“I woke up like this” is a new trend in the beauty industry. Easy, quick and long-term – that is what is trending all across the world right now. If you are tired of smudging your lipstick or eyeliner becoming dark circles under your eyes, Permanent Makeup is the answer for you!
Your interest is natural as permanent makeup comes with many benefits:
- You won’t have to think about putting on makeup ever again
- You will be saving your time, stress and your money in the long run
- Your skin will be able to breathe easier
The idea of permanent makeup originated a long time ago. Throughout history, women have always been interested in cosmetics and makeup. Cleopatra herself found her appreciation for cosmetic tattooing! So you see, it goes way back! However, their technology for permanent makeup wasn’t as advanced as ours and their pigments were very limited. So we can consider ourselves very lucky!
What is Permanent Makeup?
Permanent Makeup (also known as Micropigmentation) is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, that gains rapid popularity among women around the world, who are looking to preserve and enhance their beauty. It’s a safe and natural looking alternative to the everyday makeup routine.
In order to achieve the best results, you will not only need an experienced permanent makeup artist, but also the best digital permanent makeup machine with minimum vibration. The machine should include a pen that uses disposable sterilized needles that aid the permanent makeup artist to safely insert the colour pigments into the dermis layer of the skin. This procedure is very delicate and requires patience and time for the artist to complete. On average, a permanent makeup procedure will take anywhere from 2.5-3 hrs.
Choosing Permanent Makeup Artist
Before making an appointment, make sure you do your own research. There are many so-called “experts” that do not have a lot of experience and could do a lot of damage to your skin and your health. Check permanent artist’s work and see their reviews. If you are happy with what you see, give the artist a call and ask them some questions to see if they truly do know their stuff.
As they say “cheapest is the dearest”, so it is strongly advised not to settle for a cheaper permanent makeup as the result of low quality work can be hard to fix and you can get stuck with a bad permanent makeup for a couple of years. Remember – a great deal, isn’t always great quality! Permanent makeup artists experts have spent lots of time and money to go through professional training and their prices will never be cheap. Good quality permanent makeup will go anywhere from $300-500 depending on the area you are working on.
Is Permanent Makeup Safe?
As you walk in, do take a look at how clean the environment is. This will give you an idea if the place is following the standards and the regulations that are outlined by the Health Canada Department. All the equipment that is used and comes into contact with the skin should be sterile. The machine, the pen, trolley and the light that is being used by the artist should be covered, to avoid cross-contamination. All the other supplies like mask, gloves, q-tips, baby wipes they should only be used once and be disposed of after the procedure! Make sure the artist opens the needle in front of you. This way you are confident enough to know your needle wasn’t tampered with. After the procedure, the needle should be disposed of into the sharps container.
Permanent Makeup Step-By-Step
Consent Form
Before the procedure make sure that you were given a permanent makeup consent form. It is very important for the client to read carefully and sign the form once they understand everything that is stated. If you have questions or unsure about something, go over about it with your permanent makeup artist. One of the most important questions that a permanent makeup artist asks is if you have any health conditions, allergies, or any contraindications that were listed in the consent form. If the client does not disclose all the information correctly, many things can go wrong during and after the procedure. Make sure you fill the consent form to the best ability. After the brief consultation you should feel more at ease and confident for the procedure to be successful!
Before Images
After the consultation, a permanent makeup artist will clean the area that is anticipating the procedure and then the client will have their “Before” photos taken. These are very important as you want to be able to see the difference that was made after the procedure.
Drawing a Shape
Drawing a ShapeWhether it is the eyebrows, eyeliner or the lips, one of the most important steps is drawing an outline. An artist should be very careful and take time to make sure everything is symmetrical and to the clients liking. A good permanent makeup artist will always double check their work and their measurements.
When the drawing is complete the artist should show their work for your approval prior to the procedure. This is the perfect time for the client to tell their artist if they want to have any changes. Do not be afraid to be honest if you want to get a perfect result. Communicate your wishes and concerns freely. Photos of the drawing will be captured as well as this helps the artist to see the transition.
Choosing a Pigment
To prepare a client for the procedure the artist will use a skin marker to mark around the area that is awaiting the procedure. This helps an artist to see an outline and will help to avoid going out of the zone. After the marking, an anesthetic will be applied to the area for a client’s comfort. At this time an artist and a client will be looking at the pigments and choosing the right one for the treatment. For the permanent makeup first-timers, it is easy to pick a perfect pigment. If you are coming for correction, you need to take into consideration pigments tone that was used before. Consult with your permanent makeup artist about proper pigmentation.
Anesthetic
Once the pigment is chosen the artist removes the anesthetic from the skin and begins the procedure. During the procedure, an artist will be constantly wiping the pigment to see how it is going into the skin. It should take no longer than two rounds to see pigment working into the skin successfully.
As the artist is done with the first eyebrow they will apply a second layer of anesthetic and move on to the other eyebrow. Same applies to an eyeliner or lip procedure. The reason behind that is that anesthetic works better on the broken skin. The procedure is not painful but a bit discomforting. Many clients describe it as scratching or for the lip procedure, winded. Anesthetic is reapplied for the client’s comfort as soon as they feel it is wearing off. This also helps the artist to perform the best work without any errors as the client stays still throughout the procedure. The artist will work on all the areas until they feel they have accomplished the right amount of pigment and everything is looking flawless.
Permanent Makeup Aftercare
After the procedure, a permanent makeup artist will take the “After” photos. Afterwards, Polysporin will be applied for the faster healing and the client will be given the aftercare instructions with an ointment to take home that will help them during their healing time.
An artist should mention that it is very important to avoid any UVA/UVB exposure, saunas, pools, gyms and hot showers, as well as trips to any sunny destinations, should be postponed at this point in order to avoid altering the pigment, infection, and inflammation.
Do not use harsh exfoliants, cleansers around the area as this can prolong the healing and alter the final healing results. Just splash water on the area carefully and carefully dab on disposable napkin or wipe. First two times you will continue on applying Polysporin and then will begin with an ointment that was provided to you by your artist.
After Permanent Makeup Procedure
A client should expect to see some swelling and redness which will subside within a few days. Scabs will develop around the 3rd day and should not be picked on as you might damage the pigment. Let the scab come off by itself naturally and your eyebrows, eyeliner and lips will heal properly! The scabs usually stay for about 5-7 days but sometimes can stay on longer which is absolutely normal.
Use the ointment twice a day: in the morning and night until the scabs are fully gone. If you have any questions about the healing process please don’t hesitate to reach out to your artist. For an average healthy individual, the full healing process will take about 28-30 days, as this is how long it takes for the skin to regenerate and heal properly. Please keep in mind that your pigment will be changing throughout this time.
How Long Does Permanent Makeup Last?
After a month you can get a touchup if you want to make any adjustment to the pigment or shape. Otherwise, permanent makeup usually lasts anywhere from 2-3 years after the procedure. Just remember how long the permanent makeup will last will also depend on how you will be taking care of it. So try to avoid any exfoliants at all times around that area and always applying sunscreen. This way you can guarantee your permanent makeup will serve you longer and won’t fade as fast!
