The aftercare is as important as any treatment you have in Australia. When getting any procedure done, it is crucial to consider the safety standards for permanent makeup. Should you want the short version, follow it: make sure the area is clean and dry as you should be, do not pick at it or put yourself in the sun, stay away from swimming and sweating, and stick to what your artist puts before you. And if a fever sets in or you see pus, redness that is spreading or an increase in pain, get in touch with a clinician or your artist without delay.
I am Abigail Winterbourne. The thing that eludes most people is that while the appointment may seem like the occasion, the outcome is really determined in the ensuing two or four weeks. Proper aftercare will aid healing and keep infection at bay, so you have the best chance of even colour and good pigment retention. Do without it and you could be left with skin irritation, patchy results or a permanent makeup touch up session where the artist has to put in more work than is called for.
The Basics
We will be practical about it. Brows, eyeliner or lips, once the procedure is over the skin is in need of some calm and cleanliness to put itself right; it has been mildly traumatised. Regard it as a small wound under control rather than your run of the mill makeup.
Then there are the elements in Australia. Humidity, UV and the heat can complicate matters. You might be in the mood for a stroll on the beach but a steamy afternoon on the Sunshine Coast and a new cosmetic tattoo do not mix.
On the Importance of Healing Care
It is more than a matter of being comfortable. How well you care for a cosmetic tattoo will have a bearing on the shape, the colour and whether you have to go back for correction down the track. Discontent with “bad pigment” is often due to a lack of support in the healing process. Your home care and the sterile technique work of your artist combine to safeguard the skin barrier and mitigate contamination.
Colour, Safety and the Healing Process
You will experience some darkening, flaking and tightness, nothing to be concerned about. In time the skin will mend and the bold initial look will mellow. Some make the mistake of thinking darker is better for the long haul. It is not. As part of the normal permanent makeup healing stages, scabbing and peeling will take some of the surface pigment with them. Rubbing or over-cleansing will dislodge colour that has yet to set.
As for safety, one should be aware of the rules. Safe Work Australia has information to be had on the risks and hygiene in the workplace when it comes to body art and skin penetration; their view on the matter is worth reading: body art and skin penetration health and safety information from Safe Work Australia.
The First 72 Hours
Your skin is in a receptive state for the first three days and will react to the friction of a dirty pillowcase, gym perspiration or whatever is on the bathroom shelf. My rule of thumb is to make it uneventful. Put off the hot yoga, the deep house cleaning and any new serums until later.
Act Accordingly
Every artist has his or her way depending on the technique and the skin, so heed the instructions. One may call for a dry heal, another a light application of healing ointment or a wash with sterile water and a mild antibacterial cleanser. But do not think more is of benefit, a heavy, greasy layer only holds in the moisture and hinders things. If told to blot lymph fluid on the first day, use a bit of gauze or cotton and be gentle with it to preclude crusting. Make sure your hands are properly washed before you put them to your face, and let the pets be.
Things to Steer Clear Of
- Forget the saunas, the ocean and long hot showers.
- No makeup on the treated skin, no sun and no exercise of a strenuous nature.
- And for the love of it, do not peel, rub or pick. Leave any flaking to its own devices.
- And put the active skincare away for now, retinoids and exfoliating acids as much as benzoyl peroxide or potent vitamin C; do not apply them in the vicinity unless you have your clinician’s go ahead.
The First Week At Home
For the most part you will not have made a mess of things even if it seems so. The initial excitement is gone and the area can appear uneven or on the dark side, one brow looking more moody than the other and you are left to question whether you have ruined the whole thing. This is the awkward part, but in the main you have not.
Patience is called for during this first week, and restraint. Whether it is an brow tattoo aftercare Australia style, eyebrow tattoo aftercare, or lips, there is as much trouble to be had from overdoing your routine as from neglecting it.
Cleaning And Daily Care
Heed your artist as to how often to clean. A good rule of thumb for most is a once or twice daily gentle wash with something the studio has given the nod to, or boiled water that has been cooled down, or sterile water. Let it air dry or pat with a tissue of your own (no sharing hand towels). One does odd things in the bathroom when tired, but make sure you don’t.
Should an ointment have been put forward by your artist, a little will do. You do not want the area to be slick and shiny through the day. Excess moisture will soften the flakes and result in an uneven loss of colour.
Expectation Vs Reality
You might think the cosmetic tattoo will have healed in an orderly way and be fabulous by the fifth day. More often than not reality is a different story: it will be patchy, too dark, then too light, before it gets itself together. That rollercoaster is common across PMU aftercare.
Then there is the “ghosting” phase which is where most people are taken aback. Some pigment appears to vanish under a cloudy layer of healing skin about the second week only to come back once the skin has done its job. Your artist will not want to pass judgement on the outcome until the touch-up appointment is due for that reason.
Weeks Two To Four
The surface may feel calmer but the skin is still at work below. It is easy to get overconfident and undo some of the good work by having a proper scrub of the face or putting yourself back in the sun and pool. Better to be steady. Do not be fooled into thinking it is fully healed just because it looks it.
Back To Normal
Most can get back to their old ways slowly, as your artist would have it. Avoid sun exposure should be kept to a minimum and, if the artist deems it suitable, put on some protection over the area once the skin is intact. Our sun does not muck about and UV is a quick way to see your Australian cosmetic tattoo work fade.
Make use of a hat for your brows and sunglasses for the eyeliner if you are exercising outside and mind the salty sweat. Humid conditions will make for a slower, fussier healing process than cooler climes.
A Typical Healing Timeline
| Timeframe | What to expect | How to handle it |
| Day 1–3 | Redness, tenderness, some oozing and darker colour | Keep hands off and the area dry, blot and clean as you have been told |
| Day 4–7 | Light scabs, tightness and flaking | Steer clear of heat and sweat, don’t pick, sparing use of approved product |
| Week 2 | Patchy or lighter colour | Gentle care and no harsh products, be patient |
| Weeks 3–4 | Calmer skin and settled colour | Put some UV protection on and take it easy resuming your routine, consider a touch-up |
There is no national statistic in Australia to tell you how many heal without a hitch in one session, what with varying lifestyles, technique and skin type. The industry view is that a follow up is simply part of the plan and not an indication of anything amiss.
Brows, Eyes And Lips
They are all a bit different. Lips are prone to swelling and irritation from what you put in them. With eyes the skin is delicate and one forgets how much rubbing they get. Brows have to contend with oil and being washed. If you take nothing else from it, remember that trouble is to be found in one-size-fits-all advice.
Brow Care
In the early stages of your brow tattoo aftercare Australia, keep it free of shampoo, sunscreen and cleanser. Forehead sweat will cause fading and irritation, particularly in humid weather or if you are training outdoors.
Those of us with oily skin will see softer results once healed and are apt to require a little more upkeep. But do not think of it as any kind of failing on your part, the skin is simply being skin.
Eyeliner Care
There is a need for some circumspection in the aftercare of an eyeliner tattoo. A day or two of puffiness is to be expected. Stick to what your artist or clinician has put their stamp of approval on and put the contact lenses aside if you have been told to. No mascara or other eye makeup until healing is complete.
As for washing one’s face after permanent eyeliner, you can get on with it around the rest of the face but leave the lash line alone unless your artist indicates otherwise. Do not put water or a washcloth to it with any pressure; a gentle clean is better than hosing it down in the shower like you are getting mud off the ute.
Lip Care
You will find the aftercare for lip tattoo to be more of an ordeal in terms of swelling and dryness than with brows. If they sting, stay away from anything too spicy or salty for the first few days. Use the balm we have approved and nothing else, and drink with a straw if we have recommended it.
Some are susceptible to cold sores post procedure. Should that be you, make sure to raise the matter with your provider in advance so a clinician can put in place some preventive management.
Do Not Overlook These Signs
Discomfort is normal, but pain that is getting worse is not. You may have some redness that will subside, but if it is hot to the touch, throbbing and spreading then it calls for attention.
Here common sense should win out over wishful thinking. Put off hoping for the best for a week at your peril if something does not seem right.
Red Flags And What Is Normal
Tenderness, flaking, tightness, a bit of swelling and uneven colour for a time are all par for the course in the early stages. Infection, on the other hand, will show itself by way of pus, a bad odour, fever, marked swelling or increasing redness past the first couple of days, and you will feel unwell.
Then there are allergic reactions to irritants, which can occur when people put on products they should not. Get in touch with your artist for direction, and if it is severe or in the eye area you should seek medical care without delay. One does not muck about with eye symptoms.
Long-Term Results And Touch-Ups
An artist will not pass judgement on the result at day seven. They will have factored in a permanent makeup touch up since the initial healing might expose lighter spots or where the pigment has not been held uniformly.
How long it lasts is a function of the technique, your immune system and skincare routine, among other things. Down here in Australia the UV will fade it as much as regular exfoliation or active skincare.
Booking A Follow-Up
Your artist will let you know when to come in for a review. There is no point in booking it of your own accord too soon, skin that is yet to finish remodelling will not give you a true picture of the shape and colour.
To keep the look crisp you will want to use sun protection and forgo strong resurfacing treatments on the area, and plan on refresh sessions from time to time.
Standards Of Safety In Australia
Prevention is the first step in aftercare and starts with the selection of an artist. A studio with good hygiene, written home care instructions and informed consent is to be preferred over a well curated Instagram page.
If you are comparing providers such as Alison Jade, My Rejuvenate, Cosmetic Tattoo Academy, Irresistible Me, Tina Davies, JOAA, On Point Cosmetic Tattoo Studio, Afineline Cosmetic Tattoo or Pixi Cosmetic Studio, look for realistic support and infection control, patch testing where it is called for and transparency in their training, not empty promises.
Make Inquiries Before You Book
Find out what they do for skin prep, whether single-use items are used, the nature of the written aftercare and what happens if the healing process goes awry. You will find the safety standards for permanent makeup are of a practical nature here, not merely some well turned phrase on a website.
The client we are looking for is an adult who will put in the time to heal and heed instructions. We would have anyone with an active skin infection or uncontrolled condition in the area of treatment, one prone to scarring, recurrent cold sores (in the case of lip work) or eye problems that preclude eyeliner, put off the procedure and consult a doctor first.
A checklist for aftercare
Make this your priority if you have but a day to get ready for your appointment. Put out clean pillowcases and approved products of a gentle sort, make plans to forgo any workouts and give yourself the luxury of healing without having to rush back to the surf, sun or sweat. There is nothing glamorous about it, then again patchy healing is no beauty. Being organised is better than being sorry.
- Do not leave the studio without having read what your artist has put in writing.
- Wash your hands before you put them to the area.
- Use only the products we have given the nod to and clean as you are told. If a dry heal is called for, keep it so; otherwise put on ointment in moderation.
- No picking or rubbing, no makeup, heavy exercise, pools, spas or saunas.
- Shield from the sun and hold off on anything harsh in your skincare routine till you are fully healed.
- Your artist may want to see how things are progressing, in which case take some photos.
- Should you experience severe pain, fever, pus, swelling or redness that is getting worse, do not be slow to ask for advice.
Abigail’s final word
One does not get excited over the best aftercare instructions permanent makeup. It is a matter of washing your hands and exercising a little patience, light care and no heroics or picking. That is what affords your treatment the opportunity to heal properly. I may come across as firm because I have witnessed all too often how people will undo a fine result by going at it too hard and too fast. Show your new cosmetic tattoo some consideration and let the skin do its work.
FAQ
Once home you may find yourself in front of the mirror every ten minutes and have these questions.
What Are The Post-Care Instructions For Permanent Makeup?
Your written aftercare sheet is what matters most since the routine can differ from one artist and procedure to another. In general: keep the area clean, don’t touch with dirty hands, no picking at flakes and stay away from the sun, swimming, saunas and any kind of sweat until you are healed. And follow the artist’s product directions to the letter.
What Not To Do After Permanent Makeup?
Don’t pick or scratch, don’t soak it, don’t put on random skincare or makeup in the early stages of healing and don’t subject it to direct sun or a lot of sweat. And don’t get worked up over a pale or patchy look unless there is something to be concerned about.
What Is The Downside Of Permanent Eyebrows?
For one thing they are not a one-and-done affair. You will need maintenance and healing is a process. Poor aftercare and the colour will not fade evenly. Then there is the possibility of an infection or irritation, or simply not being happy with the tone or shape if the job was not done right.
When Can I Wash My Face After Permanent Eyeliner?
The rest of your face can be washed immediately. But you should be careful around the eyes and leave the lash line dry and protected as per your artist’s instructions, eschewing any cleanser or rubbing and water pressure on the eyeliner itself.
How Long Before A Permanent Makeup Touch-Up?
Your artist will have a protocol and it is a question of how the skin heals. We will not put you in for a touch-up appointment until the initial healing is done; doing so prematurely is of no use. Let the skin settle so that whatever adjustments are made are to the actual healed result.