Probably, each of us has a friend or acquaintance who likes to experiment with her appearance, keeps up with the times and experiences almost all the latest fashion trends.
I also have such a friend Katya. Sometimes she manages to persuade me to try something new on myself, sometimes she doesn’t. Unlike her, I do not conduct experiments without first studying the product or service and reading reviews. This time, the idea of getting an eyebrow tattoo came into her blond head. Before that, she got tattoos on her shoulder and ankle.
I refused the tattoo right away, because I categorically do not like tattoos and consider them vulgar. Especially on a woman's body. But her body is her business. And so she calls me and happily tells me about the delights of eyebrow tattooing: how convenient it is (like you don’t have to pluck it every week), beautiful, practical, and most importantly, long lasting . A friend of hers did it and was very pleased. Well, Katka couldn’t help but try, and was very determined, but I, as usual, had my doubts and began collecting information about this procedure.
How is eyebrow tattooing done?
Let me start with the fact that there are several techniques for tattooing (coloring) eyebrows: shading, shoting, hair (European and Asian style), 3D volume and manual reconstruction. I will not describe each technique in detail, but will only describe the principle of this procedure. And those who still decide to get a tattoo will study each technique on their own and choose the appropriate one.
Skin coloring is carried out by a tattoo artist or cosmetologist who has the appropriate skills and has undergone special training to carry out this procedure. During the procedure, a specialist uses a manipulator to pierce the top layer of skin and inject a coloring pigment inside with a needle. The procedure takes about 1.5 hours. The procedure is quite painful, judging by the reviews. Although local anesthetics are used. After it, you need to go through a rehabilitation period and carefully care for the treated area .
In 99 percent of cases, correction will be required after a short period of time to give the ideal shape to your eyebrows.
The choice of the artist who will do the tattoo is extremely important. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with his portfolio, if available . Or go to the master on a recommendation from friends he already had.
Difference from regular tattoos
The main difference is how long eyebrow tattoo lasts. The paint penetrates the skin no more than 1 mm; over time, the contour fades and disappears without a trace. Tattoos are driven in to a depth of up to 2 mm; they remain with the owner for life. For each of these procedures, separate types of devices and needles are used. Also, tattooing requires scheduled correction, which is carried out once every 1-1.5 years. The area of color filling during tattooing is much smaller than the size of an average tattoo, the number of shades is very limited, which makes the process less painful and lengthy.
Pros and cons of eyebrow tattooing
Eyebrow tattooing, like any other procedure, has its pros and cons. Let's figure it out, these advantages are so significant.
The advantages include:
- Save time on makeup.
- Save on various eyebrow products.
- Save money on visiting salons to get your eyebrows tinted.
- Tattooing is permanent.
- Tattooed eyebrows are noticeable.
- The ability to correct natural eyebrow asymmetry.
- Tattooed eyebrows will not let you down in the sauna, pool or on the beach, since the paint will not flow from them during any water procedures.
Cons of eyebrow tattoo:
- Tattooed eyebrows are noticeable.
- Going out of fashion.
- The coloring pigment may change color over time; which means that black eyebrows can turn blue, brown eyebrows can turn brick or pink; some pigments can produce a green or purple tint. The saddest thing is that this unwanted tint on the skin can persist for years.
- Tattooing will become a problem if you change your hair color or want to change the shape of your eyebrows.
- Might get boring.
- Over the years it can “float”, that is, sink along with the tissues of the face
- Risk of infection.
- Adds age.
- It's no longer fashionable.
- The only way to get rid of it is with a laser.
- High probability of getting unsatisfactory results.
- The high price of this procedure (and further regular corrections).
In my opinion, the listed advantages are rather dubious, with the possible exception of the last two points.
If your eyebrows are naturally extremely bad, then perhaps it’s worth correcting them. Although, in my opinion, this can be done in a more gentle way than tattooing. As for saving on salons and funds, then allow me: what kind of savings is this if the procedure itself is not cheap at all, plus the same expensive regular corrections. In addition, after the procedure there is a rehabilitation period, during which you will also need to spend money to restore the damaged skin. I don’t think that all of the above will be cheaper than buying an eyebrow pencil or tinting your eyebrows in a salon.
On average, the price for high-quality tattooing varies between 20,000 rubles per procedure. Correction within the range – 8000-10000. If you are offered an eyebrow tattoo for 5,000 rubles, the risk of getting a poor-quality result increases significantly.
You were probably surprised that I considered the point “tattooed eyebrows are noticeable” to be both a plus and a minus. Let me explain. Noticeable bright eyebrows suggest bright eyes, otherwise it will look comical. And the statement that eyebrow tattooing will help save time on makeup is definitely false. In my opinion, just the opposite, tattooed eyebrows oblige you to do makeup regularly and you are unlikely to be able to run out without makeup . Well, unless, of course, you plan to scare or make your work colleagues laugh.
How I did permanent tattooing and my impressions of the process
I decided to follow the advice from the Internet and did not save. I made an appointment with the best cosmetologist in our city, reviews about her were on every social network. In addition, I went to her page and looked at her works, they were gorgeous, I couldn’t tell them from the real ones. But a professional in his field has a considerable queue, so I had to wait two weeks for the appointed day. To be honest, I wasn’t worried at all, because I was confident of a positive result.
On the appointed day, I went to the salon. I immediately liked that the cosmetologist’s office was completely separate and equipped like in an expensive private clinic. I will tell you the procedure, how everything happened, so that you are aware:
First of all, we met and the master asked about my wishes;- she took an allergy test;
- we discussed and selected pigment shades;
- the cosmetologist drew out the correct shape of my eyebrows using special tools;
- They put a special cap on me so that there wouldn’t be a single hair;
- the needle for the device was opened in my presence;
- the cosmetologist applied a gel with a cooling effect to me, this was a pain reliever that began to act very quickly;
- I applied it about twice for a nice rich color. It didn’t hurt at all, I worried in vain;
- at the very end they wiped my eyebrows with a special solution for quick wound healing.
I’ll tell you honestly, the process is not painful, but not particularly pleasant either. But for the sake of beauty, it’s worth being patient if you’ve already decided on it. There was no blood, as some girls wrote. The cosmetologist told me that now the most important thing should be proper wound care. I will briefly tell you the advice of a professional:
- do not peel off the formed crusts, they protect against infection;
- you can’t get it wet for two days;
- You cannot steam in the sauna or go to the pool.
My specialist said that I should come back in a couple of weeks to finally correct the shape and color. This is quite normal and everyone does it. I followed the instructions as the cosmetologist wrote to me. At first, of course, it was scary when the eyebrows were crusty, but then they gradually began to fade and the color became lighter. I went to the salon two weeks later and the master completed the procedures. That's when my eyebrows were unrecognizable. They were finally a beautiful dark brown color and had a chic shape with a sophisticated curve. I don't know how she was able to do it, but I'm happy. I know that it was worth the trouble and patience at first, but now for a year or even two I will have a great effect. As for the price, I will say that it is not small, but it is well worth it. So I’m very pleased that I took a risk and still got a tattoo.
Contraindications for eyebrow tattooing
There are contraindications for this procedure.
It is strictly forbidden to do any tattooing (eyebrows, eyelids, lips - it doesn’t matter) if you have one of the following diseases:
- Diabetes.
- Blood diseases.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Skin diseases.
- Predisposition to the formation of keloid scars.
It is also not recommended to carry out this procedure on critical days and during colds.
Never hide the presence of diseases from a specialist. This is dangerous not only for your beauty, but also for your health in general!
Features of permanent facial makeup
Tattooing in the facial area has regularities that you should know before carrying out the procedure so that it is successful, without leaving any side effects or skin reactions.
Facial tattooing has features regardless of the part of the face:
- Most of the completed drawing depends on the choice of the master. If the cosmetologist has not correctly introduced the dye, the result will not look neat, there will be stains, an uneven shade, and an unclear outline. To choose a tattoo specialist, you need to study reviews on third-party sites on the Internet and get comments from friends. It is important to look at photos of the cosmetologist’s previous work to imagine the final effect.
- The retention time of the tattoo varies individually. It depends on many external parameters, which are influenced by: the literacy of the specialist who performed the service, the correctness of care after it was performed, preparation before the session, compliance with contraindications and the specialist’s instructions.
- Always check the quality of the consumables used in the procedure. This includes: a needle from a tattoo machine, dye, and other reusable tools. The room should be sterile, and the specialist should wear gloves; this will prevent infection from entering the open wound.
Tattooing has contraindications, which can be ignored in some cases with the permission of the doctor:
- AIDS.
- Cancer. Oncological diseases during development represent a complete restriction from the provision of services; the doctor can allow it if the sick person recovers and the disease has stopped progressing, since the introduction of a foreign substance into the tissue can lead to a deterioration in health.
- Pregnancy, and especially the first trimester, since at this time the baby develops and the laying of organs and the main stages of development occur. There is a high probability of developing a developmental defect. It is not recommended to get a tattoo while breastfeeding.
- Poor blood clotting rate. If this aspect is present, during the visit blood may begin to come out from under the skin, which will prevent the specialist from doing permanent makeup and will wash out the dye ahead of time.
- Diabetes.
- Menstruation, three days before and after them. This restriction is prescribed due to hormonal fluctuations, which affects the emotional and physical health of the patient.
If the client voluntarily violates the restrictions, he takes responsibility for the result upon himself, since the master is responsible only for ensuring a high-quality result on a healthy face.
My friend's personal experience
Now about the results of the tattoo, which I observed personally and am sincerely glad that I did not give in to Katerina’s persuasion. I can only speak about the procedure itself from the words of a friend: it turned out to be very painful. And the result was simply terrible.
I don’t know who recommended this “specialist” to her, but they made her eyebrows very wide. I then measured the width of the eyebrows - 7 mm. Katya is a very petite girl and has a small face, but those eyebrows looked like a real disaster on her face. She cried for a very long time both from the result and from what then began to happen to her eyebrows.
For the first two weeks, my eyebrows were crusty and itchy terribly. They had to be treated with special means that are prescribed individually (that’s what the master said). After all the crusts had come off, the result became clearly visible, and it was frankly unsuccessful . Katya went to the master so that he could evaluate his work himself. The master was pleased and said that everything looks great, but in some places it needs to be adjusted. I made an appointment for correction: again crust, itching, treatment, tears.
Now Katya is saving money to remove these terrible eyebrows from her face with a laser, but in the meantime she has to disguise them with special means and draw new eyebrows on top. This was such an unsuccessful experiment.
Reviews from the network about it
I really wanted my eyebrows to become beautiful, but at the same time they seemed natural and did not catch the eye. I was almost ready to sign up for the procedure, but I lacked something to be completely convinced and I decided to find reviews from women who could describe in detail their feelings about permanent tattooing. I was interested to know how painful it is and how long it takes to heal, and whether this procedure is even worth doing. But the opinions of the women made me very happy, most of them were happy with the result and showed off their photos with a beautiful result.
“I’ve been doing tattoos for a very long time, it’s convenient and comfortable for me. The eyebrows are like real ones, my master is a true professional and does his job like a jewel. Applying makeup for three hours in front of the mirror every day is not my thing, but I love looking beautiful. Therefore, permanent tattoo, eyelash extensions and I am a beauty. Everything looks natural and not vulgar. Thanks to my cosmetologist”
After reading the reviews, I realized that it was worth it and I needed to take a risk. Women wrote that the process is almost not felt due to the painkiller. I tuned in and found out the number of a professional cosmetologist.
Comparison of before and after results
The purpose of permanent eyebrow tinting is to improve their appearance. Regardless of which form was chosen, the result must be assessed according to the following criteria:
- width and length do not exceed the desired ones;
- natural look;
- there are no stains or gaps left;
- the contour is smooth, well guessed;
- the pigment has not acquired an unnatural shade;
- eyebrows are symmetrical.
In the photo you can see what permanent eyebrow tinting looks like, successfully performed by a cosmetologist.
Proper eyebrow care
Despite the fact that the tattoo is not a tattoo, it must be taken care of in the first weeks after the intervention, otherwise its appearance may change for the worse.
Immediately after the procedure
Swelling and redness of tissues is a normal reaction to tissue damage. You may experience some discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. The blood released to the surface forms crusts that protect the skin from mechanical injuries and temperature changes. Healing underneath occurs naturally.
A few days later
In the first week, it may seem that the color of the pigment is too bright, but as the skin gets used to the new condition, it will change. At this stage, inflammation and an allergic reaction are possible.
After complete healing
Normally, swelling, redness and crusts disappear within 2 weeks. The final correction is carried out a month after the first procedure. The technician must check the result of the work to schedule a follow-up visit. He will correct the contour, fill in the existing gaps, and achieve the desired tone in different areas.
What not to do
You should not touch your eyebrows until they have healed completely: rub with a washcloth, paint, scratch. For a week, the application site must not be wiped with any liquids other than alcohol-free disinfectants. You should not visit the sauna or gym, because... sweat eats away damaged tissue.
Fresh permanent makeup should be protected from direct sunlight and frost to avoid burns and complications.
How healing occurs day by day
It is extremely important to avoid mistakes in caring for the tattoo area. Follow these step-by-step recommendations:
- On the first day, the skin looks swollen and irritated. Drops of lymph and blood are released, which can be carefully blotted with a napkin or cotton pad. Ask your specialist to recommend remedies that relieve these symptoms to make the process easier. Allergies and pain may occur. If the unpleasant sensations cause severe discomfort, it is allowed to take an anesthetic. It is necessary to disinfect tattoos with alcohol-free solutions every 3 hours.
- On the second day the swelling subsides. The wounds dry out and crusts begin to appear. At this point, the eyebrows appear too dark due to the fact that the pigment is partially released with the ichor. Treatment is carried out with an antiseptic and healing ointment.
- On the third day, when the eyebrows are completely covered with crusts, you can carefully wash your face without scrubs or a washcloth. Damaged skin remains protected by crusts and is less vulnerable.
- Until the seventh day, itching occurs, which accompanies proper healing. You should still avoid touching your forehead and eyes. The crusts begin to fall off, and if they are accidentally removed and a wound forms, it is necessary to treat the injured area with an antiseptic.
- In the second week, the skin recovers and you can start using cosmetics. Clear contours of the eyebrows appear, it becomes clear how correctly the pigment is applied.
- After the 14th day and until the 30th, healing is completed naturally, the color is finally formed, the contours become softer. All defects are corrected during subsequent correction.
Irreversible side effects of tattooing
Eyebrow tattooing does not pose any serious danger. There are no sensitive areas in this area of the face, the skin is dense, it is convenient for the cosmetologist to work, and there is no threat of harm to the eyes. Most of the negative consequences of tattooing can be easily cured or corrected. Irreversible complications include only keloid scars, which cannot be gotten rid of with ointments and creams, and cosmetic manipulations are difficult to cope with.
If you often tattoo your eyebrows, the consequences in the future may include the appearance of needle grooves. They are difficult to remove. Only a true professional can handle this. Otherwise, you will have to hide the marks with cosmetics or, again, with the help of tattooing.
Is it possible to do a tattoo yourself?
Performing an eyebrow tattoo procedure at home is dangerous. Only professional salons maintain the required sterility of the work space and equipment. Working with different parts of your face with one hand is physiologically inconvenient; this entails skin injuries.
Due to the lack of proper treatment of instruments, infection of the area where permanent paint is applied can occur. One of the common side effects of unprofessional intervention is an allergic reaction to a low-quality dye. Even masters who know well how eyebrow tattooing is done and have experience in performing the procedure turn to their colleagues for the service.
