Makeup tattooing, or permanent makeup, is a genius way to shave minutes of your makeup routine every morning with a perfect set of brows, lips, eyeliner or pretty much anything you want (even heart shaped nipples). Learn more with our guide.
Makeup tattooing has a bit of a bad reputation, which is a little unfair, because the techniques and the products used nowadays are miles away from the products used ten years ago when a permanent eyebrow tattoo would have left you with stick thin, very obvious and very strange looking lines somewhere above your eyes. Now, if you go to see a fully licensed aesthetician or go to a plastic surgeon's office, making sure that you're in the right hands, you're almost guaranteed a natural result. But what actually happens during makeup tattooing, and is it permanent? We figure it all out, right here.
What Is Permanent Makeup Tattooing?
Permanent makeup tattooing is a form of micropigmenation — we know, it was a surprise to us too. The actual procedure uses a tiny, tiny needle, incredibly thin, to place pigments of color underneath the surface of the skin, one by one. The needle moves at an incredibly fast speed, which is why it makes a buzzing sound as it deposits the color pigments.
The most popular procedure is eyeliner, followed by eyebrows, then lip color. Some clinics also offer blusher and eyeshadow color, but there are mixed opinions on this by aestheticians, because if you change your mind about colors, you are stuck with it until it fades. Also, if you have an allergic reaction, you're stuck with it over a larger area of skin.
If you decide on a cheek or eyeshadow tattoo, think about it very carefully and discuss it at length with your beautician before you make the decision.
What Happens During A Permanent Makeup Procedure?
Your skin will be cleaned, using a gentle cleanser, and local anaesthetic will be used to numb the areas of your skin getting tattooed so you won't feel a thing. Keep in mind that the skin being tattooed here is far more sensitive to "normal" tattoos — the very fragile skin close to your eyes, for example — and so it would be painful with no anaesthesia. The clinician will then use the needle to apply the color to the skin, and when finished, may apply a bandage or a light cream to the skin to protect your skin from infection.
Keep in mind though that infection could result in your skin creating a scar around the pigment, which could result in rashes, bumps and lumps within the skin. Over large surface areas of skin, such as the cheek, the only way you'd be able to fix it would be via major reconstructive facial surgery, so it's really important that you that you take all of that into consideration, perhaps by getting smaller tattoos on your eyelids or brows first of all.
How Long Do Makeup Tattoos Last For?
Depending on the formula and where you get the tattoo, they can last for anywhere between a month and three months. They aren't actually permanent, despite what the name implies, so if you want a more permanent look, you'll have to get it reapplied which could work out to be relatively expensive. However, if you find yourself getting through a lot of eyeliner (like us!) you might save money!
Possible Complications Of Makeup Tattooing
Something to keep in mind is that "natural" colors, surprisingly, have the potential to cause infection more than any other color — so look for aestheticians that only use zinc oxide in their products. Zinc oxide is so safe because there is such a small risk of it migrating elsewhere, whereas "natural" products are much more likely to migrate and cause complications. Another thing that you'll need to be aware of is that in the future, you may experience redness and tingling should you have to have an MRI scan, so you'll need to make the clinicians aware of this before your scan. It may also interfere with their ability to read the scan correctly.
Benefits Of Permanent Makeup
Clinicians say that permanent makeup, when applied correctly to the right places, can actually flatten out scarring and fine lines and wrinkles, because the pigment used effectively destroys the cell. Because the cell is destroyed, it has to rebuild, which means that it needs to reboot its collagen, giving the skin a smoother and firmer appearance.
If the tattoo happens to have taken place over a fine line or wrinkle, it means that it may well appear slightly fuller and plumper.
Not only that, but when applied by a skilled aesthetician, permanent makeup can transform the look of your face. Artfully applied lip color, for example, can make your lips appear fuller and plumper. If you're a big cat's eye liner fan, but can never quite get the perfect flick on your own, your aesthetician can do the job for you and you can have the perfect cat's eye every single day. If your eyebrows are thin and lacking in perfect volume, getting them tattooed on could save you a ton of time in the morning if you spend a lot of time using your eyebrow pencil and brow gel.
What If I Don't Like The Result?
Sorry to say this, but tough luck, buttercup. You just got a tattoo. You either have to wait for it to fade, get further tattooing to cover up what you don't like, or get laser treatment to try to remove the tattoo. The trouble with lasers, if they're appropriate, is that they can cause scarring, which is exactly what you don't want. Another option is dermabrasion, but dealing with the sensitive skin around your eyes, it isn't really appropriate.
You have to walk into tattooing with your eyes wide open and a super clear idea of exactly what you want.
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Do your research, know the establishment that you're going to has a good reputation, and make sure that you've seen examples of their previous work. Steer clear of any places that take great pains to tell you that they are FDA approved because that should be a given, and never allow anyone to travel to your house to offer permanent makeup tattoos. Be prepared to travel, and be prepared to pay, and you'll be sure to have a quality result.
Sources & Links
- www.webmd.com/beauty/makeup/how-safe-permanent-makeup
- www.facialpalsy.org.uk/advice/guides/permanent-make-up/338
- Photo courtesy of Gary Soup via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/garysoup/2566417647
- Photo courtesy of viviandnguyen_ via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/viviannguyen/8618652256