It can be a bit of an alarming sight before things are properly settled, the way the Permanent Makeup Healing Process Australia often presents. You might find your brows appear unduly dark, eyeliner is tight on the eyes or the lips have gone pale until the pigment comes back. The purpose of this guide is to put your mind at ease when the skin starts to flake by detailing the normal course of events, what to do for aftercare and any warning signs.
Lillian Crowther here. In my time as a beauty therapist and with my work coordinating salons in Melbourne I have come to see that clients want straightforward answers, not the kind of glossy promises one might make. Of course there are variables – the technique employed, the weather, the treatment and your own skin – but for the most part you will see it heal in 7 to 14 days, with the pigment taking a few weeks to fully set in.
Understand Your Healing Timeline
Healing from a cosmetic tattoo is a matter of layers. You may think the surface is done but the pigment is yet to settle, hence the colour will shift, fade and reappear in the opening month. This is also part of the eyeliner tattoo procedure.
Then you have the Australian climate to contend with. Fresh skin does not take kindly to heat, humidity, dust from outdoor labour or too much sun. An aftercare regimen has to be sound enough for a humid Top End afternoon or a trip on a tram in Melbourne, not only when you are in a nicely air conditioned bathroom.
Days One To Three
Some redness and swelling is to be had along with a more pronounced colour. The irritation means the pigment is right up against the surface so brows will seem wider or darker than you thought they would; eyelids get puffy and lips might feel bruised or dry.
Stick to the written instructions your technician has given you. There is no point in putting on some product because an influencer or a well intentioned aunt has vouched for it. Having clean hands is of greater import than a cabinet of pricey lotions.
Days Four To Seven
This is where it gets unglamorous. You will likely experience some itching and scabbing. The peeling can leave the colour looking anything but even. But do not pick at it, you risk an infection and you will be pulling out pigment.
If the colour is not as deep as you would like, do not assume the worst. It is a temporary thing while the top layer gives way to what is settling beneath.
Days Eight To Fourteen
By week two the worst of it should be over. There may be some dryness left and odd patches of lighter or darker tone. Do not let the unforgiving light in your bathroom lead you to pass judgment on the outcome.
Should you notice any discharge, spreading redness or pain on the increase, put in a call to your technician. If you are unsure, snap some photos in daylight and seek their opinion.
Days Fifteen To Thirty
As the pigment does its work the colour tends to even out. You will still see some unevenness which is why a touch up is on the cards once the initial healing is behind you. But do not put in a booking at day ten because the colour is pale. Let your technician see how the skin has healed, the timing is a matter of protocol and how the skin has responded.
Compare Treatment Healing Stages
The skin and exposure levels differ between your eyebrows, lips and eyeliner so they will not all behave in like manner. Being aware of that will help in scheduling your social or work commitments.
What follows is a practical guide, not a guarantee. Illness, medication or rubbing will prolong the process as will a good deal of sun.
| Treatment | Early Appearance | Common Healing Changes | Practical Planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eyebrows | Defined, dark and a little swollen | Flaking, itch and the colour will recede as the pigment settles | Put off brow makeup and strenuous exercise |
| Eyeliner | A dark line with some tightness and puffiness | Some small flakes and the colour will soften | Give yourself more time to drive if the swelling is affecting your vision |
| Lips | Tendency to be tender and very coloured | The skin will renew itself and you will see patchiness and peeling | Heed the lip specific advice and shield the area from friction |
Eyebrow Tattoo Healing Stages
With an eyebrow tattoo the stages will go from bold to faded and eventually return to the shade you want. The first result is bound to be heavier than the drawing you were shown at the consultation owing to the new pigment and any swelling. A common pitfall is to measure one’s healing brows against the completed work of another and be disappointed. But the outcome is a matter of technique, the pigment you have chosen, your skin and how much sun it has seen. The best course of action is to leave the area alone, do not pick at it and see if any correction is called for at your review.
Eyeliner Healing Expectations
You can expect some tightness, sensitivity, watering or puffiness around the lash line as an eyeliner tattoo heals. Given the proximity to the eye, this is a procedure to go over in detail with your technician; aftercare will need to make allowances for rubbing, eye makeup and contact lenses.
If there is a chance your eyes will be on edge after the session, put in place a back up plan or some transport. While parking and a walk are no trouble, a lengthy trip on public transport in the heat is not pleasant when your eyelids are swollen. Do not get behind the wheel should swelling or blurred vision set in.
Lip Blush Colour Changes
To start with, the colour from a lip blush will be more pronounced than what you will end up with. As the pigment settles the lips may look a bit patchy or pale from peeling.
Heed what the provider says on the subject of moisturising and food. Put down any makeup not meant for healing skin and do not put out your lip products for others to use. Those prone to cold sores should raise the matter before treatment, as the procedure can be a trigger for a recurrence in some.
Practical Aftercare
Any permanent makeup aftercare advice in Australia ought to be put in writing and tailored to the treatment. Your technician will cover everything from product use to swimming and exercise prior to you leaving. I would say in my time running a salon that the error most often made was to handle a new cosmetic tattoo as you would any old makeup. It was a quick appointment so off they would go to the gym in a sweat or put on some foundation and scrub at it. Enthusiasm is something fresh skin does not take kindly to.
- Wash your hands first.
- Then clean only as you have been told with a towel that is either disposable or has been put through the wash, and a water temperature to hand.
- Pat the area dry.
- A thin layer of the product recommended is all that is required.
- Make sure towels and pillowcases are spotless.
- Once the surface is closed and your technician gives the nod, an appropriate SPF will protect healed skin from the sun.
- And be sure to show for your review regardless of how well the colour looks.
Water And Makeup
Be sensible about water. Adhere to the washing regimen your technician sets but do not let the area get wet for long in a spa or by going for a swim while it is mending. You will have more control in the shower than you would in the salt, sand and sun of an afternoon at the beach.
Refrain from putting concealer, mascara or any other kind of makeup on healing skin unless a professional deems it safe; shared cosmetics and their applicators are a vector for bacteria.
Dealing with the Australian climate
The UV here is strong enough to irritate and alter the pigment. In the summer months it is wise to book for a time when you can remain cool and not be out in the elements or on a long drive in the early days of healing. Further north the humidity and perspiration of the wet season can add to the discomfort, and in the dry you still have to contend with dust and sun.
Then there is bushfire smoke or a dusty road. If your job is in the garden, on a farm or construction site, have a word about whether to step away from the dust and the sweating for a while. It is a little planning that saves a week of aggravation.
Some things to avoid
Consistency and a certain dullness is the safest way to go. There is no call for a heroic effort on the part of the healing skin, nor for essential oils, alcohol or a hard scrub. People are apt to think any discomfort has to be put right forthwith. Some tenderness and an itch are to be expected, but pain that is on the increase warrants some advice.
Skip Irritating Activities
Leave the area alone, no exfoliating or scratching. Postpone the sauna or any exercise that will make you break a sweat until you have been given the all clear. Keep the pets and children with their unwashed hands from it (simpler in theory with a cat or toddler). Do not reach for antibiotic or steroid creams unless a doctor has put you up to it; what works for one can be an irritant for another.
Check The Treatment Provider
There are a number of things to put to your technician before any treatment: sterile equipment, hygiene and the like, what is in the pigments, training and insurance credentials, whether a patch test is an option and when one can expect a touch-up. Find out also what the protocol is for after hours should you require medical advice or have an allergic reaction.
Regulatory responsibilities for cosmetic work in Australia are not uniform. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration has information on cosmetics regulation that is worth consulting, though it is no substitute for the health requirements of your state or territory or for proper medical counsel.
Distinguishing the Normal from the Concerning
Healing will see some colour fade and you may experience redness, tenderness, dryness or itching; provided these do not get worse or spread, they are to be expected and will pass.
But if pain becomes severe or there is marked swelling, pus, fever, heat, difficulty with your breathing or facial swelling at a distance from the site of treatment, then you need to see a doctor without delay. With eye work, any change in vision or discharge calls for urgent attention.
- Normal signs may include colour fade, redness, tenderness, dryness and itching that do not worsen or spread.
- Warning signs may include severe pain, marked swelling, pus, fever, heat, breathing difficulty, facial swelling, vision changes or discharge.
Infection is a possibility despite good aftercare and hygiene, but it is not common. 感染 is the Chinese for infection; think of it as a reminder that you are inflicting a controlled injury on the skin, not just having a beauty session. Should you have any misgivings, a doctor is better than an internet comment.
On the subject of the touch-up
This is often built into the plan since healed skin does not always hold pigment in an even manner. It is not a sign of shoddy work. Lips and oily skin in particular can call for further refinement, as can one side of a brow over the other. Do not book a review until your provider has given the all clear on the initial healing. Be candid about your aftercare and any reactions, however minor they may seem, and have photos to hand if the colour has altered.
A decision guide
If a day’s recovery is all you can spare, make arrangements to get home and do nothing else. One would be well advised not to have a procedure done right before a wedding or a camping trip, or a long flight. You want to be in a position to keep dust, water and rubbing at bay for a few days.
Then again, permanent makeup is not for everyone. Those with open wounds, an active skin infection or a medical condition ought to be under a doctor’s advisement first. And if you are not going to be able to stay out of the sun or the pool, or adhere to the aftercare, put off the appointment.
Some questions we are asked in salons here in Australia
The early result is quite unlike the final one so these are put to us time and again. What follows are the short answers to what one might expect.
How long is the healing process?
Eyebrows, lips and eyeliner have their own timetable. Superficially it is 7 to 14 days but the colour can take weeks to settle. Your technician will advise.
Makeup?
Not until the surface has closed and your provider says it is alright. It can be irritating or bring in bacteria, around the eyes in particular.
The colour seems to be going.
Do not be too quick to judge. Some fading while the surface flakes is normal. If it is still an issue once healed, raise it at your review instead of putting products on it yourself.
When to wash up?
Your technician will have given you instructions. A bit of gentle cleaning is not the same as a scrub or a soak. Make sure you do not rub the area.
Is it safe?
Only if the provider is properly trained and handles his pigments and equipment with due care, and you are prepared to follow the rules. There are side effects to consider so informed consent is key. Ask about patch testing and how they go about medical referrals.
Keep it simple and practical
You will have some flaking and itching and the colour will look dark for a while; this is all part of it. Wash your hands, put the written instructions to use and do not pick at it. In the end it is the pattern of symptoms that counts. If they are getting worse or spreading, something is amiss and you should consult a doctor. Pick a good technician and allow for a couple of quiet days.
