Permanent Makeup Preparation – How to Make Your Appointment a Success
So, you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and book your appointment... but what do you need to do now? Well keep reading, I’m about to dish the details!
As your Permanent Makeup artist, the success of your appointment lies mostly on me (surprise surprise), but most clients don’t realise that they actually have a big part to play too. Preparing for your appointment and following my pre-care advice is going to help make my job easier but more importantly it will help you to achieve the best possible results.
1. Before your appointment
Each and every client of mine receives a pre-treatment booklet, and inside this are some questions pertaining to your medical health. Filling this out honestly and accurately is crucial to prevent any complications during the procedure. Due to the nature of Permanent Makeup, there are a number of health-related contraindications that would prevent me from performing the treatment, and failing to disclose this information to your artist will put your health at risk. Not even the best brows in the world are worth that! Along with this booklet you will receive a patch test kit, again this is so, so important to do. Even though the pigments I use are medical grade and the chances of a reaction is slim, it isn’t zero and as such we need to patch test every client, no exceptions.
If you see a technician and they don’t patch test then run a mile – if they’re happy to tattoo pigment into your skin that you could potentially be allergic to then girl, they do not care about you!
You’ll need to bring your completed forms along with you to your appointment – if neither of these things have been completed, we will not be able to go ahead with your appointment.
2. Important do’s and don’ts
In the run up to your treatment we essentially want to ensure that your skin is in the best possible condition it can be, this will allow me to implant the pigments easier, will cause less trauma and bleeding and in turn create a much better healed result. We advise you to stop taking any medications and supplements that can thin the blood for two days before your treatment, but do not stop taking prescribed medication without consulting your doctor.
Note: Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, anti-coagulants, and supplements such as garlic, fish oil, vitamin E and even spices such as ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper can all thin the blood.
We also strongly advise against consuming alcohol and coffee for 24 hours before your Permanent Makeup appointment (48 hours would be preferred, but if you're anything like me you can’t get through the day without at least one caffeine fix). Doing so will help
Image source: Instagram @sknplus
3. Will my skincare affect my Permanent Makeup?
If you are using skincare that contains ingredients such as Retinol (Vitamin A), salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid or anything similar we strongly advise not using these for one week prior to your appointment. Whilst these ingredients work wonders for our skin’s appearance, when it comes to Cosmetic Tattooing, they can make life hard. These ingredients can change the texture of the skin and can make it very difficult to implant pigment. Take a look at the ingredients list on your products to find out if they contain any of these ingredients – and if you need further clarification you’re welcome to send a picture of the ingredients list to us and we can advise you whether these products are ok to use in the run up to your appointment.
Prescribed skin care medications are a complete contraindication, we cannot treat a client who is taking these until at least 6 months AFTER the course of meds has been completed. They are typically very strong and can thin the skin quite considerably making it very sensitive, dry, and cracked, and it would not be safe to tattoo on compromised skin.
If you have any skincare treatments booked around the time of your appointment please let us know as this may affect your treatment. No chemical peels, laser treatments, microdermabrasion or other similar treatments should be performed for two weeks before your session.
Tip: Be sure to go to your appointment with a good idea of how you want the end result to look - it's permanent so you need to be sure you’ll feel happy with it for at least a few years.
4. Permanent Eyebrow Treatment Prep
Refrain from waxing/plucking/threading for two weeks before your appointment
Avoid tinting/brow henna/brow lamination for two weeks before your appointment
5. Permanent Eyeliner Treatment Prep
Avoid using any lash growth serums for one month before your appointment (these can increase blood flow to the area which will affect pigment retention and increases the risk of bruising)
You must remove lash extensions before your appointment, and you will not be able to reapply them until both sessions of your treatment have been completed
Avoid lash tinting/perming for two weeks before your appointment
Please do not wear contact lenses on the day of your appointment
6. Permanent Lip Treatment Prep
If you have ever had a cold sore you will need to obtain a prescription for anti-cold sore tablets and take these the week leading up to your appointment and the week after.
Please keep your lips hydrated as we cannot treat overly dry or chapped lips
7. Extra Advice for After your PMU Treatment
Take your time to familiarise yourself with the healing process and how you can expect your PMU to look when it's first done. The healing process takes time and whilst you’ll be able to see the results from your treatment straight away, they will change during the healing process. Bare in mind there are some things you need to avoid in the days and weeks following your treatment, so keep this in mind when planning your appointment. It's best to avoid scheduling your treatment close to a big event or holiday. Always ask your artist if you’re unsure about anything and they will be able to advise you.
Note: Aside from the physical prep, make sure you prepare yourself mentally. Having PMU for the first time can be nerve-wrecking - remember that it’s going to take you some time to get used to your new brows, lips or eyeliner. Your immediate result will look dark, but over the following weeks they will fade. Just try to relax and trust the process.
8. The Takeaways
When it comes to preparation, what to do (or don’t do) can make all the difference to the success of your treatment. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, certain supplements and medications will prevent any negative side effects during the treatment. Be sure to do your research and find out the specific pre care advice for the treatment you’ll be receiving, and remember to consider aftercare as well! You’re making an investment so surely it's worth sacrificing the coffee and the retinol for a few days if it means getting a better healed result?!
As always if you have any questions or need further advice about how to prepare for your appointment, please feel free to get in touch.
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