Living a low-maintenance lifestyle requires a high-maintenance mindset when it comes to beauty.

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Do you want to do less to take care of your hair every day? Even when air dried, typically frizzy, curly hair may look silky smooth with a keratin treatment every three to four months. Not enough time for a mani/pedi every week? A manicure using gel polish is said to be virtually unbreakable, chip-proof, and to last three times longer.

Your possibilities are far more intense when it comes to producing cosmetic effects that linger. The temptation of permanent makeup is undeniable—just think of never having to redo that winged eyeliner again!—but there are drawbacks as well. These include a significant financial commitment, many hours of discomfort, and, of course, the possibility of certain unfavorable outcomes.

Read on to learn everything there is to know about permanent makeup, including costs, techniques, and the most common treatments.

What Is Permanent Makeup?

Emilia Berry, the founder and CEO of PermaLine Cosmetics, states that “permanent makeup, also known as cosmetic tattooing, micropigmentation, or dermapigmentation, is a type of superficial tattooing that involves applying pigment into the skin’s dermal layer to enhance features such as eyebrows, eyes, and lips.” “It is also utilized in the paramedical field to replicate areolas, mimic hair, and conceal scars.”

However, this is not your typical tattooing job. Instead, a tiny, portable instrument with one or more needles—depending on the method—applies specially formulated pigment to the skin at a shallow level. Cindy Vu, the creator of Beauty Elements and Lux Series Salon in Orange County, California, claims that these pigments have a more natural feel on the skin than typical tattoo ink because they have a greater liquid to colorant ratio. Moreover, they progressively fade over time as opposed to conventional tattoo ink.

Considering that permanent makeup fades, it is really just semi-permanent. Vu claims that pigment can remain vibrant for a few years before fading, and touch-ups will probably be needed over time to keep the desired look. Refreshers are often required every one to three years, while exact timing varies from person to person (based on criteria such pigment kind, tattoo placement, client age, lifestyle choices, and skin type).

However, that isn’t always a terrible thing. When conducting cosmetic work on the face, Kendra Bray, owner and creator of Better Brows & Beauty in New York City, explains that having a pigment that fades is really preferable. “It’s great to be able to make adjustments as we age since our faces change throughout time.”

The most common kinds include freckle tattoos, lip blushing, permanent eyeliner and lashline improvements, and microblading of the eyebrows. Your choices for permanent makeup will have a significant impact on processes, results, and fading. Here’s everything you need to know about each treatment before you get needled.

Microblading

One method to improve the look of eyebrows is microblading. According to Berry, the process entails depositing pigment and making tiny, hair-like strokes in the top layer of the skin using a tiny, portable equipment with ultra-fine needles. The pigments used in microblading are especially chosen to complement each person’s skin tone and hair color. Consequently, Berry claims that picking a technician who is knowledgeable about color theory and skin depth is essential to getting stunning, natural-looking results.

It’s a really common choice because it enables customers to easily improve and modify the way their brows look as needed. It’s especially perfect for people who have thin or sparse eyebrows, brows that are irregularly formed, medical disorders that have caused eyebrow loss, and anybody else searching for a low-maintenance cosmetic regimen.

Although most people find the treatment helpful, Vu cautions that it might not be appropriate for people undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, pregnant or nursing women, people with specific skin conditions (like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis), and people with certain medical conditions (like bleeding and certain autoimmune disorders). To make an informed choice, always seek advice from a qualified specialist if you’re unsure.

The complete procedure takes around two hours, and after five weeks, you need to have a touch-up. After that, you need to get one every one to three years. All three specialists agree that the initial microblading visit ranges from $500 to $3,500 (first touch up included). The typical cost of maintenance appointments varies according on the artist and duration, from $300 to $550.

Blushing lips

According to Bray, “lip blushing is a design technique used to add a sheer wash of color to the lips.” To gradually increase the required level of coverage, tiny dots of pigment are applied to the affected region. To get this effect, the artist will stroke the needle in a certain direction.

According to Vu, lip blushing is a fantastic alternative for people who wish to increase definition without committing to surgery for dermal fillers or lip implants. It may also be used to improve the curve of the lip. Additionally, the procedure may lessen the visibility of lip creases and fine lines. Depending on personal preferences, ink colors and coverage can either enhance or restore the natural color of the lips or create a whole new, more brilliant lip tint.

According to Berry, the duration of the effects varies from 1.5 to 3 years, contingent on several aspects including the person’s skin type, regular sun protection routine, and lifestyle choices. According to all three specialists, the typical cost of the initial treatment is around $900, which includes a follow-up consultation after six weeks. However, the exact cost will depend on factors such as location, technique, and technician expertise. The cost of touch-ups then varies from $200 to $550 based on the artist and time period.

Long-lasting Eyeliner

Permanent eyeliner is precisely what it sounds like: tattooed eyeliner that is semi-permanent. According to Bray, a tiny needle connected to a digital pen is used to inject pigment into the skin throughout the process. She also points out that every client has a very different pain threshold.

Similar to conventional eyeliner, several design methods are possible; the most logical being the lash-line augmentation. By using darker color in the spaces between the lashes, Berry claims that this gives the appearance of a larger lash foundation. Other well-liked choices include winged liner, which is more dramatic and has a decorative winged look that extends beyond the outer corner of the eye; dusty winged liner, which has a more smokey, faded winged look; and powdered lashline enhancement, which is best compared to a smudged lash-line look. Generally speaking, they are adaptable and may be used to meet the needs of a client.

It’s a good choice for anyone who always wants the appearance of eyeliner makeup or a deeper lash line, but it’s especially helpful for those who are allergic to topical eyeliner makeup because they won’t have to worry about makeup causing them any irritation. However, according to Bray, those with very loose or saggy skin around their eyes are not the best candidates for the procedure.

Similar to other permanent makeup alternatives, the duration of results varies from one to three years based on personal circumstances.

Treatment costs can vary greatly based on the type of procedure used, the location, and the skill of the technician. However, Bray and Berry agree that treatments can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000, with a six-week follow-up often included.

Freckle Tattoo

Using a machine or portable equipment that distributes pigment into the skin in a freckle-like pattern, microscopic, realistic-looking freckles are tattooed into the skin. Generally speaking, they hurt less than other cosmetic tattoos, but they’re also quite challenging to do right.

According to Berry, “the application of pigments in this way is erratic and can discolor, blur, and migrate over time, leaving the client with a negative appearance.”

Bray notes that they also disqualify you from being a candidate for any future facial laser treatments, which may discourage some people from taking the option.

As per Bray, freckle tattoos are often priced per session since it takes many sessions to get the desired effect because to the wide variation in the quantity of freckles needed. According to her, sessions often cost between $200 and $500.