Makeup is the part and parcel for women from all walks of life. Just as the latest and the trendiest apparel and accessories are a compulsion for women, makeup is also an innate desire. The cosmetic industry constitutes the innumerable makeup products, salons, and beauty tools, and attracts business worth millions of dollars on a daily basis.
But imagine getting up to a prepped face every morning and going on about your day without the need to put on or freshen up the makeup. Yes, it’s possible to save the efforts, money, and time we put into refining the already-present splendour and beauty. Presenting to you, permanent makeup.
Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup, also referred to as cosmetic tattooing, is the art of micro pigmentation on the face to mimic the effects and looks of makeup. It’s a cosmetic procedure that leaves you with fuller looking brows, tinted lips, perfect eyeliners, etc. for a prolonged time. The first representation of permanent makeup was seen in early 1900s with tattooing for delicate pink skin throughout the year, but it has developed since then to look less like lines of tattoo and much more natural.
In addition to the benefits already stated, permanent makeup is also helpful in some particular circumstances, such as for people with unsteady hands, eyesight issues, allergies to makeup ingredients, or with medical conditions that affect the skin pigmentation or prevent the person from doing everyday tasks.
How Permanent Is Permanent Makeup?
The big question… Technically speaking, it is semi-permanent; it won’t smudge or wash off, yet it won’t last forever. On average, the tattooing effects start fading anywhere from 6 months to 3 years and needs touch ups. Exposure to makeup products, facial cleansers, water, and sunlight determine the level of fading.
Is it safe?
About the safety of permanent makeup, there are a few things to make sure of before going for the procedure.
Firstly, be sure that the chosen salon or studio is licensed and has proven good results, because not liking the final result and getting it altered is not a very flexible choice.
Secondly, the risks of allergies and infections. Some people develop allergies to the tattoo ink, particularly the red and pink lip-tinting inks. Since the skin is undermined at multiple spots during the tattooing process, the risk of infections is there. Medical grade sterilization, disposable tools, and high-quality inks reduce the risks.
And thirdly, the post-procedure care and healing process, so that we can reduce the later side effects on skin and the chances of infection.
Healing after cosmetic tattooing takes about a couple of weeks, and sometimes ointments are given to keep the wounds from getting wet.
Additionally, pigment issues like misplacement, discoloration, and scarring is also important side effects.
The range of available procedure
- Microblading-
Microblading eyebrow tattoo is the procedure to give the eyebrows a natural and filled feel. Small strokes of blade or needle deposit the pigment under the skin in the eyebrow to resemble the fine hairs. People who prefer to maintain the shape and fullness of eyebrows go for this procedure. It’s not as painful as it sounds; a numbing cream is usually used on the eyebrow area before the procedure. The effects of Microblading begin fading in 12-18 months and the touch up is done with pigment re-deposited in the existing work. Microblading is not advised for people with oily skin or large pores since it does not give a fine, natural look on healing.
- Lip blushing or lip tinting-
Lip tinting is a more sensitive and defined procedure resulting in effect of filled, blush-tinted lips. It adds a subtle colour to the lips, in a natural and washed across tone. This procedure is especially important for those who like their lips a certain way all the time and those who have troubles deciding the right lip colours. Numbing cream helps in the process again.
Though the lips may feel a bit dry, flaky, and tender after the tattooing initially, but they heal up in a week or two. Moreover, the ink colors used for lip tinting can cause allergies and puffy lips in sensitive individuals.
Lips need early repeated touch ups as they don’t retain pigment too much but once settled, it remains for up to a year.
- Permanent Eyeliner-
The pigments are deposited within or just above the lash line, just like the regular eyeliner. It makes the lashes look fuller and can be left as a traditional liner or extended to give cat-eye. This procedure works for people who love to use mascaras and eyeliners, particularly whom have concerns keep it in good condition it.
The permanent eyeliner lasts about 12-18 moths depending upon exposure to water and makeup products. This additionally has some risks of eye damage and infections of the eyelids.
- Scar camouflage-
The scar surface, usually lighter than the skin colour, is tattooed with skin-coloured pigments to conceal it, such as scars of surgeries, stretch marks and acne. The procedure involves placing the pigment just under the skin in repeated sessions. This allows the pigment to blend into the skin layers and the skin to heal in-between the sessions. Good outcomes are seen in cases when the scar is lighter than skin, healed scars, and hypopigmentation spots. This is also done for nipple reconstruction after breast surgery and vitiligo. In cases of darker scars, treatment is combined with lasers, bleaching, and tattooing.
The effects last longer in scar camouflaging because the skin shedding and the glands are quite less in scar tissue compared to normal skin.
- Freckle tattoos-
The process involves marking spots for freckles and then the same spot is poked with the pigment-stained needle four to five times. This creates a natural-looking, soft freckle. It is again not as painful as it sounds because of the numbing cream. Faux freckles are a trend in the younger generation who do not have natural freckles. It is also for those adults who had freckles when young but has faded over time. Freckles give a sense of youthfulness.
Freckling lasts 12 to 18 months, but needs retouching depending upon the client’s need. These usually fade unevenly and are difficult to keep up because of skin care products like cleansers and face washes.
According to the artists, blush is the most difficult to achieve. The fading is often uneven, unblended, and off, looking likes red spots. Moreover, skin care products worsen the spread and fading.
