top of page

Permanent Makeup Pre-Care & Aftercare

 

Before Your Appointment

Permanent makeup is a cosmetic tattoo procedure. Proper preparation helps ensure the best healed results, colour retention, and overall experience.

 

2–4 Weeks Before Your Brow Appointment

Stop using anti-aging and resurfacing skincare products on the forehead and brow area, including:

  • Retinol

  • Retin-A / Tretinoin

  • Glycolic Acid

  • Salicylic Acid

  • AHAs and BHAs

  • Chemical exfoliants

  • Skin resurfacing treatments

Do not resume these products until one month after your perfecting (touch-up) appointment.

 

4 Weeks Before

Avoid treatments that can irritate or thin the skin in the treatment area, including:

  • Laser treatments

  • IPL

  • Chemical peels

  • Microneedling

  • Medical-grade facials

  • Skin resurfacing treatments

 

3 Days Before

Avoid:

  • Brow waxing

  • Brow tinting

  • Brow lamination

  • Threading

 

Day of Your Appointment

Please arrive with healthy, intact skin. If you have any of the following in the treatment area, your appointment may need to be rescheduled (please call before coming to your appointment ):

  • Sunburn

  • Active acne or breakouts

  • Open wounds

  • Rashes

  • Irritated skin

  • Cold sores (for lip procedures)

Please disclose any medical conditions, medications, supplements, allergies, or recent cosmetic procedures before your appointment.

What to Expect After Your Permanent Makeup Service

Your brows will appear darker, bolder, and more defined immediately after your appointment. This is completely normal.

​

Over the next several days:

  • Colour may appear darker before it softens.

  • Brows may look thicker than expected due to swelling.

  • Mild tenderness, tightness, and itching are normal.

  • Light flaking or peeling typically occurs between days 4–10.

  • Colour may appear lighter during healing before returning as the skin settles.

Do not panic during the healing process. The final healed result is not visible until approximately 8 weeks after your procedure.

General Aftercare Instructions

 

Until all flaking and peeling has completed:

Avoid

  • Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms

  • Direct shower spray on the treated area

  • Heavy exercise that causes excessive sweating

  • Makeup on the treated area

  • Facials, peels, and exfoliating treatments

  • Tanning and excessive sun exposure

Important

  • Never pick, scratch, rub, or peel any flaking skin.

  • Keep the area clean and follow your aftercare instructions carefully.

  • Use a clean pillowcase.

  • Avoid touching the area with your fingers.

  • Stay hydrated and get adequate rest to support healing.

Picking or peeling can result in:

  • Patchy colour retention

  • Delayed healing

  • Scarring

  • Infection

  • Uneven results

Brow Aftercare

You will receive detailed aftercare instructions and aftercare ointment at your appointment.

Cleansing

Wash your brows gently morning and evening using a mild cleanser that does not contain:

  • Retinol

  • Glycolic Acid

  • Salicylic Acid

  • AHAs/BHAs

  • Acne medications

  • Anti-aging ingredients

Examples include:

  • Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

  • Unscented baby wash

  • Other fragrance-free gentle cleansers

Ointment

Apply a very thin layer of the aftercare ointment provided after cleansing, as directed by your technician.

More is not better. Excess ointment can soften the healing skin and affect pigment retention.

​

After washing:

  • Pat dry gently with a clean tissue.

  • Allow brows to fully dry before applying ointment.

  • Avoid prolonged exposure to steam and moisture.

Softened scabs can detach prematurely and remove pigment before it has fully settled.

 

Avoid These Products

For 4 weeks after your follow-up procedure, do not apply:

  • Retinol

  • Retin-A

  • Glycolic Acid

  • Salicylic Acid

  • Acne treatments

  • Anti-aging serums

  • Exfoliants

to the forehead or brow area.

Makeup can be resumed once peeling has completely finished.

 

Peeling & Itching

Between days 4–10, you may experience:

  • Itching

  • Dryness

  • Flaking

  • Light peeling

This is a normal part of healing.

Do not scratch, pick, or peel.

Some clients experience very little visible peeling, while others experience more noticeable flaking. Both are normal.

Eyeliner Aftercare

Mild swelling, tenderness, and watery eyes are normal for the first few days.

The eyes may appear similar to having cried or experienced mild irritation.

To Reduce Swelling

  • Apply a cool compress for up to 10 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours.

  • Sleep with your head slightly elevated the first night.

Care Instructions

  • Keep the area clean.

  • Avoid eye makeup until fully healed.

  • Use only the aftercare products recommended by your technician.

  • Apply aftercare using a fresh cotton swab each time.

Avoid

  • Swimming pools

  • Hot tubs

  • Excessive sun exposure

  • Eye creams around the treated area

  • Rubbing or touching the eyes

You may notice minor pigment residue on your pillowcase or lashes during healing. This is normal.

Long-Term Maintenance

Permanent makeup naturally fades over time.

To maintain your results:

  • Wear SPF daily.

  • Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning beds.

  • Use caution with laser and IPL treatments near the treated area.

  • Avoid prolonged use of aggressive exfoliating products directly over the tattooed area.

Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature fading.

With proper care, your permanent makeup will heal beautifully and maintain its colour longer.

Pre and Post Care
bottom of page