Permanent Makeup
We’ve all had that morning—you wake up 30 minutes late, you need to rush out the door, and you know your makeup is going to add a precious 10 minutes to your routine. At times like this, you might ask yourself: “Wouldn’t it be great to not have to worry about my makeup every day?”
Permanent makeup can alleviate the hassle of doing your makeup every day. However, it is a serious cosmetic procedure and it’s important to weigh the risks along with the benefits.
What Exactly is Permanent Makeup?
Permanent makeup mimics the look of just-applied lipstick, lip liner, eyebrow pencil, and eyeliner. It’s done through a process called micropigmentation, where a tattoo pen is used to inject permanent ink into the skin. Each procedure takes between 30 and 120 minutes, and Aesthetics use a local anesthetic to numb the area being tattooed. Just like any tattoo, initially the color will appear brighter or darker, then will fade. The area will be swollen for anywhere between 2-5 days and will crust over before healing.
Beautiful Benefits
The most obvious benefit to permanent makeup is waking up every day with your “face on.” You can swim, exercise, shower and wake up still looking put together and ready to go. It can be ideal for the woman who is constantly on the go. Permanent makeup may be for you if:
- You’ve lost hair due to chemotherapy, accidents, burns, or cosmetic surgery.
- You have a difficult time applying makeup due to age or conditions, such as arthritis.
- You have allergies to traditional makeup or have sensitive skin.
– Whats the difference between the Tradional Tattooing process and Permanent Makeup?
Where both procedures involve tattooing the skin, in traditional tattooing, pigment is added to the third layer of the skin, where in permanent makeup pigment is added to the second layer of the skin, called the Dermis, creating a final result of a soft blend of color to the tattooed area.
– Is this procedure painful?
Topical anesthetics are used to minimize discomfort.
– Do I have a choice of colors?
Definitely! There’s a wide spectrum of colors you may choose from.
– Do I have a choice in the placement of pigments?
Of course. During your consultation, design and pigment placement will be determined.
– What is involved in recovery?
There will be slight swelling and redness in the skin, which will subside quickly. You may resume normal activities immediately after the procedure. Complete healing takes one to six weeks while the pigmentation matures and reaches its final color.
Microblading, Microshading, and Microfeathering: What’s the Difference?
Unless you’ve been chilling under a rock lately, you’ve probably heard of microblading, the new-ish, semi-permanent version of eyebrow tattoos. They’re not your grandma’s stamped-on brows; instead, the delicate, super-fine hair strokes look natural and realistic in a way that the first-gen versions never did. Microblading’s recent popularity has spawned microshading and microfeathering, two techniques that give you a different brow look depending on your preferences. Here’s how they differ—and what that’ll mean for you.
Microblading
Best for: Anyone who wants a natural brow look that lasts.
What is microblading: Microblading is a technique using a super-fine pen (technically, a bundle of 12 to 15 needles) to deposit pigment into skin. The tip is so fine, in fact, that it can create hair strokes that look legit. And the needles reach only into the superficial layers of the skin, which is what makes the method semi-permanent (versus permanent, like traditional cosmetic tattoos). Think of each stroke as a little paper-cut. (We know what you’re wondering: Yes, it hurts, but your brow artist can numb the area first.) Compared to other techniques, “microblading gives a very natural look and better simulates hair,” says Betsy Shuki, makeup artist and brow expert who offers microblading services at the office of NYC plastic surgeon Scott Wells, MD.
What you should know: In the first few days, you might want to plan around your brows. “On the first day after microblading, clean your eyebrows with distilled water on cotton pad gently and apply aftercare cream every four hours,” says Shuki. On the second day, repeat that three times. For the next five days, do this morning and night. Your brow area might be red and scabby, so try not to schedule big things (e.g., a huge job interview or engagement photos) for the first week or two. “Also, avoid going to the gym, any excess sweating around eyebrows will prevent pigment retention and can cause infection,” adds Shuki.
How long microblading lasts: You’ll need a touch-up in about a month (the cost of this is typically budgeted into the fee of the initial service). Then, microblading can last anywhere from 12 months to three years, depending on your lifestyle. A few ways to extend it: Stay out of the sun, since it can fade the pigment, and avoid putting exfoliants (like retinol and glycolic acid) near your brows, because they’ll lift the top layers of your skin with continued use—and the color with it.
Microfeathering
Best for: Anyone who wants to lightly fill out the brows they already have.
What is microfeathering: Microfeathering is a form of microblading, and a technique created (and trademarked) by eyebrow artist-to-the-stars Kristie Streicher. She’s best known for her feathered brow, a no-needle shaping method that’s all about a natural, fluffy-looking brow. This is similar to that, but with pigment. Like microblading, she uses a fine blade to create tiny incisions. “Pigment is then deposited into the incisions, resulting in an incredible natural-looking ‘eyebrow hair,’” says Streicher. Unlike microblading, which typically creates most of the brow for you, Streicher uses your existing brow hairs as the “starting base” and simply fills it in as needed.
What you should know: Microfeathering is a little more high-maintenance than microblading, only because Streicher is so exact. She requires a consultation to ensure that there’s enough natural hair to help blend the pigment into your brows. (And, even so, there’s usually a growing-out period of six to 12 months so your existing brow hairs are all accounted for.) It’s also a two-part process. “During the first appointment, microfeathered strokes are created in some of the more dense area of the brow,” explains Streicher. “Six to eight weeks later, depending on how your skin heals and responds, additional strokes are then added.” Everyone heals differently, she says, so she can better complete the look once she knows how your skin will recover.
How long microfeathering lasts: It typically doesn’t have the staying power of microblading because “the pigmented stokes are much finer and natural looking,” says Streicher. Depending on certain factors, like your skin type (oily skin won’t hold the pigment as well), age, and skin care routine, microfeathering will usually last eight to 12 months, max.
Microshading
Best for: Anyone who wants brows to look more “done” (i.e. thick and filled in).
What is microshading: If microblading is like painting and microfeathering more like sketching, microshading is like an Impressionist got ahold of the blade. “Microshading technique is done using either an electric hand tool or a manual tool, which creates a soft, powdered effect that resembles eyebrow powder,” says Shuki. Instead of the hair stroke typical with microblading and microfeathering, microshading employs a stippling method, which uses repetitive dots of pigment. It’s like the pomade or powder to microblading’s pencil strokes—just semi-permanent. The overall effect more closely resembles the sort of brow you’d find on any given Instagram influencer.
What you should know: Some people could benefit from a combo of microshading and microblading, says Shuki. That candidate would have thinning eyebrows with drier skin—so, likely on the more mature side. Thinning brows can benefit from the extra oomph of shading. If you’re on the fence between the two, nothing beats checking out photos on Instagram. They’ll give you a good understanding of a brow artist’s style, so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when you make an appointment. Plus, it shows the quality of the work, since pictures can’t hide a botched microblading or microshading job. (Also, spring for an artist with a license or certificate from the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals or the American Academy of Micropigmentation, which shows that they’ve undergone the proper training.) Luckily, if you do get both, the price is about the same as it would be for just microblading.
How long microshading lasts: All good news here—there’s no difference in the lifespan of microshading and microblading. So, excluding the first touch-up, you have a solid year before you need to see your brow artist again.
Permanet Eyeliner Upper : This is a permanent makeup technique that makes your eye look bigger. A precise wing can be added at the end and the thickness of the eyeliner can be increased if desired. Or one could just go for a thin line close to the lashes without a wing at the end to create an illusion of thicker lashes and a bigger eye. This lasts for 3 to 5 years.
The eyeliner can also be customized to look like eye shadow placed close to the lash line by defining the bottom edge and creating strokes in the upper area of the eyeliner that blend into the outer corner of the eyelid.
Permanet Eyeliner Lower: This permanent makeup technique adds definition and makes your eyes the focal point of your face. Lasts 3 to 5 years. It can also be done in combination with the upper liner based on your preference.
Permanet Lipstick: This permanent makeup procedure involves lining the lips to create definition, Minor flaws in the lip shape can be corrected in this step. This can be followed by filling in the lips with the same colour used for the outline. The end result is beautifully pigmented lips. The pigment intensity can be more or less based on your personal preference.
