Permanent makeup is a great way to save time on your morning routine and leave a few minutes for yourself. It can serve as a complete substitute for your daytime makeup. Permanent makeup, shortened to just PM, is a great way to emphasize advantages and hide disadvantages on your face. We collected the most important information about the peculiarities of the procedure and care after PM.
What is it?
Permanent makeup is a cosmetic procedure in which an artist puts pigments into the upper layers of the skin. It is done with a pen-shaped device with disposable needles. PM replaces traditional daytime makeup, helps hide blemishes (scars), and makes camouflage (hiding dark circles under the eyes or hyperpigmentation of the skin, vitiligo).
Iryna Syrovatska – a top makeup artist at Solea Brickell Spa.
- She has five years of experience in permanent makeup
- She is an artist of the international level, winner of the World and European Championships for Eyebrow Shaping & Tinting
- She constantly improves her skills and takes advanced training courses.
«You are safe in my hands! I’m ready to help and answer any questions about permanent makeup.»
Pros and cons
- You do not have to waste time on eye makeup every day. It is enough to just touch up your eyelashes.
- It will make you feel confident in all conditions. Heat or rain won’t ruin your makeup. This gives you confidence because you will look great with PM under any circumstances.
- How long does it last? It depends on the composition of a pigment (mineral or organic), as well as individual skin properties. If you correct it, refresh or adjust the color on time, PM will last a long time. If you compare the price of buying cosmetics and the time it takes to apply them, PM is much more advantageous.
PM does not have too many disadvantages:
- You can see the final result immediately. The color may look very intense right after the procedure. The shade will get lighter after a week. All skin layers will heal, and the color will look as expected within a month.
- You have to undergo a special procedure to change the shape of PM. PM is removed with a special remover, which, like the pigment, is injected into the upper layers of the dermis (or it can be removed with a laser).
Schedule an appointment to get PM from the artist at Solea Brickell Spa. We take great care to disinfect and sterilize our tools. You’re sure to get a custom sketch or additional spa treatments.
Indications
Permanent makeup can correct flaws of your appearance.
- Eyebrows. Once thin eyebrows were in vogue. But constant plucking could damage their natural shape. There are also diseases that affect hair growth, such as alopecia. With PM, you can correct the shape or draw eyebrows that look natural.
- Lips. The corners of the lips go low with age, and their shape can also become asymmetrical. A PM artist can smooth out the shape, make the contour more expressive, and switch the emphasis from flaws to advantages.
- Eyes. You can visually raise the outer drooping corners of the eyes with eyeliners. PM of the space between eyelashes is suitable even in complicated cases. It will make your eyelashes look thicker.
Contraindications
Relative contraindications
- Pregnancy and lactation (pigments can wear off faster). Client responsibility.
- Elevated blood pressure (may cause bleeding).
- Allergic reaction to anesthetics.
- Rashes on the skin (CANNOT be done if it is in the PM area!!!)
- Menstruation.
- Treatment with antibiotics and hormonal birth control – the result can be unpredictable (client responsibility).
Absolute restriction
- Diabetes mellitus (insulin-dependent form may cause difficult healing of wounded surfaces).
- Infections, viruses, fever.
- Poor blood clotting.
- HIV, AIDS, hepatitis.
- Malignant neoplasms, psoriasis, tumors (in the PM area).
- Oncological diseases (possible only with the doctor’s permission and only in the remission stage of the disease).
Types and techniques of permanent makeup
The artist uses different techniques:
- Eyes
- Eyeliners. Imitates traditional eyeliners. Depending on the shape of the eyelid, as well as the desire of the client, the artist can make eyeliners of different length, width, and color.
- Shading. PM looks like Smoky eyes. The work is performed only on the upper eyelid. The pigment is distributed topically, creating a gradient from a minimal shadow to a dense fill of color.
- Between the eyelashes. The pigment is injected into the space between the lashes. Thanks to this, you can forget about the eye pencil.
- Eyebrows
- Hair technique. The pigment is applied in strokes, which look like natural hairs. The pigment is matched to the natural color of the hair (or as desired).
- Powder coating. The pigment is applied topically, the final result looks like it was applied by eye-shadow stick or pencil.
- Mixed technique. Both techniques are used simultaneously. By filling the space between the hairs, the eyebrows look thicker and more voluminous.
- Lips
- Lipstick. The pigment fills the lips and overlaps the natural color.
- Watercolor. A transparent coating that allows seeing the natural color of the lips.
- Ombre. A gradient from light to dark is created with pigments of different shades. It makes your lips look more voluminous.
- Trichopigmentation
The pigment is applied topically, which makes it look like short shaved hair. This technique is used to mask hair loss.
Recommendations before the procedure
It is better to make an appointment with the artist if you are not sure exactly whether you want or are ready for the procedure. Think in advance about the shape, color, and width of permanent makeup you would like to get! Bring your favorite lipstick, pencil, and eye shadow to the appointment. It’s better to come with makeup to see exactly how you’d like to see yourself after PM.
- Do not drink alcohol in large quantities the day before the visit.
- Before visiting, it is important to familiarize yourself with all the contraindications, the process of healing, and the engraftment of pigment (the artist will help you with this).
- It is not allowed to do cleansing, peeling, or any traumatic procedures or injections 10 days before the procedure.
- Do not drink coffee, tea, or energy drinks 2 hours before the procedure.
- If you wear contact lenses, be sure to take a container for them to the procedure.
- The result lasts from 8 to 24 months (gradually getting lighter), and, taking into account the structure of the skin, the pigment in different areas may last differently and have different color saturation.
- The first correction should be done 30–45 days after the initial procedure (maximum 3 months). In some cases, additional correction is required.
- Be sure to notify the artist before your appointment if you are sick. Get well, and then come back for the procedure!
- Try not to be late. We recommend coming early!
- DO NOT COME: under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with a hangover!
- DO NOT bring your PETS!
- DO NOT BRING DRINKS or FOOD!
Permanent makeup stages
The artist needs to understand what kind of result the client wants to see. Therefore, the work takes place in several stages but still in one day:
- Conversation with the artist
In the beginning, it is important to choose the color of the pigment, as well as the shape of PM. The client can ask all the questions and tell what flaws need to be covered during the consultation. The artist will tell you how the skin will heal and how to take care of it. - Preparing a sketch
The artist draws a marking on the skin with a special pencil or pen. Sketching depends entirely on the shape of the client’s face and is completely individual. NO templates! After the first sketch is done, the client determines whether they like it or not. At this stage, you can still make adjustments, change the shape and choose a color. - Preparation
At this stage, the artist prepares the equipment for work. It must be stored in a strong envelope: after each use, it must go through several stages of disinfecting. Needles are single-use tools. Also at this stage, the artist prepares the pigment, making an individual mix if necessary. - Anesthesia
Since nerve endings react during the procedure, we can apply an anesthetic cream beforehand. It is applied in a thin layer with a special brush inside the borders of the sketch, then we leave it for 10–15 minutes so that it starts to work. The second time an anesthesia solution is applied to the damaged skin during the work. - Applying a pigment
It is important to trust the artist and relax. During the procedure, the client lies on the couch, and it is possible to put a roller under the back and neck for convenience. - Correction
This is a separate procedure, which can be done 30–45 days later but no later than 3 months after the main PM. The pigment may partially wear off during skin recovery. The artist additionally injects a pigment to remove all the shortcomings during the correction. It takes 1.5 hours.
Materials
Pigments can be organic and inorganic. Both have their pros and cons. For example, organic pigments have bright colors. They stay on the skin for a long time and look bright. It will be hard to change the color or shape without removing organic pigments in the future.
Inorganic (mineral) pigments are based on minerals. They are less resistant, which allows you to easily change color or shape over time (in 1.5–2 years).
Micropigmentation materials
We use Swiss Color® pigments for all permanent makeup techniques:
- Conforming to the new production regulations in Europe
- REACH-certified
- Maintaining color up to 80% after the first application
- Safe and hypoallergenic.
Care
The first day
Rinse the permanent makeup area with clean, warm water (room temperature). You can wash with a light soapy solution, then rinse with water. You must dry it with a clean paper towel.
Important
Be sure to wipe your face with a clean cotton pad. This is necessary to remove the lymph that is secreted when the skin heals. The better you flush the area from the lymph, the fewer crusts will form and healing will be quicker.
The second day
Do not wet your eyebrows or peel off the crusts so as not to damage the pigment or introduce an infection. A dry healing regime begins for the eyebrows and eyes on the second day.
Helpful tips
You can apply aloe vera gel or cream the artist will give you to avoid dryness. Vaseline or moisturizing cream should always be applied to the lips (do not let them dry out). Eyes should not be touched until they are completely healed.
Hygiene standards after permanent makeup:
- Avoid bright sun (wear a cap, hat, or visor)
- Avoid extreme heat or exposure to moisture and sweat
- Avoid dust (wash and dry the permanent makeup area regularly during the first 24 hours)
- Do not wear decorative makeup until it has healed completely
- Do not apply any healing ointments or creams
- Avoid spicy foods, smoking, alcohol for a few days.
FAQ
IS THIS PROCEDURE SAFE?
Yes, it is. It is important to follow all the recommendations of the artist to avoid getting an infection. The procedure itself does not affect the deep layers of the skin, the pigments very rarely cause allergies.
DOES PM HURT?
You can definitely feel it, but it does not hurt. The area to be treated is anesthetized in two ways (primary and/or secondary anesthesia) during the work. Also, thin needles that do not damage the skin too much are used for the work.
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
The artist can advise you to use a cream with vitamin E, and it is better to use the cream carefully: no more than twice a day, only a thin layer. There are no special products for permanent makeup aftercare.
IS THERE ANY SPECIAL CARE AFTER PM?
On average, the procedure takes 2.5 to 3 hours: from preparation to pigment application. Correction takes 1-1.5 hours, because there is no need to redraw the sketch, choose the pigment.
DOES INSURANCE COVER PM?
Unfortunately, no, it does not. Permanent makeup is a cosmetic procedure, not a medical one.
HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT OF PM LAST?
The effect lasts from one to three years. Persistence in the skin depends on several factors:
- The stronger the immune system, the faster the pigment wears off.
- The pigment lasts longer on thin and dry skin than on oily and dense skin.
- PM holds up better on older clients because all regeneration processes slow down with age.
- Light pigments wear off faster than dark.
- The pigments break down faster due to ultraviolet light.