding – more likely near the corners, itching or tingling, whitish
bumps/ nodules/ blisters/ pustules – more likely along the edges of the
lips. Fungi concentration has been more prominent on the periphery of
healing lips where they do the most damage causing blisters, scarring,
or tightness. The tightness may relax in time but can take months to
years. * Lip
skin yeast cultures taken before the lips heal over usually return
positive results in individuals fitting yeast symptoms. Lip skin yeast
cultures taken after the lips heal over may return false negative
results. Being past the point of reliable results for skin swab culture,
a person might need to speak with a dermatologist about a biopsy for
diagnosis. Candida strains have a tricky ‘switching’ ability to change phenotype and display various colonial morphology and
physiological properties to invade and survive in various environments/
tissue types or body areas, which might account for some of the false
negative testing results. Candida should be given the last name
chameleon.
Candida antibiotics started early (within the first week) clear up lip
infections well. Delayed therapy can allow the organism to penetrate
deeper tissues, and the person may experience a lengthy spell of sore
lips, and be able to feel knots deep in the lip tissue. * Much information is available online about Candida yeast infections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Books on the subject can found at Amazon.com using search words like
yeast, candida, and fungi. They have significant discounts on used
books. The
worst of the permanent makeup problems happen with the lips. The
candida yeast fungal lip infection is a frustrating problem. Often,
Candida is not suspected as being the culprit of the lip problem because
obvious yeast signs are not visible. Nursing mothers who have developed
breast yeast infections know that you don’t have to be able to see it,
but it is there. Some of the breast yeast treatments are also beneficial for lips and facial skin around the mouth (APNO
ointment, Gentian Violet in glycerine, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Olive
Leaf Extract oil). * After
the lips are healed over and all is well, they still feel more chapped
than normal. The chapped feeling subsides over a period of weeks to
months. Certain lip balms create the problem. Do not use anything made
for cold sores or blisters (carmex, blistex) because although they
initially feel moisturizing, they turn around and dry the lips out. Some
do more damage than that, especially if applied on broken lip tissue
during the healing process. Applying vitamin E will usually help.
Eyeborws $200
Anyone who desires fullness or definition to their eyebrows will benefit from permanent eyebrows.
From a few strokes to fill small areas to total brow recreation, your technician can give you the
freedom of never using an eyebrow pencil again.
Eyeliner (top+bottom) $200
(top or bottom) $150
From a soft, natural-looking enhancement to a more defined line - the choice is yours!
Permanent eyeliner can be applied in many styles and colors. Whatever look you choose, you will wake up,
shower, exercise, work, swim, and go to bed always looking your best.
Lips liner $250
Lip liner can be applied to give more definition, correct uneven lips, or add fullness to the mouth.
The procedure also helps prevent lipstick from bleeding and can minimize the appearance of wrinkles.
Or forget the lipstick altogether and add full lip color!
Full lips $350
Full lip color can be applied in a natural hue or a more vivid one. Wear it alone or apply different
shades of lipstick over your permanent lip color - you will find that the color lasts all day. Beauty Mark $50