How to Look After Your Ombré Brows.

Hundreds of people undergo semi-permanent makeup procedures (SPMU) every day. From semi-permanent brows to eyeliner, areola reconstruction to scalp micropigmentation, there is a SPMU treatment out there for everyone.

When deciding whether to undergo a SPMU procedure, there are several factors that need to be considered. These include treatment details, cost, potential risks, and side effects amongst others.

However, if you do eventually decide to undergo a semi-permanent makeup procedure, there are a few tips and tricks you should follow both before and after the session to ensure the utmost success and longevity of your results.

Read on to find out what you can do both before and after an SPMU procedure to help ensure your treatment is as effective as possible.

Pre-procedure advice

Every individual technician should provide their own pre-procedure advice before you arrive for your treatment. However, if you have not received any pre-procedure advice from your SPMU artist, we have listed our tips on how to prepare for a semi-permanent makeup treatment below:

• Avoid applying skin thinners (Vitamin A, glycolic acid, and exfoliating scrubs) to the treated area for at least two weeks leading up to your SPMU appointment.
• For an SPMU eyebrow procedure, any waxing or shaping of the area should be done at least two days before your appointed procedure.  
• For an SPMU eyebrow procedure, any tinting of the brows should be done at least a week prior to your SPMU treatment.
• Do not consume any alcohol, caffeine, or blood thinning medication (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen or Niacin) for at least forty-eight hours pre-procedure. These ingredients can cause blood thinning and/or excess bleeding which can effect the success of the procedure.
• Avoid sunbathing and sunbeds for at least two weeks pre-procedure.
• Avoid any form of facial/facial peel for at least two weeks pre-procedure.
• Avoid undergoing any botox and/or dermal filler procedures for at least three weeks before your SPMU treatment.
• Avoid excessive exercise on the day of your procedure.

Semi-permanent makeup aftercare plan.

Looking after your semi-permanent makeup is extremely important in ensuring the success of your procedure. Whilst your technician can lay the foundations of your new look, it is up to you to look after the area properly. If you follow the aftercare advice provided to you by your technician and/or outside sources, you should experience long-lasting and impressive results.

Every SPMU treatment will require different after-care. For eyebrows, however, there is a strict after care plan you should follow fourteen days following the treatment. This will help your brows to heal naturally to reveal soft, fluffy, and beautiful eyebrows.

Immediately after your procedure, you should clean the area approximately every thirty minutes until you go to sleep using a damp cotton wool pad. After the last clean, and just before you go to sleep, dab a very thin amount of moisturiser onto the tattoo. Make sure you wash your hands every time you touch the treated area to avoid infection.

Below, we have listed the activities you should avoid and the actions you should take during the initial fourteen days post procedure.

SPMU Aftercare Do’s:

• Let the pigment dry heal for 24-48 hours post-procedure. For the next 10-12 days, try to avoid excessive water exposure to the area. This includes avoiding swimming pools, saunas, and steam rooms.
• Use a damp cotton pad to clean the treated area 2-3 times a day for the first week.
• Gently moisturize the treated area 2-3 times a day for the total fourteen-day period.
• Sleep with a clean pillowcase and try to avoid sleeping on your face.

SPMU Aftercare Don’ts:

• Do not use any cleansers, face creams (apart from moisturiser), makeup or any other heavy skin products on the treated area for two weeks.
• Do not pick, rub, or scratch the tattoo pigment or treated area. You must let any scabs or dry skin naturally fall from the treated area. If you do not follow this advice, the pigment may be pulled out and you could experience patchy and/or compromised results.
• Do not expose the treated area to extreme sunlight or sunbeds for at least one-month post procedure.
• Do not exercise or sweat excessively for two weeks post procedure.
• Do not undergo any botox, dermal or chemical procedures for four weeks post procedure.

Essential information

The immediate results of a semi-permanent makeup procedure are always 20-40% darker and bolder than healed results.  During the first two weeks, the tattoo may appear more solid, artistic detail may disappear, and the treated area can often look wet or ‘drawn on’. This is normal and should subside after two months to reveal more natural-looking results.

Be patient during your two-week healing process as your semi-permanent makeup will evolve and change on a day to day basis. This is normal so do not worry! Give the treated area two months to heal properly. If you are still unsatisfied with the results after the allotted time, contact your practitioner for a touch up.

After 6-8 weeks, you will see the true results that have penetrated the second layer of skin. These are the final SPMU results that can last for up to ten years.

It is normal to experience itchiness and dryness of the area for up to two months post procedure. If the problem persists past the eight-week mark, contact your technician for help.

During the healing process, the colour of the treated area may develop and become darker due to scabbing. This is normal. When the scab falls off, the pigment colour may appear lighter than desired. Do not be alarmed as this is normal and the colour will resurface during the next three weeks.

Not everybody will benefit from the same results after a semi-permanent makeup procedure. Those with oily skin may experience more solid results whilst those with drier skin will enjoy a more natural-looking and defined look. In addition, some skin types may find it more difficult to retain pigment. As a result, additional sessions may be required to achieve the desired effect.

For up to seven days post procedure, you may experience any, or all, of the following symptoms:

• Flaking of the skin
• Tenderness
• Dryness and itching
• Swelling
• Redness

Long-term semi-permanent makeup aftercare

Once your semi-permanent makeup has healed and you are free to enjoy the results of the treatment, there are still some rules you can follow to ensure your new look retains a fresh appearance and does not fade prematurely.

• Always make sure you use a good SPF lotion. Excessive sun exposure will fade your tattoo, making it appear less defined and more unnatural.
• Try to avoid chemical peels and laser procedures on the treated area as these procedures can distort the colour and shape of the applied pigment. If you must undergo any of the aforementioned treatments, contact your SPMU artist for advice on how to protect your tattoo.
• Avoid using any strong or rapid exfoliation products on your semi-permanent makeup. These products can often cause the tattoo pigment to fade and lose definition.

The better condition your skin is in, the more likely it is that you will enjoy impressive results that last for a prolonged period. It is really important, therefore, to establish a continued skin care regime that aims to replenish and rejuvenate the skin. Always remember to protect your skin from UV ray exposure; this will ensure better semi-permanent makeup results with a healthy lifespan.

Interested in booking in for a semi-permanent make up procedure?

Visit GgBrows to start your SPMU journey today. We are a team of highly trained semi-permanent makeup specialists with a real passion for beautiful results.

Don’t believe how amazing semi-permanent makeup can look? Take a look at our Instagram to see some stunning SPMU results.