Aftercare Guidelines For All Permanent Makeup

Proper aftercare is very important for retention and to prevent infection and other issues. Review these general guidelines and then review YOUR specific aftercare service section for Brows or Eyeliner.

General Guidelines

• Avoid for 1 week: Facial cleansers, water on pigmented areas, Chlorine pools, Retin-A on pigmented areas, hot & steamy showers, jacuzzi or saunas, terry cloth/fabric on pigmented areas, or sun/tanning beds.
• Shower with your back to the water to avoid water, shampoo, and conditioner from getting into the pigmented areas. 
• Do not rub skin when washing your face for at least 10 days. 
• Do not pick or scratch tattooed areas. 
• Do not wear contacts after the eyeliner procedure. 
• Do not wear makeup on the tattooed area until the area has healed (around 7-10 days). 
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure. 
• Do not put anything at all on the tattooed area except what your artist provides.
• Do not use antibiotic ointment or any other product during healing.

Note:  Consult a health care professional at the first sign of infection.

Day 1: Bold and beautiful! I love them. 

• Your new tattoo might be a little uncomfortable, dark, and big. 

Day 3-5: What happened?! My brows are so dark. 

• Your pigment has oxidized and now appears much darker under the skin. The tattooed area may seem rigid, darker, the shape might look thick and color too warm,  especially with fair-skinned and light-haired clients. Some clients' skin doesn’t get red, and they enjoy the dark, bold look. 

Day 7-10: Gross! Do I have dandruff in my eyebrow? 

• Skin is lightly flaking. Depending on the technique performed, you may shed chunks or little hair-stroke pieces. Some people don’t shed at all. Itching is normal. 

Day 10-14: Where’d my brow go? It’s so light and patchy, I can’t even see my hair strokes?

• This can be an emotional roller coaster. The tattooed areas are done peeling/flaking. Your healing skin can hide the pigment, giving it almost a milky look.  As your skin continues to regenerate, pigment will start to resurface. Some clients don’t go through this phase at all. 

Weeks 4-6: The pigment starts resurfacing, and they are lookin' good!

• Your skin continues to regenerate; pigment settles in your skin; the milky color is gone; and your healed results are revealed. The tattooed area may seem patchy or lighter in some areas. 

Touch-up 6 to 8 weeks: Your artist evaluates the tattoo and adjusts it to the desired look & color. 

Brows Aftercare Instructions: While healing, the tattoo will look spotty. Do not be alarmed by fading after the first application. If there is any swelling immediately after the procedure, an ice pack should be applied for no more than 15 minutes at a time.  

• First Day: Gently blot the treated area 2-3 times with the provided wipes. Apply a small amount of ointment after blotting. Please make sure to change your pillowcase.
• Second & Third Day:  Gently cleanse the treated area 1-2 times a day with antibacterial soap (i.e Dial) and rinse with water to prevent infection and scabbing. Otherwise, keep the treated area dry. Too much water will exfoliate the skin and affect color retention. Apply a small amount of healing ointment 2-3 times/day or as needed to keep the treated area moist. If you have oily skin, you can skip the ointment or consult with your artist for proper instructions.

 Proper aftercare is important for comfortable healing and the best possible color retention.

• Keep the treated area clean and dry. Do not apply makeup, creams, lotions, or other products to the treated area while it is healing, other than the recommended aftercare product.
• Immediately following your procedure, you may notice some mild swelling, tenderness, or lymph fluid on the treated area. If you see any fluid or oozing, gently blot it with a clean, sterile gauze pad. Do not rub or wipe the area.
• After 24 hours, gently cleanse the eyeliner area once daily using mild warm water and a gentle, alcohol-free soap. Apply the soapy solution with clean sterile gauze and gently blot the area. Rinse as directed and carefully pat completely dry.
• Be very gentle with the treated area. Do not scrub, rub, wipe, scratch, pick, or peel. Light flaking or small scabs may form as the skin heals. Allow them to come off naturally. Picking can cause irritation and may result in loss of pigment.
• Apply the recommended aftercare product only to clean, completely dry skin. Use only a very thin layer as directed. Applying ointment while the area is still wet or using too much can keep the area overly moist and interfere with proper healing.
• Avoid eye makeup on or immediately around the treated eyeliner until the area has healed. This includes mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, and other cosmetic products that could come in contact with the treated skin.
• Avoid excessive moisture while healing. Do not soak the treated area, and avoid swimming, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and activities that cause excessive sweating until healed.
• Do not use exfoliating products, acids, retinol, or other active skincare products near the treated area until it has completely healed.

Some swelling, tenderness, flaking, and changes in color intensity can be part of the normal healing process. The eyeliner may initially appear darker or more intense and then soften as it heals.

If you experience increasing redness, significant swelling, worsening pain, unusual drainage, or other signs of a possible infection, contact your healthcare provider.