Permanent makeup - technique, results, reviews

Are you tired of using cosmetics? Do you want to highlight natural beauty and hide minor imperfections? Have you heard about permanent makeup, but are you afraid of complications after the procedure or an unsuccessful result? don't know what it is? Catch all the most important and necessary information about makeup techniques that are not going to disappear from your face.

In this article we will tell you:

What is permanent makeup? Types of tattooing with before and after photos;
Permanent makeup techniques;
Reviews about permanent makeup;
Permanent makeup price;
How is permanent makeup done?
Tools for permanent makeup;
How long does permanent makeup last?
Can you do permanent makeup?
Consequences of permanent makeup;
Permanent makeup care;
Correction and removal of permanent makeup;
Permanent makeup courses.

Have you already learned enough about permanent makeup, but want to improve your skills? Sign up for the best permanent makeup courses in St. Petersburg and Moscow , where professionals will tell you what you don’t know yet.

What is permanent makeup? Types of tattooing with before and after photos

Permanent makeup is the introduction of a special pigment into the upper layers of the skin to create a permanent pattern on the face. Of course, no one will keep your defined cheekbones for a long time, but you can make your eyebrows, eyelids, eyelashes and lips forever painted!

Permanent makeup of eyebrows, eyelids and lips: before and after photos

Let's figure out what permanent makeup is.

Permanent eyebrow makeup

There are two ways to make up your eyebrows permanently:

manual equipment;
hardware technology.

The manual technique is microblading. It is done manually using a manipulator. Microblading allows you to draw each hair, as well as apply powder. We have already written in detail about the microblading procedure.

The hardware technique is performed using a special apparatus. When using it, the eyebrows are shaded. If you want to draw each hair separately, it is better to use the manual technique.

Permanent eyelid makeup

Everything is simpler and clearer here. You can only draw on your eyelids with tattooing. The only clarification is that the eyelids can be painted over:

only between the cilia;
make arrows with shading;
make arrows without shading.

Tattooing is the introduction of color under the skin using a special pen with a needle or machine.

From left to right: interlash tattoo, arrow with shading, arrow without shading

Permanent lip makeup

There is a real expanse of techniques here, so so that you don’t get confused, we talked about them here:

In short, all these types of permanent lip makeup can be divided into two groups:

techniques with natural color;
technique with the look of painted lips.

These are the most popular areas that undergo the permanent procedure.

Girls also seek the introduction of pigment into the scalp, aesthetic correction of stretch marks and scars, and permanent nipple areola.

What is a tattoo?

First of all, I would like to emphasize that permanent makeup and tattooing are completely different things. The tattoo will accompany you throughout your life; it is inserted into a deeper layer of skin than tattooing. A different needle and pigments are used.

Permanent makeup is the introduction of pigment into the upper layer of the skin (up to one millimeter) using a special needle, which remains in the dermis for 3 to 5 years. Another important difference is that tattooing is applied to the skin of the face, since the skin in this area is thinner and the design will be clear and aesthetic (with the exception of adjusting the shape of the halo around the nipple), while a tattoo can be placed on any part of the body.

Permanent makeup techniques

The permanent makeup industry allows you to choose the appropriate technique for your taste and color. Let's figure out what they are called and what the differences are.

Tattoo. It is done on the deeper layers of the skin for 5 or more years. It can only be removed with a laser or remover. Performed on eyelids and lips.

Tattooing, in turn, is divided into manual and hardware techniques. The only difference is in the way the procedure is performed - by hand or by machine. Both of them allow you to perform both hair and shadow techniques.

Hair technique. Done by machine. It also does not appear on its own. Not suitable for oily and porous skin. It is done on the eyebrows.
Shadow technique. It is done on the upper layers of the skin. It is done manually or by machine. It persists for 1–2 years, then disappears on its own. Suitable for eyebrows and lips.

Benefits of tattooing

Permanent makeup is an excellent alternative to the everyday use of various types of cosmetics. Just three procedures are enough to forget about using lipstick, eyebrow correction and eyeliner for several years. The advantages of tattooing are obvious:

resistance and durability. Makeup is not washed off with water and is resistant to external weather influences. After the procedure, you can safely visit the sun, the pool, take a shower and not worry about the paint running. In any conditions, the color of eyebrows, lips and other areas will be rich, bright and natural;
saving. Tattooing not only decorates a woman, but also saves time on everyday makeup and money on buying mascara, lipstick and other cosmetics;
gives a woman natural beauty, adds inner strength and self-confidence;
perfectly corrects natural defects in appearance, disguises scars;
solves problems of skin irritation with decorative cosmetics;
allows you to create natural freckles or moles on the face or other areas:
provides smooth and clear contours of eyebrows, eyelids and lips, allowing you to look dazzling and excellent in any environment.

Reviews about permanent makeup

We studied the reviews of girls who had permanent makeup done and identified one of its main advantages and three main disadvantages.

The main advantage of permanent makeup: it lasts a long time and looks natural.

Disadvantages of permanent makeup:

Beauty requires sacrifice in the form of high cost of the procedure.
There is a possibility of making a mistake with the master and being left with blue eyebrows, gray lips and scars.
Beauty again requires sacrifice in the form of physical suffering. For people with a low pain threshold, the procedure can be very painful.

Permanent makeup is contraindicated

patients with cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with a high pain threshold, people with chronic herpes and other infections, people taking steroid medications.

Urban fashion warns you that the procedure for applying permanent makeup is quite painful.

When performing this type of makeup, the specialist makes many punctures of the skin with a needle. A special anesthetic cream is applied to the puncture site.

Permanent makeup is quite expensive. A low price may indicate poor quality of this procedure.

During the procedure, you risk being infected with dangerous viruses. There are cases of allergic reactions to dyes used when applying permanent makeup.

Permanent makeup price

As we have already found out above, the price of permanent makeup is higher than for other cosmetic procedures. According to all canons, the average cost in Moscow will be higher than in St. Petersburg and the regions. The price tag varies depending on the zone. Spoiler: permanent lip makeup is the cheapest way to do it.

To help you better understand what's what, we've made three graphs for you.

First, we talk about eyebrows:

On the second about the eyelids:

And on the third about lips:

Permanent lip makeup

Permanent makeup will give those with thin lips plumper shapes, and those who do not need to adjust their contours will be delighted by the rich color at any time of the day.

Simply apply a clear lip gloss or moisturizing balm for the most attractive glow on your lips.

But this is not all the possibilities of this procedure. Correcting the shape of the face by applying pigment along the lines of blush is becoming increasingly common. From now on, you can more clearly outline your cheekbones, bring your round face shape closer to a more elongated or oval one, or simply save you from applying blush every day.

How is permanent makeup done?

You must come to the permanent makeup procedure without artificial makeup. Together with the master, you will choose the appropriate form, if you have not decided in advance. When choosing, they are guided by facial features, skin and hair tone.

Next, the specialist must determine whether you are allergic to anesthesia by doing an allergy test. If everything is in order, then he begins to complete the sketch. The outline of the future makeup is outlined and, with the client’s consent, the master proceeds to the procedure itself.

First, the cosmetologist gives you cream anesthesia , which is applied for 15–20 minutes. Then, using a special pen or permanent makeup machine, he injects pigment under the skin. The procedure will take 2 hours, so you will have to be patient a little. Afterwards, the master will treat the areas with an antiseptic, and you will leave until the correction.

What is permanent makeup

Permanent makeup is a temporary tattoo on the face, which is similar in appearance to what would happen if a woman applied makeup with conventional cosmetics. Its difference is its longevity and resistance to any influences, for example, water, rubbing by hand, etc. It is also called permanent, but this does not mean that it will be there forever. Typically, adjustments are required after the first three years of application. After 5-7 years it disappears if it is not updated.

Before and after the procedure

Before and after

Permanent makeup is applied with special natural dyes that are absolutely harmless. Used mainly to highlight eyebrows, lips or eyes. This does not mean that you should completely abandon the use of mascara, eye shadow or other cosmetics. However, applying the permanent will allow you to forget about tidying up your eyebrows every morning, drawing arrows or lining your lips. This saves a lot of time. In addition, you no longer have to worry about the durability of your makeup or worry that your makeup will “run” in the rain.

Permanent makeup is intended for those who want to forget about wearing makeup every day, as well as for those who want to hide certain facial imperfections in this way, for example, sparse eyebrows, narrow lips or expressionless eyes. Its main task is to highlight the dignity of a woman’s face. For example, if you have sparse eyebrows, then it will make them thick and beautiful, while they will look natural. However, it is important that the permanent is done by a qualified and experienced master who has numerous positive reviews, otherwise, instead of a beautiful face, you will get a completely opposite result.

How long does permanent makeup last?

It all depends on individual hormonal characteristics, skin type and age-related changes. You will definitely carry the permanent for a year, and if you’re lucky, then even two.

The duration of wearing also depends on the technique used to apply permanent makeup. Anything done with shading will last 1-2 years, but the hair technique will last for 2-3 years with proper care.

Can you do permanent makeup?

You can if you are careful enough. Like all cosmetic procedures, permanent makeup has its contraindications. They are absolute and relative. With the former, permanent makeup is prohibited, but with relative ones, you can individually discuss the situation with the master and perform the procedure after some time.

Our expert Lyudmila Yurgina told us everything about contraindications to permanent makeup:

Relative contraindications:

Poor health of any origin, ARVI, simple runny nose without fever. In this case, it is better to postpone permanent makeup until complete recovery.
Inflammatory processes on the skin, pustular rashes in the affected area, exacerbation of acne and rosacea. Permanent treatment can only be done during remission - the absence of inflammatory elements and pustules on the skin.
Treatment with potent medications (antibiotics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, retinoids, etc.). Permanent treatment is possible no earlier than 2 weeks (or more, depending on the specific drug) after the end of treatment.
Benign skin neoplasms in the affected area. Micropigmentation of moles is contraindicated, since they cannot be injured by a needle; warts and papillomas - after permanent treatment their size may increase and new rashes may appear. Therefore, it is worth removing them in advance or bypassing this place.
Hypertension, high blood pressure. The permanent makeup procedure is stressful, which can provoke a hypertensive crisis. Before performing it, you should measure your blood pressure and, if necessary, take an antihypertensive drug.
Herpes in the acute stage is a contraindication for any type of permanent makeup. It can be carried out only after the rashes have completely healed, and lip tattooing - after 3-4 weeks, and only against the background of prophylactic use of antiviral medications.
Conjunctivitis. In case of allergic conjunctivitis, permanent eye makeup can help alleviate its course, since after it is applied, eye irritation from decorative cosmetics is reduced. But with both allergic conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis, permanent makeup can be done only outside the period of their exacerbation.
Pregnancy - any interventions during this time in the functioning of the body should be carried out only if necessary. Permanent makeup is not such a necessity, so it is better to do it no earlier than 2-3 months after you have finished breastfeeding your baby.
If you are stressed, the procedure may be more painful, and your overall health may worsen afterward.

Permanent makeup procedure

Stage No. 1

Removing makeup, removing excess hair in the work area and marking the desired shape;
Treating the area for tattooing with an antiseptic, applying an analgesic cream (in case of increased sensitivity), opening a single-use package with consumables and starting to apply pigment;
Disinfection of the work area and coating with healing cream.

Stage No. 2

After 3-4 weeks, a mandatory consultation with your specialist is held and the need for correction is determined. In almost 99% of cases, correction is necessary, which is not an indicator of the master’s low qualifications. Moreover, professional cosmetologists and masters make it a mandatory condition for the client to appear for correction in order to achieve a real result. Each person is individual, the rate of exchange in tissues varies, as does the interaction of pigment with the dermis. Eyebrows of the same person may differ in color saturation (it's all about the same blood supply). Very often, clients choose light shades of pigment so as not to “overdo it”; during the healing process, the color brightens and during correction the shade is made deeper. In the future, correction is recommended to be carried out every 1-1.5 years to maintain the most attractive appearance.

Consequences of permanent makeup

If you have no contraindications, then you will not have any negative consequences after permanent makeup.

Unpleasant sensations and swelling of the lips for 2 hours after permanent makeup is the maximum you can get out of it. The eyes also sometimes swell, often on the second day. These are all natural consequences that pass quickly.

Possible consequences of this procedure

Swelling in the tattoo area. This situation may arise if the client decides to get a tattoo during the period of seasonal allergies or has a polyallergies. The solution would be to reschedule the procedure during the period of allergic remission. Be sure to notify your specialist of any such reactions. If you are prone to swelling (especially swelling of the eyes and eyelids) upon waking, the procedure should be performed in the afternoon.
Bruises, or rather, slight redness, which occurs more often with eyelid tattooing and disappears within 2-3 days from the date of the procedure. After eyelid tattooing, the eyes practically do not swell on the day of the procedure; on the second day (especially in the morning) swelling is possible, so it is better to schedule the procedure before a day off;
Change in color after the procedure. In the vast majority of cases, the color you see immediately after the procedure will lighten as it heals. The tattooed area will be covered with a thin crust, slight gaps will be visible in the pigmented area (quite natural), which means that planned correction is necessary. Another situation is possible: an inexperienced master uses low-quality pigments or does not know the technique of mixing them to achieve the “correct” shade. This is exactly the same story about blue eyebrows when I wanted to achieve a noble black shade.
Let's focus on the Rh factor of the blood: those who have Rh positive have nothing to worry about; those with a negative Rh factor require a mandatory preliminary consultation, since the pigment can blur, change color, and cause persistent redness.

You can hear a lot of information (tested from personal experience) about the pros and cons of permanent makeup in videos and blogs of Internet users.

A few important points:

Youth injections are carried out only after tattooing;
Be sure to notify your artist about possible allergic reactions, a high threshold of sensitivity, and whether to do tattooing if there are existing contraindications;
Ask about the availability of certificates that allow you to carry out such a procedure, check out your master’s portfolio, select several photos of the works that you liked the most.

Permanent makeup care

Permanent makeup will take 7–10 days to heal. We have prepared some care tips for you:

Forget about healing ointments! Lock them in some drawer and throw away the key. Under no circumstances should you use them.
Tie your hands so as not to pick out the films. They will start to appear about 3-4 days after the procedure, and you will, of course, want to pick them off. This cannot be done. Hit your fingers every time they start to reach your face.
Stock up on chlorhexidine. He will become your friend and assistant for the next week. But it’s better to turn off the water in the house, because you can’t get your eyebrows, eyes or lips wet for 3-4 days.
General recommendations for eyes, lips and eyebrows: wipe them with chlorhexidine for 3-4 days, then silently observe the film. Try not to panic when the color fades and wait patiently for it to return within a month.
The only clarification for the lips: they need to be smeared with Vaseline from the first day. Apply a thin layer to allow them to breathe as soon as you feel dry. But you should apply the magic remedy to your eyes and eyebrows only if you feel tightness.

Be patient and remain calm. If you trust your master, then remain confident in him until the end. The healing process is as natural as the sun rising.

Correction and removal of permanent makeup

You will have to correct permanent makeup in any case. This is one of the components of the entire procedure. It is carried out 1-2 months after the first trip to the permanent treatment.

During the correction, gaps are filled if they formed after the first procedure, and if necessary, the tone of the main color is changed.

If you make a correction, the wearing period of permanent makeup will increase.

Correction of permanent makeup is carried out in exactly the same way as the procedure itself. The only difference is the duration.

Permanent makeup is removed if the client is not satisfied with it. Usually old or unsuccessful permanent makeup turns blue, gray or dark gray. This color cannot be covered, it is very dense.

The remover sees light makeup tones and removes them easily. It also passes through even the smallest areas of skin. With the competent work of a specialist, laser removal is no worse. It does not injure the skin and does not leave visible marks on it.

Eyebrow tattoo

Eyebrow tattooing is a long-term makeup that will help preserve the shape of your eyebrows for a long time or, for example, make them thicker, that is, change their shape.

There are two main methods of permanent eyebrow makeup: hair-based, when the smallest hairs are drawn separately, and shading, which gives the most natural effect, as if the eyebrows were simply skillfully tinted with a pencil. The first option will allow you to disguise scars in the eyebrow area, and the second will allow your eyebrows to look exceptionally natural.

If you tattoo your eyebrows, you can at least halve the time you spend applying daily makeup. And even if you don’t like to wear makeup every day, by getting a tattoo, your face will be bright and expressive every day.

We recommend reading:

How to tattoo eyebrows and care for eyebrows after the procedure
Eyebrow tattoo: hair method
Eyebrow tattoo: shading

Permanent makeup courses

Do you want to master all the mysteries of eternal, indelible beauty and become a master of permanent makeup? Sign up for tattoo training courses, where you can learn how to permanently apply one or more zones.

We have collected the main points about the courses for you in this table:

How to choose permanent makeup courses?

You need to understand what you want to know and what to learn. Many people begin studying permanent makeup with manual techniques, and then switch to hardware ones. It’s easier to work with a machine, so you can start right away with it.

Please note the studio's opening hours. Review student portfolios and reviews, teacher awards, and curriculum.

The information in such a school may be of poor quality, because the teacher has nothing to invest in himself and nothing to develop his business with.

How to choose a teacher?

Look at the master's work. If possible, come to the school as an observer and look at the process from the inside.

If you have fears, try to start learning permanent makeup from one of the zones. If you get hooked, master all the rest!

How do you feel about permanent makeup? How did the tattoo healing go for you or someone you know? Share with us in the comments! Repost the article so as not to lose information.

Permanent eyelid makeup

The most popular type of permanent makeup is eyelid tattooing . A thin brown or black arrow is drawn along the eyelash edge. A good master will make the arrow so that it is not visible, but at the same time creates the effect of natural thick eyelashes and more expressive eyes. This procedure is very popular because it eliminates the need for daily drawing of arrows. On the one hand, your eyes will always be tinted, on the other hand, if you wish, you can do brighter evening makeup.

The main thing in eyelid tattooing is not to overdo it with the thickness of the arrow . Permanent makeup is considered to be of high quality if others are unaware of it, so the liner should be thin. In fact, this is not even a full-fledged arrow, but only filling the interlash space.

The arrow should be thin and invisible

The main disadvantage of the procedure is incorrect technique; success depends on the skills of the master. The arrow should be smooth, thin, and fit the shape of the eyes. A competent artist knows that the arrow should not go beyond the boundaries of the eye, that is, such an arrow should not have a “tail”, otherwise the makeup will look unnatural. Many artists make the mistake of drawing bright arrows with a “tail”. But with age, the eyelids begin to droop, and the arrow drops along with them, emphasizing the drooping eyelid even more.

Eyelid tattooing is performed as follows:

The master draws an arrow with a pencil and adjusts its shape.
Degreases the skin.
Using a special machine with microneedles, it applies permanent paint. Usually the whole process takes no more than half an hour.

Experienced craftsmen advise not to make arrows that are too bright and not to use black paint. Otherwise, you will always have to dye your eyelashes to make your makeup look harmonious.