If you are reading this then there is a good chance that you are either considering Permanent Make up or have recently had the treatment. As a therapist, I take each and every treatment very seriously and genuinely want the best and most appropriate outcome for my client. When you come for your consultation I thoroughly detail the “after care” procedure but I hope this blog will serve as a useful step-by-step guide for your reference.
Here’s what to expect…
Day 1 – Immediately after treatment
You may see some clear fluid spots appear directly after your brow treatment, this is completely normal and is just the excess lymphatic fluid.
Lymphatic fluid helps the healing process and it’s job is to dry and form a scab, but this can be unsightly. So, to prevent unsightly scabbing I recommend blotting your brows with a clean tissue 2 or 3 times on the day of your treatment.
You may read some articles talking about leaving the brows and not getting them wet at all for up to 2 weeks, this is known as “dry healing”, I however am not a fan of this technique, mainly because I believe it is more important to keep your brows clean and moisturised. I treat Tattoos the same as I would an injury, keeping the wound clean and protected is the most important way to prevent infection and ensure it heals. Dry healing is also impractical as most people would want to wash their hair and have a shower in the days following your treatment, which again is important for personal hygiene.
As part of your treatment cost I include a sachet of Tattoo Goo Panthanol Healing Lotion, the morning after your first treatment it’s best to gently cleanse the area with sterile boiled water on a cotton pad, and then apply the panthanol lotion, you should repeat this in the evening. I’ll also give you a sachet if Tattoo Goo aftercare balm , I also stock this in a little lip salve sized pot that you can easily carry on you and should be applied 3-4 times throughout the day. During the days directly after your treatment it’s best to use a clean cotton bud.
DO NOT “Double dip” the same end of the cotton bud! Always use a clean cotton but to take the balm from the pot, otherwise the bacteria from the cotton bud can breed in the pot and cause you a nasty infection. Once your skin has healed you can use your finger tip, but again make sure your hands are clean.
Day 1-3
Our aim is to keep the pigment in the skin long enough for it to heal. So, avoid swimming, sauna, Jacuzzis, (chlorine is permanent makeups worst enemy!) long hot showers and submerging in a steamy bath (as this softens the skin and pushes impurities out) or excessive exercise and gym sessions which make you hot and sweaty, if you play any team sports consider the risk of bashing the areas as this could really effect the healed results, also any equipment like cycle helmets or horse riding hats should be worn clear of the brow area to prevent rubbing.
I recommend you applying a generous amount of your aftercare balm before any sport or having a shower or bath as this will act as a barrier so any dirt or water will not get into the skin.
The healing process is a whole other topic (which I’ll cover in a separate post!) but you may feel that the result is darker and more pronounced than you were hoping for. This is a normal part of the healing process and the area will start to fade after 3-5 days.
Day 3-21
Keep applying your aftercare balm. You only need a tiny amount of this, like lipsalve. It’s important that the area is kept Moisturised to avoid scabbing but over applying can suffocate the skin which will slow down the healing process. I would say, if you are aware of the area, if it itches or feels dry then apply the balm to sooth, but otherwise just apply morning and night.
After day 1 washing the area daily will help to remove the dead skin cells and any bacteria. Ensure you have clean hands and gently clean the area with a cleanser not containing glycolic, lactic or AHA. I stock the Tattoo Goo cleanser which is fantastic. Ensure you rinse the area thoroughly and pat dry with a clean cotton bud. Do not exfoliate!
Avoid exposure to sun or chlorine for at least 1 week until the area has healed. Both can cause fading and colour change so it is advised to avoid the sun if you can or keep the area covered.
Heal, Peal, Fade
Heal – Your body creates a temporary layer of skin over the broken area to protect it while it heals underneath.
Peel – The skin will begin to flake and peel away. Its imperative that you don’t pick or rub the area, I know it can be itchy, but this may result in pigment loss.
Fade – The pigment has been pushed into the skin and can look lighter or even disappear, after 4-6 weeks it should reappear, although some areas may be lost, which is what we check and reinforce at your second “top up” appointment.
Important bits to remembers
- Giving blood is often not permitted for 12 months following a tattoo or Permanent Makeup procedure, it’s best to contact The National Blood Donation Service to check their guidelines.
- Be aware of injectable such as Botox or Collagen following your permanent makeup procedure as these will alter the shape.
- Laser hair removal can cause pigment colour change, if you choose to undertake LHR always notify the technician before your procedure.
- Pregnancy and HRT can affect the longevity and change the colour of the pigment, so it is VERY important to disclose this to your technician.
