Questions & Answers
About Micropigmentation
What is permanent makeup?
Micropigmentation, also known as permanent makeup (PMU), cosmetic tattoo, permanent cosmetics, is the revolutionary method of depositing semi-permanent hypoallergenic mineral pigments into the dermal layer of the skin. With an ultra-thin needle and pigment, the shape of the eyebrows, eyes or lips are enhanced in color and shape.
Who benefits from permanent makeup?
People who…
Have poor eyesight and unsteady hands
Are physically challenged
Have thin or sparse eyelashes or eyebrows
Are allergic to traditional make-up
Have permanent hair loss
Have oily skin
Have Vitiligo, Alopecia, Cancer Scars, Hyper or Hypo-Pigmentation or are Burn Survivors
Have asymmetrical facial features
Are busy but want to look their best in less time
Swim, travel, or camp frequently
Have scars from surgical procedures
Are in need of new areolas and nipples after reconstructive surgery
Want the look of fuller eyebrows to mask the effects of hair loss or scarring
Are permanent makeup procedures safe?
Permanent cosmetic procedures are safe if the technician has had a proper education and follows all of OSHA and CDC guidelines. Inadequate training leads to unsafe practices.
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Sanitation guidelines are adhered to prevent cross-contamination of viruses, bacteria, germs, and other diseases.
All needles are gamma ray sterilized, disposable, one-time use only, and then properly disposed of.
Procedure room is cleaned and disinfected after EACH client.
Equipment (machine, lamps, handheld device) is covered with blue barrier film and changed after each procedure.
All tables, equipment and supplies are carefully wiped with disinfectant wipes.
Floor, walls, window coverings, chairs are sprayed with disinfectant spray.
Makeup pencils used in design are shaved and disinfected with alcohol and/or disinfectant wipes after EACH client.
All design tools are soaked in sterilizing solution after EACH client.
Tweezers, scissors, rulers, pencil sharpeners, calipers, brow dividers, etc.
Bed and head coverings are disposable one-time use only for EACH client.
Comfort blankets are washed after EACH client.
Does it hurt?
Topical anesthetics will be used to alleviate discomfort during the procedure.
However, each person’s skin reacts differently to numbing agents. Some people will numb more than others. In addition, different parts of the same face may react differently to numbing cream. For example, the same numbing cream may work more effectively on their eyebrows than on their lips.
Generally, if you numb well at a visit to the dentist office, you should numb well for a PMU procedure.
What is a micropigment?
What is it made of and how is it different from body tattoo ink?
One of the most important set of questions concerning micro-pigmentation about the type of pigments that are used. What are the pigments, how long do they last, and how do they react to light? Below are some of the most common questions potential clients commonly ask with regards to pigmentation.
What is a chromophore?
A chromophore is any molecule or element which receives electromagnetic and reflects away certain wavelengths which fall in the visible spectrum. The human eye detects these reflected wavelengths and perceives this as the ‘color’ of the molecule or element. This is what gives table salt its white color and gold, its ‘goldness’. And therefore, actually any substance could technically be called a chromophore. In reality, the term is usually applied to specific substances which are known for generating a rich particularly vibrant pure color.
What is a dye? What is a pigment? And, what is an ink, and is there any difference between the three?
Dyes and pigments are both chromophores which give color to a substrate they are added to. More specifically, dyes are chromophores that are usually soluble in water (hydrophilic usually) and often dilute down into a substrate (like paper or skin). Because they are water soluble, they can be diluted easily and also concentrated to a high level. They can provide deeper and more rich colors than pigment compounds. The downside is that adding water to a dye, often results in smearing and further dilution.Pigments are chromophores that are often insoluble in water (sometimes behaving like lipids) and usually rest on top of a substrate. Although they cannot be concentrated like dyes, they are usually resistant to smears, staining and dilution. They are also more resistant to stress and sheer forces. For these reasons they are preferred over dyes for scalp micro-pigmentation.An ink is nothing more than a general term for any liquid, paste or powder which contains chromophores and is used to color a substrate. Usually an ink is made up of colorants (which are usually dyes or pigments), additives, binders and carriers, although, this can vary from one ink to another. As applies to a regular tattoo, an ink is usually composed of colorants (often pigments) and a carrier. This carrier can be water, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, glycerine, methanol or one of several other compounds. The carrier is used to keep the pigments free from bacteria, to act sometimes as a transport agent and to increase permeability of the skin in many instances. As applies to micro-pigmentation, a cosmetic ink is any substance which contains pigments and a carrier.
Why is the role of the pigment paramount to the result a client receives?
The molecular structure of the pigment determines the ability of the pigment both to resist common biochemical reactions in the skin and persevere under both immune system responses and UV radiation. The exact nature and alignment of the various chemical bonds in a pigment’s three dimensional structure determine its ability undergo chemical reactions or degrade under UV radiation. Different classes of compounds, such as polymers, metal oxides, proteins, and even lipid based pigments all have unique chemical interactions. Thus, the perfect pigment for a hair simulation application is one that inert, chemically unreactive under most biochemical changes and heavily resistant to UV radiation.
What is the difference between tattoo ink and cosmetic pigmentation ink?
Both tattoo and cosmetic pigmentation ink can use the same pigments, or very similar pigment compounds to produce color. There are however, a number of differences. For example the metal content in SMP pigments is extremely low, far lower than traditional tattoo inks. SMP pigments are therefore highly unlikely to cause any issues with MRI or similar scans.One significant difference is the depth at which they are injected into the skin. Tattoo pigments are usually injected into the middle dermis, below the epidermis. Cosmetic pigments are usually deposited into the very top of the dermis. This means they are closer to the epidermis, and more easily degraded by UV radiation. Tattoo inks are less affected by UV radiation since they receive less light deeper down in the skin, but they are subject to more white blood cell agents (such as phagocytic cells).Unlike tattoo inks, SMP pigments will not change color over time.
source: research courtesy of hishairclinic.com
Are our faces naturally symmetrical
or asymmetrical?
We used face symmetry app to create right and left face symmetries to illustrate how asymmetrical our faces are… including our eyebrows.
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Asymmetrical means the right and left halves of our faces are not exactly the same.
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Even the most beautiful women have faces that are asymmetrical. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL.
Will both eyebrows look exactly the same?
The very honest answer is NO
Our natural facial asymmetry naturally includes our eyebrows.
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Eyebrows are supposed to look like SISTERS, NOT TWINS.
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ASYMMETRY OF ANGELINA JOLIE
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Left Brow:
Longer than right side with a higher arch.
Underside of arch is more round than right
Frontal bulb extends little further in
Left eye is smaller than right eye
Right brow:
Little thicker, lower, and more flat
Does not extend as far inward (towards the nose) as the left brow.
In spite of facial asymmetry, she is still so beautiful.
The slight differences in her eyebrows are not obviously recognizable, nor does it detract from her beauty.
Do we know exactly what the color will look like in the skin?
Although certified PMU technicians are trained in color theory, there is no technician in the world that can tell you exactly what the color is going to look like in any one person’s individual skin!
We do our best to estimate what it will look like based on pigment, skin type and tone.
However, the only way we will really know is to actually implant it into the skin. We begin the procedure with a tiny pigment test, and adjust the color accordingly to achieve desire color results.
Additionally, the color, even during the procedure, will look different from the final healed color results.
What will I look like immediately after my procedure?
Your procedure area may be slightly swollen and irritated. This is called a ‘wheal and flare’ reaction. The area may also be darker for a few days while it is healing because of the lymph and blood droplets that may have been brought to the surface during your application. While your procedure area is healing, it must go through three phases before you will experience your final results. The procedure area must first heal, peel and fade. Final results may take 6-8 week to completely heal.
What can I expect during the healing process?
You will receive post-procedure after care instructions, but in general:
Complete healing will take approximately 6-8 weeks
Immediately after the procedure, the pigment will look 60% darker than when it is healed and the area will be slightly red and swollen.
Between 3-5 days it will begin to dry up and scab: no scratching, rubbing, peeling or pulling of scabs… or you will lose your color.
The first big layer of scabs should naturally fall off around day 10.
The 2nd layer of scab is a thin white layer that is hardly noticeable but makes the pigment color look a little faded, but will also eventually peel off, which should expose little more richness in color.
No makeup, gym, sweating, swimming, direct sun allowed on the area during the healing period.
Is it normal to experience a mix of feelings during the healing process?
Absolutely YES
How long does it last?
The life span of your permanent cosmetic make-up depends upon the technician, the products used, depth of implantation, proper after-care, and use of total sun block after healing.
Generally, permanent makeup will last approximately 1-3 years. For some, it may last less than a year, for others more than three years.
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Skin Type:
PMU will generally fade faster on thick and oily skin.
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Lifestyle:
PMU will generally fade faster with exposure to sun, water, and perspiration.
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Skin care and makeup products:
Certain types of facial skin care and makeup products may fade it faster
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All of these factors will determine the life span of the makeup.
Color enhancers are suggested ‘as needed’ to keep the procedure looking fresh and new.
How often will I need a touch-up?
The frequency of touch-ups depends on personal preferences.
Some prefer not to have to apply makeup at all (day or evening occasions) in the various areas.
In this case, the PMU process may take several applications to get it to the richness desired.
This PMU preference will also need to be touch-up more frequently to maintain it at a particular richness in style and color.
Some prefer to have a lighter everyday makeup look, and then just apply conventional makeup over it for a bolder evening look.
In this case, touch-up of PMU could be less frequent.
Reminder: The lifespan of PMU is also directly affected by skin type and lifestyle.
How do I care for my new permanent make-up?
After the procedure, you will receive a post-treatment care instructional sheet. The overall success of your procedure is contingent upon you following these instructions. A follow-up visit will be scheduled approximately 6-8 weeks from your initial application. The purpose for this follow-up appointment is to touch-up and refine the make-up.
Is permanent make-up safe for skin that is allergic to traditional make-up?
The client who is allergic to traditional make-up is usually allergic to the fillers, binders, preservatives and fragrances in these make-up products. In permanent make-up, we use iron oxides and lakes that are pure and combined with re-wetting agents.
Mineral make-up is made up of the same ingredients that we use, and has been used, for decades. These ingredients are innocuous and non-reactive, making them perfect for permanent cosmetic procedures.
Can a person on medication undergo a permanent make-up procedure?
Clients on medication should obtain a release from their physician prior to any permanent cosmetic make-up procedure.
The release should be written on the physician’s prescription note pad and sent to the technician’s office prior to the start of any procedure.
Do I have to take any precautions prior to a lip procedure?
If you have ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you must take an antiviral pre-procedure. Your physician may prescribe Valtrex, Famvir or Zovirax. Herpetic outbreaks usually occur on the 3rd day post-procedure, and taking antivirals will lessen your chance of an outbreak. If you do experience a herpetic outbreak, you may lose the implanted pigment color in the area of the outbreak.
!! STRONG ADVICE !!
Please plan accordingly before setting up your PMU procedure appointment!
It may not be a good time for a procedure if you have any upcoming events to attend within 10 days after the procedure...Or, be willing to attend events during the healing (swollen, dark, scabbing, peeling) process.