What's the process like for getting permanent makeup?

The process typically starts with a consultation to discuss your concerns and goals. From there, the specialist will create a personalized plan for you, and the procedure itself usually takes around 1-2 hours. You'll need to follow a strict aftercare routine to ensure the best results.

Is permanent makeup painful?

The pain is usually manageable, but it can vary from person to person. Some people may experience more discomfort than others, but it's worth it for the outcome.

How long does permanent makeup last?

With proper aftercare and maintenance, permanent makeup can last for several years. However, it's not a permanent solution and may require touch-ups over time.

Can I get permanent makeup if I have sensitive skin?

Yes, but it's essential to find a reputable specialist who has experience working with sensitive skin. They'll be able to create a personalized plan that takes your skin type into account.

How much does permanent makeup cost?

The cost can vary depending on the type of procedure, location, and specialist. On average, you can expect to pay around $500-$1000 for a single procedure.

What are the risks associated with permanent makeup?

As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks involved, such as allergic reactions, scarring, and infection. However, these risks can be minimized by finding a reputable specialist and following proper aftercare instructions.

Can I get permanent makeup on my eyebrows and eyeliner?

Yes, these are two of the most popular areas for permanent makeup. The specialist will create a personalized plan that takes into account your natural shape and features.

How do I choose the right specialist for permanent makeup?

Look for someone with experience and a good reputation. Check online reviews, ask for referrals, and make sure they use high-quality equipment and products.

Permanent Makeup Review: Worth Every Penny?

Hello! I'm dedicating my 100th review to permanent makeup. I've done it more than once, so I've got plenty to say. I'm writing this review a year after my first procedure, which was a game-changer for me.

I spent months researching permanent makeup before finally booking my appointment with a specialist in my city. I was curious to see how it would turn out, especially since I'd been interested in it since winter 2021.

I decided to start with my eyebrows and eyeliner. My original eyebrows are dark, but they're not very dense, and they're a bit uneven with some gaps. I also had a scar on one of my eyebrows from when I was a kid – it didn't grow any hair, so one eyebrow was a bit shorter than the other.

Eyebrows before permanent makeup

During my first appointment, the specialist spent a lot of time carefully drawing the shape of my eyebrows with a pencil. Only when I was happy with the shape did they start the permanent makeup process. I was a bit nervous, but my specialist reassured me that everything would be okay.

I've always had permanent makeup done with anesthesia. The anesthetic is applied as a gel, and a plastic sheet is placed over the area. After a while, the sheet is removed, and the anesthetic is wiped off. It's not the most pleasant feeling, but it's definitely necessary.

The brow part wasn't painful at all. But the eyes were a different story. The numbing cream didn't quite do the trick, and it was more annoying than painful. My eyes were watering like crazy – from the bright light of the lamp, the dryness, and even the procedure itself. My technician told me it's a rare reaction, and it doesn't happen often.

My eyes were also reflexively blinking and squinting from the touch. Let's just say getting a permanent makeup was a bit of a challenge, but my technician managed to get it done. If you have sensitive eyes, you might experience the same thing. I have blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and I'm nearsighted, so I wear contacts. By the way, you can't wear contacts during a permanent makeup procedure.

During the procedure, I had to deal with the dye getting in my eye multiple times, and it stung. My technician kept wiping my eyes with a damp cloth. It's all about technique, but the main concern for most people is the risk of the needle going into your eye – thankfully, that didn't happen.

But the results were worth it. My eyelids and brows are starting a new chapter. The permanent makeup has given me a lot of confidence, and I feel like I can rock any makeup look now.

PM brows and eyelids immediately after the procedure

Right after the procedure, your skin will be a lot more vibrant than it will be in the long run – don't worry about that. The color will fade to about 30-50% of its original intensity within the first three days to a week. You'll be looking a bit 'Brezhnev-esque' during that time, but it'll settle down eventually.

At first, the results are super noticeable, but then the skin starts to flake and form crusts. I've learned the hard way that you shouldn't try to peel off the crusts yourself – it can damage the permanent makeup and render it useless. Don't get the permanent makeup wet either, unless it's the first few days when you can use a chlorhexidine wipe to clean your brows.

After the first treatment, I was given a care card with some guidance on how to look after my brows. It's really important to follow the aftercare instructions carefully to ensure the best results.

I was really pleased with the results – my brows had taken on a defined shape, and my eyes looked a bit brighter thanks to the permanent makeup. I felt like I had a whole new look, and it was amazing.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a better photo from back then. To be honest, that's what my brows looked like after the scabbing had fallen off

For a while after the permanent makeup, I was getting some eye irritation. It wasn't in my eyelids, but in my actual eyes – it would sting and feel like it was scratching. I was worried about it, but I think I've figured out what was causing it. When the scabs from the perm fall off, they can get into your eyes and cause irritation. But don't worry – it's just a temporary thing and it should clear up within a month after the permanent makeup.

After the initial procedure, I expected a correction to be made. The correction process was similar to the initial procedure, except the artist didn't spend as much time outlining my brow shape. The permanent eyeliner wasn't any easier, but I knew what to expect by then.

I decided to get permanent lip color along with my brows and eyeliner. At first, I was hesitant because I thought it would be too bold and over-the-top, but the artist's makeup fades pretty quickly, so it's hard to achieve a lot of color even if you want to.

Before committing to the lip color, I tried out different shades with lip gloss to see what I liked. I settled on a slightly bolder lip color – just like my natural lip color, but better.

Before the procedure, the artist showed me various pigment options. Unfortunately, you can only see them on the packaging and on a swatch, and the artist warned me that they might look different on my lips. This was a bit of a letdown, as I wasn't entirely sure what color I'd end up with. Even when I specified the color I wanted, the artist suggested other options, saying they'd look better on my lips. In the end, I stuck with a warm-toned pigment, as I have a warm skin tone.

I had the same anesthesia as before, but it didn't do much to numb the area. The lip color procedure was incredibly painful – the most painful part of the whole experience. However, I was able to get through it because at least I didn't have to deal with tearing up or the blinking reflex.

I went for permanent lip fillers, and the end result was a soft, hazelnut-beige color for my lips. You know, after any filler procedure, there's always a pretty significant swelling, so you can kind of see what your lips would look like if you'd gone for a lip implant.

Right after the lip filler procedure

As for the removal process, it was exactly the same as the procedure itself. My lips got scabs, they turned a bit darker, and then the scabs fell off. I managed to avoid messing them up, considering they are lips.

The swelling went down, and here's what my lips looked like in the first few days (I also got my brows and eyeliner done)

I'd recommend drinking through a straw, and eating things that don't require you to touch your lips with your mouth. I didn't think of that the first time, but that's exactly what happened – most of the filler came out. The only thing left was the outline, but it was pretty weak. I didn't manage to take a photo of the result, but basically, my lips looked the same as they did before the filler.

When I did it again, I opted for a different color. The technician mixed red and pink pigments, and I think it turned out better. This color is more to my liking.

Swollen lips after the first few days of the procedure; the swelling went down, and there were no crusts yet

This time around, I was more careful with my lips. I made sure not to over-wet them, and I ate and drank carefully.

PM lips shedding their crusts

And yet, even after the crusts fell off, I was left with a faint outline of the lip color and a lightly colored middle section. The effect was like eating lipstick.

But this time, my lips 'held up' a bit better than the first time. They developed a soft, rosy hue.

I ended up wearing this lip, brow, and eye combo for a while, and I was really happy with the results. It was a great feeling to have a consistent look that I loved.

Photo from February 2021. PM in the morning, brows after six months of correctionLips at the same timeHealed PM brows, eyes, lips

Last summer (2022), I decided to update my PM for my eyes and brows.

I don't have much to say about my PM for my eyes – it's still the same. However, my PM for my brows has undergone some changes. My technician thought it needed a bit more length added to one of my brows, closer to the arch. I didn't argue with her, as she's the expert.

As a result, the 'added' brow ended up being longer than the other one, closer to my nose. But I didn't notice it right away.

Take a look at the difference.

I'm still not sure how I feel about it, to be honest. On one hand, my natural asymmetry is already pretty noticeable, and all my facial features are pretty distinctive. On the other hand, if I'd known, I would've asked her to leave it alone. Better to err on the side of caution with PMU, because you can always add more, but it's harder to take away. For the price, I guess.

That being said, I'm pretty happy with my permanent makeup now.

My brows and eyeliner after the first few days of the procedure; my lips are still the same, and you can still see the pink tint from the PMUMy healed PMU for my eyeliner and brows

I've finished the timeline part, so let's move on to the results:

Brows. Super comfortable, almost painless. It's really helped shape my brows. I no longer need to use a brow pencil.

Eye liner. The second most painful area. The permanent makeup really makes my eyes pop, and it's almost undetectable. It creates a great illusion of thicker lashes. It's also lasted longer than anything else, and on my last touch-up, the technician even suggested doing my lips instead of my eyeliner because my eyeliner had held up so well, but I insisted on keeping it.

Lips. That's the most painful area, and the most unpredictable. No matter how many dance moves you bust out, there's still a good chance you'll end up with the 'eat-my-lipstick' effect (a blurred outline, an empty middle). And if you're lucky, the shade will be light, but if it's dark, the effect will be even more noticeable. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend doing a dark lip tint, but hey, to each their own. And it's likely you'll need to do more procedures to get the even coverage you want, compared to other areas.

Does the tint fade? YES. Yes, and yes again. Always and forever. Before my first procedure, I was told that nothing would fade (upd.: *further down the text: by 'fading' I mean color migration), since they work with their own pigments, it's all been tested. Six months later, my brows had turned gray. Not a deep blue, but gray, and on my last correction, the technician added a warm tone. She said that the color interacts with the blood vessels and that's why it always shifts to a cooler tone. So, the tint will always need touch-ups.

Considering what I've said about fading, I'm all for the eyebrow tint, the lip tint, and I'm skeptical about the brow tint. Because if your eyes and lips are going to fade into a different color, it's going to look like makeup, but gray brows are just not what you're going for. If you've got your own perfect brow shape, thick brows, and you just want to 'add a little color' to your brows – don't do it. But in my case, even if I'd known about fading beforehand, I would've still done it, because better to have gray brows than no brows or patchy brows at all.

One thing to keep in mind with PM – if you're looking to add some definition to your brows, be aware that with age and skin sagging, the lines might become more pronounced. For me, the golden rule is less is more... PM is just a way to enhance my look, but I still rely on makeup for the finishing touches. It's a lot easier to add what's missing than to deal with unwanted lines, trust me!

I also want to mention that I've had sensitive eyes my whole life, and I've struggled with blepharitis and conjunctivitis. After a year of using PM, I can confidently say that it hasn't made my eye issues any worse. In fact, I've only had one minor flare-up in the past 12 months.

I'm really happy with the results and would recommend PM to others. Just make sure you weigh the pros and cons and find a skilled practitioner.