Aftercare Instructions:
First 7-10 Days:
Wash your face morning and night to remove bacteria and dead skin. Don't worry; this won't remove the pigment.
Wash your hands, then gently cleanse the tattooed area with water and a fragrance-free cleanser. If I didn’t provide you with a cleanser, please use something gentle like Cetaphil, CeraVe, or Neutrogena. Use your fingertips with a very light touch, and rinse thoroughly with water. Pat dry with a soft paper towel or tissue; avoid abrasive washcloths or sponges.
DO NOT rub, pick, or scratch the treated area. Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate off to prevent scarring and pigment loss.
First 2 Weeks:
DO NOT sleep on your face or brows and keep bangs and hair pulled back.
DO NOT sweat, including gym sessions or hot weather, as sweat can expel pigment and affect results.
DO NOT use makeup or skincare products on the treated area.
After 10 days, use sunblock when going out to protect the color from fading.
Weeks 2-4:
Completely avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds, as sunlight can change the pigment color and cause hyperpigmentation and scarring.
DO NOT use pools, saunas, steam rooms, hot showers, and baths.
DO NOT get facials, chemical treatments, and microdermabrasion.
DO NOT get botox injections, as it's best to wait until after your touch-up to ensure optimal results.
DO NOT use Retin-A, Retinol, AHA, or chemical peels near the tattooed area once healed.
Understanding the Healing Process of Permanent Makeup
The healing journey for both brow and eyeliner tattoos typically spans 4-6 weeks and progresses through several key stages:
Immediate Post-Treatment: Right after the procedure, brows or eyeliner may appear bold and may have varying degrees of redness. They may feel tender and look uneven initially. Keep the area clean and dry—avoid touching your eyebrows or eyeliner.
Day 1-3: Inflammatory Stage During this stage, your treated area will be red, swollen, and tender. You may also experience some mild bleeding or oozing. This is a normal response to the trauma caused by the tattooing process, and it should subside within a few days.
Day 4-6: Scabbing Stage As your skin begins to heal, it will form scabs over the tattooed area. It's crucial not to scratch or pick at these scabs, as doing so can cause the ink to fade or become patchy. The scabs may feel itchy, but resist the urge to touch them. As your scabs start naturally exfoliating you may enter the “Ghosting Stage”. More on that ahead.
Day 7-10: Peeling Stage The scabs will begin to peel off naturally, revealing a lighter, faded version of the tattoo underneath. This peeling is a normal part of the healing process. Once your peeling is complete, you may return to your normal makeup and skincare routine. However, it is not yet time to resume using botox, Retin-A, Retinol, AHA, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion.
Day 11-14: Itching Stage As healing progresses, you may experience mild itching or a tingling sensation. This is a sign that your skin is healing, but refrain from scratching or rubbing the area to prevent any disruption to the healing process.
Day 15-28: Final Healing Stage By the fourth week, the scabs should have completely fallen off, and the skin should have healed. However, the ink may still appear patchy or faded, as the skin continues to renew itself. During this stage, avoid exposing your eyebrows or eyeliner to sunlight, swimming pools, or saunas, as these can affect the final outcome of the pigmentation.
Day 29-40: Color Development Over the next few weeks, up to 6 weeks post-procedure, the color of your brows or eyeliner will continue to develop and intensify as your skin heals, regenerates, and naturally exfoliates. Initially, they may appear very light, but this is normal as the pigment settles into the skin.
Day 40: At this stage, the color of your brows or eyeliner should be fully developed, and any initial redness should be gone. Your permanent makeup has fully healed—enjoy your new look! Some clients may desire a second session to make any necessary adjustments to perfect their desired look. Now is the appropriate timing for a Refinement Session.
Ghosting Stage
The journey to achieving perfect permanent brows and eyeliner involves several stages, including the challenging "ghosting period." This phase, often leading to a moment of concern for many clients, plays a crucial role in the healing process, shaping the final look of your brows and eyeliner. During the ghosting period, it might seem like the pigment has faded or disappeared completely. This usually happens after the initial stages of healing, like scabbing and peeling. But don’t worry, it’s a normal part of the process.
Ghosting happens because your skin is naturally healing. As new layers of skin form, they can temporarily cover the pigment, making it look lighter or even ghost-like. Skin regeneration can cause the top layer of color to shed unevenly, making the brows appear spotty and uneven. Additionally, the skin may absorb some of the pigment, causing the color to appear lighter. Healing skin is thicker than normal skin, which can further mask the color. This temporary stage is a sign that your skin is healing properly.
The key here is patience: the pigment will come back as your skin continues to heal, and around 4-6 weeks your permanent brows and eyeliner will be fully healed, showing their true color and density. So hang in there; your beautiful results are on the way!
6 week to 3 Month Refinement Session
I strongly advise prospective new clients to book their permanent brow or eyeliner appointments at least 3-4 months in advance of vacations, weddings, and special occasions. This allows adequate time for the healing of both your initial session and a refinement session 6 weeks to 3 months later.
Your dream eyeliner or brows may require more than one session to achieve your desired look. Achieving perfect brows and eyeliner can be a multi-step process, and may require more than one session to achieve your desired density and shape. Please keep this in mind as you plan your appointment. Your satisfaction is my priority, and I'm here to help you every step of the way!
A refinement session, available for $100, is a recommended option to further enhance the density and shape, ensuring your brows or eyeliner meet your desired look. My initial service is competitively priced to allow a refinement session, if needed, to be affordable. Eyeliner $250. Brows: $300.
Sun Protection
When it comes to permanent brows and eyeliner, whether they're blonde, red, brown, or black, they're made up of four main pigments: black, white, red, and yellow. Of these, red and yellow can fade faster when exposed to the sun. Prolonged sun exposure can alter and damage the color of your permanent makeup. Remember how the sun used to lighten or highlight your hair when you were younger? That can happen to your permanent makeup too. To preserve the pigmentation of your permanent makeup (this also applies to body art tattoos), always protect your investment with moisturizer containing SPF or use sunscreen with at least SPF 30-50 for extended sun exposure.
Questions?
Feel free to TEXT me anytime if you have any questions or concerns about aftercare at 865.224.6688.