Guides
Permanent makeup healing & aftercare
Healing is far easier than most people expect. Here is exactly what happens as your brows or lips settle, the simple aftercare that gets you there, and what is normal along the way.
At a glance
The essentials
What to expect as it heals
The single most useful thing to know is that permanent makeup looks its boldest on day one, and softens from there. That first-day intensity is normal and temporary, not the result you are left with, so try not to judge it too early.
Over the first week the surface settles. You may notice light flaking as the skin renews, and a stage where the colour looks faint or patchy, sometimes called ghosting, before it gradually comes back as the deeper colour surfaces. By a few weeks in, the true tone has settled and evened out.
Brows and lips heal differently
Brows take roughly seven to ten days to heal on the surface, with that flaking stage in the middle. Lips are quicker, usually around four days, though they can feel dry and look pale before the colour blooms back over the following weeks. Neither needs you to take time off or change your plans, the healing simply happens quietly in the background.
It looks its boldest on day one, and only gets more natural from there.
Your aftercare, kept simple
Megan keeps aftercare deliberately straightforward, because fussing over it tends to do more harm than good:
- On the day of your treatment, gently wipe the area clean every few hours.
- After that, keep the area as clean and dry as possible, and apply your aftercare cream twice a day.
- Keep skincare products and makeup off the area for 10 to 14 days.
- Avoid sunbeds and extended direct sun for 14 days.
Your aftercare cream and full instructions are included with every treatment, so you will leave knowing exactly what to do.
What is normal, and when to get in touch
Bold colour on day one, light flaking, a little itch, and a patchy or faded-looking stage partway through are all completely normal. What is not normal is spreading redness, heat, swelling that worsens after the first day, or any sign of infection. If something does not feel right, contact Megan, who stays reachable after your treatment for exactly this reason, and seek medical advice if you are ever concerned.
Before your appointment
A little preparation helps it heal cleanly. In the 24 hours before, avoid alcohol and go easy on caffeine. Avoid sunbeds and sunbathing for a few days beforehand, as freshly tanned or sunburnt skin cannot be worked on. Stop using chemical exfoliants or retinoids on the area two weeks before, and check in about any medication.
The perfecting session
Permanent makeup is finished over two sessions, not one. The perfecting session at four to eight weeks, once everything has healed, is where the shape and colour are refined to their final result. It is included in the price, and it is a big part of why the end result heals so well.
Questions
Healing, answered
Anything else, just message Megan and ask.
How long does permanent makeup take to heal?
The surface heals in around 7 to 10 days for brows and around 4 days for lips. The colour then settles over the following few weeks.
Will it look too dark at first?
It looks its boldest on the first day, then softens noticeably as it heals. That initial intensity is completely normal and not the final result.
Do I need time off work?
No. Healing is straightforward and there is nothing you would need to change your plans or take time off for.
What is the aftercare?
Keep it simple. On the day, wipe the area clean every few hours. After that keep it clean and dry and apply the aftercare cream twice a day, with no skincare or makeup on the area for 10 to 14 days and no sunbeds or extended sun for 14 days.
When is it fully healed?
The colour usually settles over about four to six weeks, which is why the perfecting session sits at four to eight weeks, once the true result has come through.
Begin
Easier than you
think
Message Megan on WhatsApp to book, or ask anything about healing and aftercare.