Permanent makeup refresh: should I do it and how often?

Surely, almost all masters were asked by their clients a similar question: “Why does even the highest quality tattoo become pale after a while, as if it “fades”? Where does the contrast go?

The answer to this question is quite simple: it is connected with metabolic processes in the body, the course of which is natural and irreversible, as well as with the influence of external factors on our skin. And although this process cannot be prevented, it can be easily corrected. It is for this that the PM masters carry out a refresh every 10-12 months (approximate period), updating the color of the tattoo.

Refresh: what is the essence of the procedure

When doing permanent makeup, the client expects a more or less long-term effect. However, time passes and the pigment in the skin turns pale, becomes less expressive. As we have already indicated, a foreign substance (as the dye is perceived) is excreted from the body under the influence of metabolic processes, as well as under the influence of ultraviolet rays and facial care products and other cosmetic substances.

Refresh is a procedure during which the master carries out the renewal of permanent makeup after the initial application. During this session, the emphasis is on the shade (eyebrows, lips or arrows), and the main task of the specialist is to restore color saturation, add contrast and brightness to the pigment. The task of changing the shape or making a contour correction is not worth it.

How often does a client need a PM refresh?

Although all time periods are conditional, the masters agree on their recommendations and advise their clients to contact the studio to update the PM approximately once a year. The area where the PM was performed also depends on how long the tattoo will last.

By what signs can you determine when it's time to make a refresh?

• the shade of the pigment has become pale, dull;
• PM looks less impressive: the area of permanent makeup, which was so expressive before, I want to additionally highlight (with lipstick or eyebrow pencil);
• the tone of the pigment has ceased to be in harmony with the skin and hair, does not correspond to the natural color type;
• an extraneous undertone appeared in the shade of the pigment - gray, blue, purple (this problem occurs if the master works with low-quality pigments).

How often to update the PM also depends on the age of the client. Young girls need color restoration more often, because they have a higher metabolic rate and cell renewal. In women after 40, the tattoo will hold on better, so they can sign up for renewal not every 10-12 months, but once every 1.5-2 years.

After the initial procedure, warn the client that it is not worth waiting until the tattoo of the eyebrows, lips or eyes disappears completely. Only with timely treatment, the master will be able to carry out the procedure quickly and without a long recovery.