How to Apply Permanent Makeup

Permanent makeup is applied through a process called micropigmentation, which typically involves tattooing eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrows. It is a way to fix scarring and make your morning routine easier. It is a technique that has been around since the 1920s, but is becoming more popular today. It is considered a form of tattooing and in some cases a form of plastic surgery, although it is typically performed by a professional esthetician.
It costs $250 to $1,000 per procedure and the procedures are done under local anesthesia, in 30 to 120 minutes. Precision is necessary in placement, and because it is permanent, the appearance will not vary from day to night or bright light to dim, so color pigmentation is important.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trained professional

1. Look for a permanent makeup specialist in your area that offers guaranteed hypoallergenic and MRI-safe pigments that won't be affected by the sun and won't require frequent touch-ups.

2. Finding a board certified micropigmentologist may be necessary to fix facial scarring, especially for permanent makeup for burn victims.

3. Look for an expert who has been in the industry for a number of years, with references you can check from other patients. Professionals with experience are able to mix pigments and apply permanent makeup as light or dark as you want it.

4. Besides basic permanent makeup applications, it is possible to get permanent makeup to cover stretchmarks or face-lift scars. There are experts able to fix previous permanent makeup procedures that you are not satisfied with. The best practitioners are state certified.

5. Many permanent makeup artists also perform other services. Look for one who offers a consultation with color charts and tips for before and after care.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for a professional esthetician, a plastic surgeon or one who has good references and has been practicing for a while. Go with natural colors for the best results. Unnatural colors are hard to fix, especially in the case of cheek blush, which can turn the area black with laser removal procedures.
• Do not take permanent makeup lightly, because it can be hard to correct mistakes. If you are unsure it is right for you, then do not proceed until you are absolutely sure. Because permanent makeup is considered tattooing, it is not closely regulated and you can get infections from contaminated needles. Also, it can ruin your appearance if done incorrectly, giving you a surprised look, if eyebrows are tattooed too high, for example. It is almost impossible to remove mistakes, so a professional is the best assurance for the proper outcome. Seek certification and experience. If you later regret the decision to have permanent makeup, removal may be difficult to impossible, so make sure it is the right decision before having any procedures done.

Resources

• Permanent Makeup
• More on Permanent Makeup

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