Permanent Makeup FAQ’s

Are you curious about permanent makeup? You’re not alone.

Permanent makeup, also called makeup tattoo, cosmetic tattooing, semi permanent makeup, or micropigmentation, enhances your look while simplifying your daily routine.

Making decisions about permanent makeup can raise questions. Our Q&A section is here to give you clear, straightforward answers and help you make informed choices. From understanding the procedure to aftercare, we cover everything you need to know.

Permanent makeup, is a form of tattoo and involves implanting pigment into the skin. It can enhance eyebrows, lips or draw an eyeliner on your eyelids. Unlike traditional makeup, which is applied and removed daily, permanent makeup offers long-lasting results, often lasting several years with periodic touch-ups.

Differences Between Permanent and Traditional Makeup

Traditional makeup requires daily application, while permanent makeup remains intact for years, gradually fading over time.

Permanent makeup saves time by eliminating the need for daily makeup routine. It’s ideal if you have a busy schedule or active lifestyle, as it stays in place regardless of sweat, water, or weather.

Unlike traditional makeup that can smudge or wear off, permanent makeup stays put through workouts, swimming, or rainy days.

Permanent makeup can address cosmetic concerns like sparse eyebrows, scars, or asymmetrical features, offering a confidence boost.

What you need to consider

While long-lasting, permanent makeup does fade over time. 12-24 month touch-ups may be needed to maintain its fresh look.

It’s important to select a technician who can tailor the procedure to your needs and ensure a safe treatment.

Semi permanent makeup can be a convenient and long-lasting. However, it’s not suitable for everyone.

Who Should Avoid Permanent Makeup?

Getting permanent makeup during pregnancy or breastfeeding is contraindicated.

People with medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, blood clotting issues, or undergoing chemotherapy – should consult their doctor first. Also certain medications like blood thinners or anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated.

If you scar easily (keloids or hypertrophic scars), you are not a good candidate for PMU. If you have very oily skin, you may experience challenges with pigment retention or be limited in choice of different techniques.

If you have known allergies to cosmetic pigments, let us know before booking your consultation.

Permanent makeup can enhance your features but it can’t change the basic shape. It’s important to have realistic expectations about the outcome.

Proper aftercare is important for successful results. This includes protecting the treated area from the sun, following all guidelines, and scheduling regular touch-ups to maintain colour and definition.

If you’re considering PMU, but have some concerns, drop us an email and we’ll be happy to help.

No, shaving your eyebrows is not necessary before getting a semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo. We never ask clients to shave their eyebrow hair. In fact, keeping your natural eyebrows intact is important, and helps us achieve the most natural and flattering results.

We use your existing eyebrow hair as a guide to design a shape that suits your facial features. Working with your natural hair creates a more seamless and realistic look, blending the tattooed areas with your existing brows.

Natural hair helps provide texture and depth, making the semi-permanent tattoo look more genuine and balanced.

Permanent makeup, often considered semi-permanent, usually lasts from 2-5 years. This depends on skin type, lifestyle, and tanning. While the pigment gives long-lasting effect, it gradually fades over time rather than disappearing all at once.

For best results, occasional touch-up is recommended, usually every one to two years, to maintain the colour and definition. These sessions refresh the pigment, making you permanent makeup stay vibrant and natural-looking.

Proper aftercare is important to help extend the life of your permanent makeup. This includes protecting treated areas from the sun, avoiding harsh skincare products, and following any post-care instructions.

With good care, you can enjoy the benefits of low-maintenance beauty for years.

Permanent makeup, when done properly, is generally safe. However, as with any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to understand potential risks and side effects.

Potential Risks and Side Effects
Some people may experience mild discomfort during the procedure, which is similar to a light pinching sensation. We apply an anesthetic cream to minimise this. Following the procedure, there might be slight redness or swelling, which usually subsides within a day or two.

There is a small risk of allergic reactions to pigments used in permanent makeup, though this is rare. We patch test before treatment to help identify any sensitivities.

Infection and scarring are also a potential risk although extremely rare. These risks can be minimised by proper aftercare and by NOT withholding any information (medication, health conditions) during your consultation.

While there are some risks and side effects associated with permanent makeup, they are generally minimal if all the information are disclosed and the right aftercare followed. By understanding these factors and asking questions, you can decide if permanent makeup is right for you and enjoy the benefits it offers safely.

1. Eyes (Eyeliner) : Permanent eyeliner can enhance the eyes by defining the lash line and adding depth. Options range from a natural, subtle look to a more dramatic liner, depending on your preference. It can save time spent applying eyeliner daily.

2. Eyebrows: Eyebrow pigmentation, including microblading and brow machine tattoo, gives you fuller, more defined brows. These techniques are ideal for people who want to fill in sparse areas, reshape their brows, or create a more uniform look.

3. Lips: Permanent makeup for the lips includes lip liner and full lip shading, which can improve lip shape, add colour, and create a more defined lip border. It can be used to correct asymmetry and add definition, giving lips a more youthful look.

1. Consultation and Design – The process starts with a consultation. During this session, we will discuss your expectations, fill out the medical forms, and patch test. This is your chance to ask questions and make sure your desired style is clear to us.

2. Numbing – Before we start the treatment, we will apply a topical numbing cream to the area to reduce discomfort and help make sure you are comfortable.

3. Application – We will start tattooing process. Techniques may vary depending on your desired result. The procedure may take about two hours, though this can depend on the treatment area and treatment.

4. Immediate Aftercare and Downtime – Some people may experience minor swelling, redness, or tenderness in the treated area immediately following the procedure, but these go away within a few hours. For most, there is minimal downtime, and normal daily activities can be resumed.

5. Healing and Aftercare – We will provide you with specific aftercare instructions.

Yes, permanent makeup can suit individual skin tones and personal style.

1. Matching Different Skin Tones – We work with a range of skin tones, from fair to deep. Pigments are custom mixed to harmonise with your skin tone, this helps us create a natural-looking result that looks natural like your own.

2. Customised Colours and Styles – Colour mix can be adjusted to match your specific hair colour, lipstick or style preferences. Whether you want a natural look or something a bit bolder, we will work with you to choose colours and shapes for eyebrows, eyeliner, or lips that match your chosen look. In some cases these may not be possible (eg if you would like very dark brows and your complexion is very pale, etc. but we will inform you about this straight away and explain why this can’t be achieved).

3. Personal Preferences and Lifestyle – Your preferences are important part of the process. We take the time to understand the final look you’d like to get, and given your skin type, complexion etc whether we can achieve similar results with permanent makeup. This ensures that we are both on the same page, understanding what can be achieved with semi permanent procedure.

4. Advanced Techniques – Modern permanent makeup techniques, allow us to get natural, long-lasting look. Forget about fake looking tattoo from the past.

Permanent makeup offers flexible options that can be adapted to match any skin tone or personal taste.

No, permanent makeup is designed to enhance, not change, your natural look. It highlights your features in a subtle, natural way, without affecting your facial expressions.

1. Enhancing Natural Features – The purpose of permanent makeup is to subtly define and enhance features like eyebrows, eyes, and lips, rather than create a dramatic change. We focus on complementing your unique facial structure to bring out your natural beauty.

2. Subtle, Harmonious Results – We apply PMU with the goal of achieving a balanced look that integrates with your natural features. The result is a smart, refreshed look that enhances your look without changing the essence of who you are.

3. Preserving Facial Expressions – Facial expressions remain unaffected by permanent makeup. We apply pigments in a way that respects the natural contours and movements of your face (for example follow your natural brow bone), so your expressions, emotions, and natural range of motion are preserved.

4. Personalised Consultation – Before beginning, you’ll have a consultation to talk about your goals, preferences, and any concerns. We will ensure a natural look that enhances your features without compromising your individuality.

Yes, permanent makeup can be removed if you no longer want it. Although “permanent” makeup is designed to last, technology have made it possible to modify or remove it.

Removal Methods

Laser Tattoo Removal – This method uses high-intensity lasers to break down pigment particles, which are then naturally removed by the body. Multiple sessions may be needed for full removal, and results depend on pigment depth, colour and type.

Manual Tattoo Removal – This technique involves tattooing a saline solution or other removal solutions into the skin to lift the pigment. This method also requires multiple sessions and can be an effective option for gradual removal.

Factors Influencing Removal Success

The success of removing permanent makeup depends on factors such as the colour, type, and depth of the pigments used.

To make sure you get most of your permanent makeup consultation and appointment, get prepared.

1. Understand the Procedure – Research the permanent makeup process to familiarise yourself with different techniques such as microblading, hairstrokes, powder brows, and lip blushing. While we can explain details and what suits you etc, knowing the basics and having an idea of the look you want will help you have a more productive consultation.

2. Define Your Goals – Think clearly about what you want to achieve. Bringing photos that reflect your preferred style can be helpful. We can then advise you on what’s possible based on your features.

3. Prepare Questions – Make a list of questions to ask during the consultation.

4. Disclose Allergies and Sensitivities – Let us know of any known allergies or sensitivities.

5. Disclose Relevant Medical History – Be ready to fill out health forms with medical history, including any health conditions or medications. Certain conditions may affect your eligibility for permanent makeup, so it’s best to inform us before booking your consultation.

6. Bring Visual References – If you have specific preferences regarding shape, colour, or style, bring photos as references. This helps us to understand your vision.

7. Realistic Expectations – Talk to us about your expectations for colour, shape, and density. We will help set realistic outcomes based on your skin type and natural features.

8. Consent Forms and Agreements – Be prepared to sign consent forms. Understand the terms, including the pricing, any follow-up sessions needed, and aftercare requirements.

9. Review Aftercare Instructions – Learn about pre-procedure and post-procedure care. This includes any necessary steps to ensure healing and minimise potential side effects. Following these instructions will help your results last longer and heal properly.

Looking for answers about semi-permanent makeup in Ware, Hertfordshire? Our FAQ’s page covers everything you need to know about popular treatments like microblading, lip blush, and eyeliner and hair stroke eyebrows. Serving clients across Ware and nearby areas, including Hertford, Buntingford, Hoddesdon, Stevenage and Bishop’s Stortford, we provide detailed guidance on the process, aftercare, and expected results. Explore our questions and answers to see why clients across East Hertfordshire trust us for natural, long-lasting results.