What to Expect During Healing

Immediately after your appointment, your brows may appear much darker or more defined than expected. This is normal.

During the first 1–3 weeks, the pigment may fade approximately 10–50% as your brows heal. Peeling typically begins after Day 3 and commonly finishes around Day 7, although dry or sensitive skin may take longer to heal.

Some redness or swelling is also normal immediately following the procedure and should generally improve within about 24 hours.

It is also normal to need more than one session to achieve your desired result. Some clients may require additional sessions depending on skin type and pigment retention.

To protect your brows while they heal:

• Do not pick, peel, scratch, scrub, or rub flaking or scabbing skin. Allow it to come off naturally.
• Do not apply makeup directly to the tattooed brow area until it is fully healed.
• Do not use makeup remover, creams, exfoliants, retinol, AHA, glycolic acid, lactic acid, or similar products on the brow area during healing.
• Do not use Vaseline, Neosporin, or other petroleum-based products.
• Do not expose your brows to direct sun or tanning.
• Do not sweat excessively for 10 days.
• Do not allow direct shower water to hit your brows.
• Do not use pools, hot tubs, saunas, or steam rooms during healing.
• Avoid facials, massages, and skin treatments during the healing period.
• Do not use laser light therapy directly over your brow tattoo.
• Do not unnecessarily touch your brows.
• Avoid environments with heavy airborne dust or debris.
• Avoid excessive alcohol, which may slow the healing process.
• Avoid strong wind exposure such as open-air vehicles, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, or driving with the windows down.

If your brows begin to weep or release fluid after your procedure:

1. Gently pat the area with a sterile saline wipe.
2. Continue as needed for approximately 2–3 days or until the weeping stops.
3. After cleansing or wiping, gently blot the brows completely dry with a clean towel.
4. Do not allow water to sit or collect on the brow area.

When Washing Your Face

Avoid splashing water directly onto your face.

Use a washcloth or disposable wipe to cleanse around the brow area while keeping the brows as dry as possible.

If water gets near your brows, gently blot them dry with a clean tissue or paper towel. Do not rub.

When Showering

Keep your face out of the direct water stream and wash your hair carefully.

Keep clean, dry paper towels nearby in case your brows become wet, and limit excessive shower steam during the healing process.

Your artist will tell you whether ointment is appropriate for your skin type.

Clients with oily skin may need very little ointment or may be instructed to follow a dry-healing process for 7–10 days.

If ointment is recommended:

• Apply it only after the brows have been cleaned and completely dried.
• Apply it morning and night.
• Use only a very small amount — approximately the size of a grain of rice per brow.
• Apply with a clean Q-tip.
• Do not over-apply.

Think of the ointment like lip balm: use just enough to lightly protect the area without coating it heavily. Too much ointment can prevent proper airflow and interfere with healing.

After the initial healing period, sun protection becomes important for maintaining your permanent makeup.

Use sunscreen or a moisturizer with approximately SPF 30 to help protect the pigment from UV exposure and premature fading.

Avoid regularly applying retinol, exfoliating acids, peels, and similar products directly over permanent makeup because they may cause the pigment to fade more quickly.

Immediately After Your Appointment

When you return home, gently wipe your lips approximately once each hour using a wet cotton round or wet wipe, then gently pat the area dry.

This helps prevent fluid from remaining on the tattooed area and forming excessive scabbing.

Use only the aftercare ointment provided while your lips are healing.

Apply a small amount as needed to keep your lips moisturized. Less product applied more frequently is preferred over applying a heavy layer.

Your lips may:

• feel dry,
• peel,
• feel tender or sore,
• appear swollen,
• or temporarily appear more intense in color.

Some peeling is normal. Do not pull or peel the skin.

If swelling occurs, the instructions recommend using a wrapped ice pack during the first few hours, alternating approximately 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.

Do Not

• Do not excessively wet your lips.
• Do not pick, peel, or rub flaking skin.
• Do not exercise or become excessively hot and sweaty.
• Do not apply makeup over or immediately around the lips, especially lipstick.
• Do not have facial treatments for 2 weeks.
• Do not expose your lips to direct sunlight for 2 weeks.
• Do not participate in water sports while healing.
• Do not smoke immediately following your lip procedure.

When eating, blot your lips rather than wiping them, and use a straw when appropriate.

Permanent makeup needs time to fully heal and settle.

The provided instructions recommend waiting approximately 6–8 weeks before the perfecting session so the skin can heal and the pigment can reveal its final color and shape.

At that appointment, your artist can evaluate the healed results and address appropriate adjustments to shape or color.

To help extend the life of your permanent makeup:

• Protect the treated area from excessive sun and UV exposure.
• Use sunscreen or SPF-containing moisturizer.
• Keep strong exfoliating skincare products away from the treated area.
• Tell your medical provider that you have permanent cosmetics before an MRI, chemical peel, or similar procedure.
• Tell your laser technician about your permanent makeup before receiving laser treatments.
• Keep in mind that Botox, fillers, and similar treatments may affect the appearance or shape of the lips, eyes, or brows.

Permanent makeup naturally fades over time. The supplied instructions state that results may fade over approximately 1–3 years, depending on skin type and lifestyle, and touch-ups may be needed to maintain the appearance.

If you remember nothing else during healing, remember:

1. Don’t Get It Too Wet

Excess moisture can interfere with the healing process and pigment retention.

2. Don’t Let It Become Excessively Dry

Follow the moisturizing or dry-healing instructions given specifically to you by your artist.

3. Don’t Disturb It

Do not pick, peel, scratch, or rub the treated area. Let your skin heal naturally.

If you are unsure about your healing process or have questions about your aftercare instructions, contact Rouge Beauty before applying additional products or changing your aftercare routine.

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