F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

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There is no upper age limit on permanent makeup. Women in their eighties can be good candidates for it if their skin is in good condition.
Women who have a hard time getting a straight eye line or brow or who have eyesight problems are excellent candidates
Women who are active in sports should consider permanent makeup as it won’t run off or sweat off during exercise.
Women who are in the public spotlight or work under the harsh glare of spotlights see the advantages of not having to worry about their makeup.
Busy career women love permanent makeup since they can save five to fifteen minutes each day by not having to apply as much makeup.
Women who don’t want to worry about their makeup in general should seriously consider having permanent makeup applied. The freedom from the life long hassle of applying makeup is indescribable.
Women who tend to easily hyper-pigment may NOT be good candidates for permanent makeup.
Permanent lip color does NOT always work well on people with ethnic skin as the melanocytes (darker pigmentation) in the lips do not allow for the tattooed pigment to show up properly when healed under this darker skin tone.
If a person has a tendency to cold sores/herpes, an anti-viral prescription is needed prior to getting permanent lip color applied.
A person who spends a lot of time in the sun or in tanning booths is NOT a good candidate for permanent makeup since the UVA rays will alter and change the pigment tones, sometimes even turning brown brows blue.
A person who is undergoing a major life trauma should NOT get permanent makeup. It is not wise to alter one’s physical appearance, while undergoing major stress in life. Best to wait until the issues causing the trauma are resolved.
A person on certain forms of prescription medication or with an existing medical condition may NOT be able to get permanent makeup. If considering it, consult with your doctor.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO COMING TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

Do not pick/tweeze/wax/perform electrolysis one week before procedure
Do not tan two weeks prior to your appointment or have sunburned face
Do not have any type of facial/peel 2 weeks prior to treatment
Discontinue Vitamin A/Retinol products one month prior to treatment
Do not work out the day of the procedure.
Do not have botox/dysport 3 weeks prior
Do not take Fish Oil or Vitamin E one week prior (natural blood thinners)
Do not wax or tint your eyebrows 3 days before the procedure.

In order to avoid excessive bleeding and poor colour deposit:

Do not drink alcohol 24 – 48 hours before your tattoo
Do not consume coffee before your procedure
Do not take an aspirin or ibuprofen for pain relief (this thins the blood)

Does it Hurt?

The answer to this varies, based on the individuals tolerance to discomfort, and the skills of the technician performing the service. The semi permanent cosmetic industry benefits from several methods available that assist with comfort management. I use two types of topical anaesthetic creams, ointments and gel preparations to make you as comfortable as possible!

How long will it last?

This varies from person to person because skin type, diet, genetics and environmental factors can all contribute to how long the pigment will be retained.

As a guide, it could be anything between one to five years before a new treatment is required, although refresher colour boosts are recommended for maintenance within this time. Once you notice the colour starting to change, this is a good indication that you are due for a colour boost, which keeps your cosmetic tattoo refreshed.

It is important to remember that cosmetic tattooing is “low” not a “no” maintenance treatment.

Is it safe?

In Auckland, we practice and enforce infection control practices and sterilization guidelines. All technicians must hold a current Health & Hygiene LICENSE. If proper guidelines are met and your technician is well trained in the procedure being performed, semi permanent cosmetic procedures should be completely safe. So few pigment reactions have been reported that many physicians suggest that a sensitivity test is not necessary, especially since allergic reactions do not occur immediately upon first exposure to a particular substance. With health standards in place, the possibility that you would have serious medical problems as a result of the semi-permanent cosmetic procedure is remote. You, too, have a role to play in your own safety. You must comply with the post-procedural instructions to help reduce any associated risks from contamination of the newly pigmented area.

Is there any down time?

Each client is unique. Generally there is some swelling of the tattooed area. While eyebrows may show little after effect, eyeliner and lip procedures may produce more swelling lasting from two to seventy-two hours. During the procedure, there may be some bleeding and although rare, some bruising. There is usually some tenderness for a few days. The immediate post-procedure colour is darker than you may expect after five to ten days of healing. A good recommendation is to plan your semi permanent cosmetic procedure when you have no special events to attend for several days afterward.

How long will my appointment be?

Treatment times vary depending on how advanced or detailed the required result is. You should set aside 2-3 hours for your appointment.

How quickly will it heal?

Everyone is different, but as a general rule the surface skin generally heals between 3-7 days after the treatment and 10-14 days below the surface. It then takes another two weeks for the true healed colour to show so please don’t be alarmed, just be patient and wait out the whole month before you come back for your refresher. After eyeliner we do not advise driving, in case your eyes are a little swollen or watery immediately after the treatment.

What will I look like straight after my procedure?

Eyebrows and eye liner treatments tend to look darker in colour immediately after the appointment, while lip colours can look more intense. This softens in a few days. Lips are likely to have some residual swelling and can chap, looking dry and flakey. There may be some slight swelling after eyeliner treatments but this is usually quite minimal.

Why do I need a touch up procedure after 4-6 weeks?

The tattooed colour or design may require adjustment after the initial procedure. The application of semi permanent make up is a process. At least one follow-up visit should be scheduled to determine if additional work is necessary. Following up “perfecting” visits are scheduled from four to six weeks after the initial procedure. After the initial and follow up visits are complete, the timing for your future colour refresher depends on your personal preference but is usually at the one year anniversary. No one can really say exactly when you need or want a colour refresher, it is a personal preference and I have a special price for yearly touch-ups. Often, the traditional makeup test is the guide. That is, when you find yourself using traditional makeup to ‘touch up’ your semi permanent cosmetics, it is time for a colour boost visit.

BEFORE AND AFTER CARE

Before Procedure Care

All Treatments

Please avoid taking blood thinning medications (aspirin) or fish or krill oils 7 days before procedure.

Do not wear makeup on area being tattooed.

Lip Treatment

One to two weeks before Lip Treatment

If you are having any Lip Tattoo procedures performed and have previously suffered from Cold Sores or Mouth Ulcers it is essential that you consult with your GP prior to treatment. Lip Tattoo treatment may aggravate this condition and cause an outbreak. Your GP must provide you with a script for Anti –Viral Medication (this may include Valtrex, Famvir or Zovirax) which is to be taken prior to your appointment. L-Lysine tablets will also be beneficial as a preventive treatment.

Please exfoliate by brushing your lips gently with a toothbrush 1 day prior to the appointment. This will also stimulate blood flow and improve collagen in the lips. The aim is to improve recovery from any side effects of your Treatment. Also apply Moisturiser to lips prior to appointment to keep them hydrated.

Eyebrow or Eyeliner Treatment

Forty eight hours before tattoo procedure (eyeliner and eyebrows)

Please do not tint your eyelashes or eyebrows prior to an eyebrow or eyeliner tattoo procedure.

On the day of your procedure (eyeliner and brows)

Please do not wear contact lenses or makeup of any kind on eye area. Delicate or sensitive skin is susceptible to puffiness, redness and swelling.

Not Recommended for Cosmetic Tattooing Procedures.

Anyone with any conditions that result in taking blood thinning medications such as WarfrIn

Anyone with Type One Diabetes or uncontrolled Type Two Diabetes.

Anyone with low levels of iron

After Procedure Care

All Treatments

Post – procedure instructions & information

Avoid important social plans or strenuous activity for a few days after treatment.

Please do not go swimming for at least 10 days following treatment.

Do not wear makeup on area for one week following treatments as this may affect tattoo pigment.

Only use the aftercare cream provided or recommended by your therapist.

Do not have laser or facial treatments until cosmetic tattoo site has finished healing.

Colours will appear darker and then soften after a few days.

Use aftercare cream in a thin film 3-4 times a day or whenever area is dry use for 7 days.

Do not touch unless applying after care.

Do not pick or scratch tattoo.

Do not use paw paw cream on any tattoo areas.

Please re-book for your perfection visit in 4-6 weeks time.

If the area is red or swollen use an ice pack for no more than 5 mins at a time.

Eyeliner Treatment

Do not wear contact lenses for two (2) days following treatment.

Do not have an eyebrow or eyelash tint for two (2) weeks following treatment.

Do not wear eye makeup or fake eyelashes for one (1) week following treatment.

Please buy new mascara/eyeliner to prevent cross infection.

Do not use after cream unless you are very red/swollen (always keep away from eyes).

Rest eyes immediately after treatment.

After your Permanent Cosmetic procedure, slight redness and irritation of the area should be expected. However, heavy bleeding and inflammation should not occur. Depending on your skin sensitivity, swelling of the area may persist. During the healing process, every morning and evening, wash the area with a mild cleanser. Avoid harsh cleansers, such as exfoliators and acid-based products. Gently pat the area dry with a clean towel and apply a thin layer of your aftercare cream. Neglecting to moisturise the area daily with a thin layer of the aftercare cream, will cause scabbing and loss of pigment. If scabbing or peeling occurs, remember to not pick the treated area.

Products we recommend:

– Vitamin A and D Cream

– MicroTonic and MicroBalm

Products NOT Recommended:

– Any products with active ingredients – (vitamin A and C, AHA’s, BHA’s, Glycolic, Lactic or Salicylic Acids)

– Neosporin

– Medicated lip balm

– Exfoliating products

– Lip plumpers

– Aquaphor

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