Everything you need to know

Permanent cosmetics, also known as Micropigmentation, is a form of cosmetic tattooing. It is designed to emulate natural brow hairs, make-up eyeliner flicks, or the natural shape of the lips.

It is less invasive than a traditional tattoo as it only penetrates into the epidermis (upper) layer of the skin, barely touching the dermis. This results in a softer, more natural semi-permanent result, usually lasting between 12-18 months depending on your lifestyle. The machine that is used is also different to a traditional body art tattoo.

After the initial consultation, the treatment involves pigment being implanted into the upper layer of the skin which will then heal and produce the natural result that is required. A touch up treatment is required 4-6 weeks after the initial appointment. This is included in the price.

I focus my work on producing natural results that enhance your own look. During the consultation, we will discuss the different techniques, procedures, finishes and styles and spend time making sure you are happy with how they will look before we begin any work with pigments.

Many factors are involved in the answer to this question; skin type, lifestyle, diet, environmental factors and the level of aftercare you put in, will all contribute to the longevity. As a rough guide, treatments can last anything between 1-3 years.To keep the treatment looking at its best I recommended a colour boost 6-18months after treatment and I offer a price reduction for this procedure.

The consultation that I perform is a thorough one that generally lasts as long as the treatment itself. I will start with a patch test behind the ear to check for allergic reactions to any of the products that I will be using on your skin. Reactions are rare but checking for them is vital. As we await the results I will gather a full medical history to make sure the treatment is right for you with no implications. Once these checks have been completed, we will move onto the design & colour phase of the consultation. I will draw the outline of your brows, lips or eyeliner in pencil directly onto your skin for you to see and test various pigment shades before starting the treatment itself.

This varies greatly depending on which treatment and your individual needs. Please set aside 3 hours for your appointment, however you could be finished in as little as an hour.

Unfortunately holidays involve 3 things that are detrimental to semi-permanent make-up healing; sun, water, and heat. If you are going on holiday please allow at least 14 days after the second and last appointment before enjoying your lovely trip away.

I will request a full list of the medications that you take prior to the appointment commencing. If there are any issues which mean I cannot do the treatment then I will be in contact for a full refund of your deposit.

If you are/have any of the following then cosmetic tattooing cannot be performed. 

Pregnant of breastfeeding 

Suffer from Keloid Scarring 

Lupus patients

Pink eye/psoriasis/active herpes simplex. Wait until condition clears. 

Type 2 Diabetes. A doctors consent is needed. 

Hepatitis B/C

Allergy to Nickel 

Sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, any patients on anti-coagulant medication. 

It is advised that you do not drink alcohol the night before your treatment. It may affect the colour retention of the treatment.

With a background in nursing and a license for safe practice from the council you can rest assured that I practice the highest standard of infection control possible. Although it is a low risk treatment there are still some risks to be aware of. As with any form of tattooing, these include; allergic reaction, undesired result in colour, colour migration, misplaced colour, infection or scarring. Complications are rare and all steps will be taken to minimise any risks.

We decide together. It is a balance of science and art. Firstly, I will mark and draw your brows based on the symmetry of your face using the golden rule of ratios. Then I will fine tune the shape to perfectly match your facial contours and any specific requests that will have been discussed at the start of the consultation. Once drawn, the shape will be revised until you feel happy with your brows. Only when you are completely happy with the shape will we carry on to the next treatment phase.

The colour will be chosen based on your desires, the colour of your natural brows and the colour of your skin tone. I have Karen Betts full range of pigments which then can also be tailor mixed to create the perfect shade for you.

Yes, but only if you know 100% that this is the colour that you want. This will help me understand the look you are aiming to achieve.

Please read the different descriptions of the brow processes on this website to see which look you would prefer. I will advise which look would best suit you based on your natural brows and the effect you wish to achieve. However the decision will be driven by the look you want to achieve.

If you wish to, yes. If brows are waxed this should be done 48 hours before our appointment. If not, please do not worry. I can remove the excess hair.

This is a myth and does not relate to micropigmentation. So the answer is absolutely not. For body art tattoos all hair must be removed but not this form.

No. With the use of numbing creams & local anesthetic the discomfort is kept to an absolute minimum. After the local anesthetic is applied any discomfort should be eliminated.

If you desire a specific shade and have the exact colour you want then please do so.

The lip procedure itself does not cause cold sores. However if you already carry the virus then it will be laying dormant. The procedure could cause the virus to break out.

If you have a history of cold sores then we do advise prior to the treatment that you contact your GP and obtain a treatment to prevent such breakouts. Or go to your local pharmacy and see what they have to offer. Medication should be used one week before and one week after the treatment. If you have a cold sore prior to the treatment it cannot be performed.

Both of these procedures, if performed, should take part 2 weeks prior to appointment.

Any make up will be removed prior to treatment so yes, wear what you wish.

Depending on the look you want and the colour of your eyes, we will choose a colour together that will create the desired effect you would like to achieve

Yes as long as one week has passed since the tinting/perm.

Products to help lashes grow can make the eye area thinner than usual. You must stop using any such products one month before treatment.

This is something I am used to and it is perfectly natural for your eyes to water. It will not affect the treatment.

Possibly. Everyone reacts differently and you may experience some swelling. This will subside after the treatment.

As a general rule brows will be dark after treatment. When brows heal they loose around 40% of colour and you will experience some shrinkage. This varies depending on how well the aftercare was performed, your sleep behavior, and your skin type in general. But for a good brow result the immediate treatment will be darker than desired to achieve the result in the long term.

Lips loose around 60% of colour when fully healed. So to counter balance this, your lips will be very dark immediately after treatment, but rest assured that they will lighten.

The only make-up allowed is mineral make-up. Any other make-up should only be applied 3 days after treatment or for as long as you can hold out. Essentially the tattooed area should be classed and treated as an open wound.

The aftercare is a very important part of the treatment and needs to be done correctly in order to retain the colour. I will go through the aftercare in detail for the specific treatment you are having.

The process in which skin heals is different for every individual. On the surface we should see some healing in 3-7 days and 10-14 days for a complete heal.

Guidelines currently advise waiting 4 months before being allowed to give blood.

It is advisable to get semi-permanent make-up after anti-wrinkle injections. Time your appointment so that most of the anti-wrinkle injection has warn off.

Lip fillers should be performed before semi-permanent lip treatments.

Laser hair removal can fade and discolor lip and brow treatments. Inform the laser technician of your concerns and they will take precautions to combat this.

Aftercare is really important to ensure the best result. It is advisable to not apply make-up for 3 days after the treatment, get the areas wet or moist for five days, and not to get involved in any activity that may get you overheated to the point of sweating (e.g. gym) or swimming. A full list of the precautions to avoid will be given to you on an aftercare sheet.

Your brows will lose colour once healed. In order to counterbalance this and ensure they look correct once healed, your brows will be dark to begin with, but will lighten significantly over the 14 day healing period.

Lips in particular are the procedure that lose the most colour, so your lips will be packed with colour to begin with in order to achieve the desired effect.