Who gets permanent makeup?

Permanent makeup is a convenient solution for people who want to appear looking at their best, but feel self-conscious about sparse eyebrows or eyelashes, or lips that are too thin, asymmetrical, or naturally lacking in color. It’s also ideal for those who have allergies or are irritated by conventional cosmetics, have any physical limitations that makes applying makeup difficult such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke survivors, anyone with unsteady hands, or are physically active and don’t want to worry about “sweating off” their makeup. Cosmetic tattooing can also help cover up unsightly scars and be an adjunct to reconstructive surgery, particularly of the face or breast, to simulate natural pigmentation. The results can last for years, and has the added benefit of saving money and time from the daily makeup application.

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Can men benefit from these procedures?

Before

After

Sure, but just like for women, it depends on the individual needs of the person. Typically men can benefit with a subtle enhancement of the eyebrows to give more definition to their eyes and face. A brow procedure is more practical than say, tinting or coloring the brows, especially if there aren’t a lot of hairs to color. The definition from a brow tattoo is also much longer lasting – a few years as opposed to several weeks for tinting.

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Will I really look like myself … only better?

Permanent cosmetic makeup helps replenish what time has taken away, but is not intended to replace cosmetics completely especially if you tend to wear heavy-looking makeup. Because the color is placed “in” your skin and not “on” your skin, the result is a more natural, softer look. When you’re getting ready for a special occasion, you can still apply as much additional makeup as you wish.

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I’m uncertain about having this done because tattoos are sacreligious to my Orthodox faith.

Cosmetic tattooing differs from traditional tattooing in that it is not intended for adornment, religious, gang or tribal identity. The two disciplines are different, as is the duration of the color. Traditional tattooing is obvious and quite permanent in the traditional sense, while cosmetic tattooing – when done properly – should not be obvious and typically lasts from one to five years depending on the skin. The semi-permanent nature of cosmetic tattooing, like Botox and Restylane, still gives people a choice while giving more value because it also lasts longer than these injectables.

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What’s the difference between permanent makeup and semi-permanent makeup?

Technically, permanent cosmetics procedures are considered permanent because the color is implanted into the upper reticular part of the dermal layer of the skin and cannot be washed off. However, as with any tattoo, fading can and often does occur, requiring periodic maintenance, color re-enhancement or color refreshing.

Permanent makeup and permanent cosmetics are terms widely used in America while in places such as Australia, semi-permanent makeup is used to explicitly prevent false advertising. “Semi-permanent” means that it is long-lasting, and this makes sense because the skin is living tissue that’s subject to change from various external and internal factors. When placed into the skin, any color will also become susceptible to change, most commonly fading.

In a recent survey of cosmetic tattoo professionals 85% maintain that cosmetically tattooed eyebrows, for example, will require a touched-up every 1-3 years.

Thus, in light of clinical observation and scientific evidence, it is important to qualify the use of the word “permanent” and make sure that clients understand the need for additional color enhancements in the future should they wish to maintain their tattooed makeup. No matter what we call it, many people will continue to need and want the benefits of long-lasting cosmetically tattooed makeup, even if it is only semi-permanent.

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