In our last blog post, we compared the differences between two popular brow services: powder brows and microblading. We determined who is a good candidate for which services to help a client decide what is right for them. Today, we want to talk about protecting that investment – aftercare and why it’s so important!

The most important thing to remember when receiving any type of permanent makeup or tattoo is that it is an open wound. We are opening the skin using a needle and there is trauma. Ideally, the top of your dermis, which is the second layer of skin, has been punctured and pigment/ink has been deposited there. The dermis contains blood vessels, hair follicles, glands, and nerve endings. It also contains lymph vessels. Once your tattoo is complete, some people may notice a bit of fluid forming on the skin – we call that lymph fluid. Your body’s healing process is kickstarting and wants to scab over the wound to protect it. On the day of your procedure, we will typically give you a cotton round or two and ask that you blot or dab your brows gently every so often to absorb some of that fluid and let your skin breathe.

Keeping your fresh tattoo clean is also vitally important. At our studio, we provide a gentle cleanser and lotion for our clients to take home. We recommend gently washing the brow area in the morning and evening, letting it air dry, and applying a bit of lotion to keep hydrate but also to create a moisture barrier. The moisture barrier can help prevent any dirt, debris, etc. from getting in your brows. If you have oily skin, I will sometimes recommend using the lotion conservatively so the brows don’t stay too wet and are able to breathe. As for lips, the lip tissue is more membranous, soft, and prone to more moisture. We provide an antiseptic wipe to gently clean the area before bed and A&D ointment to apply as needed a few times per day. Again, let them breathe, but keep them from becoming chapped. Try to drink from a straw when able to, and avoid excess water, sweat, and spicy/citrusy foods – it can burn while the wound is still open!

The healing process can be a little daunting for some, as it takes a few weeks to really see those fully healed results. Brows and lips look bold for the first few days. This is any excess pigment sitting on top of the skin as the wound begins to close. Once that wound closes and dries out, they become flaky or peel. That can be a scary time as they sometimes flake in big pieces and then look like spots are missing – that is totally normal! It’s also normal for your cosmetic tattoo to ghost you after they flake as that new layer of skin finishes over top. Once fully healed, you should have a softly shaded brow that sits nicely behind any brow hair and in the skin or a subtle tinted lip. This process can take anywhere from 10-14 days for brows, depending on skin type. Lips heal a little quicker, closer to 5-7 days. 

Once they are healed, long-term aftercare is just as important. Over time, your body breaks down the pigment (if implanted properly). Your top layer of skin also plays a role in pigment retention as it is always regenerating. To keep the longevity of your brows, always apply sunscreen to them as you would the rest of your face! This will help keep UV rays from prematurely fading and ashing out your brows. Using high quality skin care products containing exfoliants, acids, retinol, etc. can also cause your brows to fade quicker as the skin is encouraged to turnover. Obviously you do not have to avoid these products – we LOVE a good skincare routine! However, keeping them out of your brows is recommended. As for lips, keep them hydrated and use a lip balm with SPF when out in the sun or at the beach!

Keeping with the topic of cosmetic tattoos for another blog or two, in our next issue we’re going to answer some common questions and address the benefits of these procedures. We have many clients with medical conditions who seek restorative procedures to regain confidence and would love the opportunity to speak to those experiences! It’s a really big “why” behind our craft <3