There’s a new trend that’s raising eyebrows in the Costhetics office and around the world: cosmetic tattoos.
If you’ve been curious about this trending beauty treatment, part of a movement known as “permanent makeup,” we hope this article will bring you up to speed.
Tattoo artists can work their ink magic to help women achieve the full, arched brows they want without facelifts or eyelifts. A member of our team recently had the treatment done, and she couldn’t be happier with the results. That didn’t happen by accident. Before she had the work done, she did “due diligence” to make sure that she was fully prepared and wouldn’t be taken by surprise before, during, or after her session.
She’s added some of her personal thoughts to the information we provide.
The Basics of Eyebrow Tattooing
There are several phases you’ll go through when you decide to have your eyebrows tattooed. First, you’ll meet with your prospective tattooist to discuss whether you are a good candidate for the treatment and the sort of eyebrow you are envisioning. Good communication will ensure that you and your provider see eye-to-eye and eyebrow-to-eyebrow.
Prior to your actual treatment session, your technician will draw the proposed eyebrow design on your brow so you can test-drive the results and make sure you’re satisfied before the work is done permanently. “You have to consider the colour, the shape, and the placement of eyebrows, too,” reported our staffer. “I was glad that my tattooist was experienced so she could guide me to the right decisions.”
When you’re ready to take the next step, you’ll be given an appointment date and a list of instructions. “I learned that you can’t get your eyebrows wet for 10 days prior,” said our Costhetics team member. “My tattooist also gave me a cream to apply to my eyebrows during that time.” Following instructions is vital and can spell the difference between success and something less.
On the day of your appointment, the first thing you do is relax. “I was a little nervous. Then I learned that numbing cream is applied about half an hour prior to the tattooing. I was confident that it would be working at full strength when the work began.”
When you are comfortable and ready, your tattooist will clean your face thoroughly. He or she will use a small sterile needle to apply the ink. The area is numbed, but you will still feel some sensation. “To me, it felt a lot like it does when you pluck your eyebrows”. A typical treatment takes an hour or two. When the work is complete, you may be startled by how dark your brows appear. Don’t worry. The pigment softens over time and settles into the appropriate shade. You may also experience skin sensitivity, redness, and swelling in the treatment area for a day or two.
Semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos generally last from one to three years. After a month or two, your eyebrows will begin to assume their new, permanent shape and colour. “My tattooist suggested that I come back in four to six weeks for a check-in and possible touch up”.
Costhetics will be keeping our eyes peeled for you, and your new brows!