ermanent makeup is basically tattooing your face so that it looks like you are always wearing makeup. The procedure sounds interesting and convenient—imagine never having to buy or put on makeup again. While I have never had permanent makeup, I have considered it. So I decided to get some firsthand opinions from a few women I know who have had the procedure. The following are their comments and feelings on permanent makeup.
First Hand Accounts of Permanent Makeup
Girlfriend #1
Reasons for Getting Permanent Makeup
I am very active (swimming, exercising, gardening in the hot New Mexico sun, etc.) and was tired of having to repeatedly touch up my makeup. I decided to have my eyebrows, eyelids, and under eye done in a soft ash brown and my lips done in a soft pink.
The Procedure for Permanent Makeup
A topical cream was applied on my eyes and lips before they pulled out the tattoo machine to apply
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Beauty knows no pain. |  |
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After the torture subsided, I looked in the mirror and boy was I scary—the makeup was very bright and my face was extremely swollen. It did not help matters that my husband remarked that I looked like a working girl. I was nervous because it was a “permanent procedure” and there was no going back.
The Results of Permanent Makeup
The effect has softened and I love it, so does my husband. I have a soft natural face when I wake up in the morning without having to do anything. I have had the lids and brows redone, but not the lips (too painful). I would recommend this procedure to anyone with this caveat: if you are going to do the lips, have them fully numbed before letting a tattoo machine anywhere near them.
Girlfriend #2
Reasons for Getting Permanent Makeup
I am blonde and blue eyed with fair skin and wanted a tattoo to mimic my normal eye makeup: lightly lined along the bottom so they would show up against my pale skin. This is not what I walked out with. The technician told me I had to have black liner on the top and bottom lids or she wouldn't do it because it would not be worth it. She then told me my brows were wrong and offered to fix them. She also insisted that my lips were a must for tattooing. I trusted her and she was absolutely 100% correct. I can’t stress how important it is to do your research and make sure you go to someone that knows what they are doing—get references if you can. This is permanent and it is your face, so you need to get it right the first time.
The Procedure for Permanent Makeup
The procedure began with a series of teeny pinpricks that didn’t hurt at first, but after the thousandth time of being pricked, it began to hurt and burn. The eyeliner and the lips were killers. The topical numbing cream was useless. Definitely find out about the dental block option if you are doing lips.
The Results of Permanent Makeup
Just like Girlfriend #1, my face was very bright, very swollen, very sore, and very red. My husband took one look at me and thought I had lost my mind and I couldn’t really argue with him—I did look like I should be on a street corner somewhere.
The colors have now faded to a more natural look. My eyebrows and lips could probably use a retouch, but my eyeliner is still perfect. My words to describe this are ones my mother once told me: “Beauty knows no pain."
By Holly C, May 07, 2009
I had no idea any of this was available beyond permanent tattooed eyeliner, which I've noticed on offer, but never really knew much about.
While it's not something I'm in the market for I can see how it might be liberating in an almost perverse way- For example, if you are an air hostess- and obviously for anyone who is interested.
What does it mean when people say they need a touch-up? Does that mean it fades quickly, or just that they wanted it darker?
Or it is some kind of dye that deliberately disappears, like some kind of vegetable dye or something? <<I've often thought someone should invent a disappearing type of dye like that for standard tattooing.
I was grateful as a reader to see that where the woman said, "I trusted her" that it came out fine! :D
By Janee P, May 29, 2009
Will a permanent lip tatoo make my lips swell or turn black and blue for a while. How long does it take to heal.
By Janet G, Jun 12, 2009
I have to admit the idea really freaks me out. I did consider getting an eyelash perm once for my super-straight lashes, but my friends talked me out of it!
By Karyn Polewaczyk, Jun 22, 2009
I feel like permanent makeup should be called what it really is: facial tattooing. It totally eradicates the concept of what makeup is: stuff you apply to enhance, then wipe away or wash off as necessary. I'm way too indecisive to dedicate my life to an eyeliner or lipliner - especially where I don't wear either on a regular basis.
By Aimee E, Jul 13, 2009
I dont know. It must work for some ppl, but it's too scary for me. I feel like tastes change and you might not want the same look later down the road. Plus if something goes wrong it's your FACE!
By Amy L, Jul 17, 2009
Love this article. As a mom of a toddler, I've definitely considered this to save time. I rarely wear makeup nowadays. I miss the look of eyeliner but don't do a good job anymore - either I'm even blinder or out of practice. Winds up all over!
I like simple eyeliner to enhance - I've sen the kind on before and after photos that I'd go for - and if I wanted more I'd add the makeup kind in addition. And with lipstick a pretty but neutral color that would insure you always have color in your lips even on days when they are pale but neutral enough to add different color to depending on the occassion.
Great itoo for the remote possibility of being stranded on a desert island with some godlike guy...accidentely.
By Barbara Streett, Jul 19, 2009
Permanent Makeup is obviously not for everyone. My friends that I interviewed were very happy with the results and love the ease that it has provided them in thier life. I have to say they are beautiful woman and thier faces don't look over done. They just made permanent on thier faces what they were doing every day already.
I have never done it and don't know if I would: 1) Needles scare me 2) I am not a big make up person, I wear it when I go out but day to day I don't really wear it so it would be unnatural for me to all the sudden have it on every day.
By Wendy Garcia, Sep 26, 2009
I worked 8 years with a lady that did permanent makeup and she is actually an educator and one of the best in the permanent makeup industry. It took her 2 years to convince me to get it done because I am not a big makeup person. I apply light makeup once a day and do not reapply so I thought why would I have something permanent. Well, I learned that permanent makeup can look very natural after it heals. I only had the eyeliner done on top and bottom. It actually did not hurt. I would say it was annoying to me but the way she held my face and the type of numbing solution she used was very good. Because she had a school I got to talk to many clients and students and I believe the more experience a technician has the faster and better the treatment is. If someone is taking a long time of course you are going to be feeling the procedure more than someone that if fast and has experience. The pain or discomfort is different for everyone. I did not have the brows done because I have enough brow and the lips I know do hurt more. I do recommend having a dental block when getting this procedure. Also, when selecting the technician to do these procedures get references, ask them how long they have been doing permanent cosmetics, ask to see before and after pictures. They can also use cosmetic pencils to draw your brows and lips so you can see the shape they are recommending. Someone that is familiar and educated on facial geometry can do a great job and enhance features and compensate minor flaws.
Oh, and touchups are done right after the first treatment if you need more color added. Some skins take color better than other. After you get the right color deposited into the skin it is like any other tattoo, color fades with time. Touch ups are usually done every 2-7 years.
I hope this helps a bit. I am extremely happy with my eyeliner (can also be called lash enhancement). It makes my eyes look like they have thicker lashes. After I had it done many people commented on how pretty my eyes looked. I definitely recommend it.
By Amy E, Oct 21, 2009
I thought I was scared to get a tattoo on my back,but my lips,OUCH! This article made me laugh. I can see the benefits but I am too much of a wimp to try it.