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The most important thing that goes into a successful microblading/permanent makeup procedure is how well the client follows the aftercare procedure. You want to make sure to keep the area moist with Aquaphor, all day long 24/7 for at least 10 days. This will allow the color to set in and avoid oxygen from hitting your brows and changing the color while it is setting in.
DO NOT WASH THE PROCEDURE FOR 24-48 HOURS!
Avoid for 10 days: Makeup (on procedure area), Extreme Sweating, Swimming, Tanning, Hot Sauna, and Laser/Chemical/Botox Treatments.
Aquaphor Is Your Best Friend
-Use a cotton swab to apply Aquaphor Ointment throughout the day for 2-4 weeks (the area should never be dry).
-For the first 4 hours after the procedure, pat the procedure area with a paper towel every 30 minutes to remove excess blood/fluid.
-Do not touch the procedure are with your fingers as they may have bacteria on them and create an infection.
-We suggest Aquaphor because it tends to not cause inflammation, but if you are allergic, Vaseline will do just fine.
-Always use a “total sun block” sunscreen until the area has fully healed to prevent future fading of pigment color.
-Do not use products that contain AHA’s on the procedure area as they will fade the color (Example: Glycolic, Lactic Acids)
Additional Instructions For Lips
-Ice your lips every 30 minutes on the day of the procedure to prevent bruising & swelling.
-Avoid for 1 day: tooth paste and hot foods.
-Avoid for 3 days: teeth whiteners, spicy food/drinks, lemon, salt, and vinegar. Use a straw for the following: coffee, wine, and any drinks that will stain. Wear a hat to shield the area from the sun when you go outside.Additional Instructions For Eyeliner
-Ice your eyes every 30 minutes on the day of the procedure to prevent bruising & swelling.
-For 2 weeks: No eyelash tinting, perming, or extensions.
Day-by-day PMU aftercare at a glance
The instructions above are the rules. This table lays the same rules out by day, so you can check where you are in the healing timeline and what is normal to see in the mirror. If anything here seems to differ from what your artist told you at your appointment, follow your artist.
| When | What to do | What is normal |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure day | Blot gently with a clean paper towel every 30 minutes for the first 4 hours. Ice lips or eyes every 30 minutes. Keep a thin layer of Aquaphor on with a cotton swab so the area never dries out. | Color looks darker and bolder than the final result. Some redness, swelling and tenderness. |
| Days 1 to 2 | Do not wash the treated area. Keep the ointment on. No makeup on the area. Keep your face out of the direct shower spray and sleep on your back on a clean pillowcase. | Swelling peaks and starts to settle, especially on lips and eyelids. |
| Days 3 to 10 | Keep the area moist, hands off, and away from sweat, swimming, tanning, saunas, and laser, chemical peel or Botox treatments. Let flakes fall off on their own. | Light flaking or peeling. The color can look patchy or uneven while the skin renews. |
| Days 11 to 28 | Keep the area from drying out and out of the sun. Keep AHA products (glycolic or lactic acid) away from the area. | Color may look too light for a while, then return as the skin settles. This is common and is the reason for the perfecting session. |
| Weeks 4 to 6 | Come in for your perfecting session so your artist can fill in any light spots and adjust shape or color. | Healed skin, with the true color showing. |
Microblading and brow aftercare
Microblading, powder brows and nano brows all follow the general rules above. Brows tend to go through a predictable cycle: dark and sharp on day one, flaky in the first week to ten days, then soft or faint for a couple of weeks before the color comes back. Hair strokes from microblading can look like they have disappeared in spots during this stage. Do not judge the result or add more product to cover it; wait for the perfecting session.
- Skip brow pencils, powders and tinted brow gels on the treated skin for 10 days.
- Hold off on brow waxing, threading or tinting near the area until it has fully healed.
Lip blush aftercare
Lips swell more than brows and usually look very bright at first, then soften by about a third or more as they heal. Peeling often starts around day three. Keep the ointment on so the lips do not crack, and follow the food and drink rules above: no toothpaste or hot foods for the first day, and for three days no teeth whiteners, spicy food or drinks, lemon, salt or vinegar. Use a straw for coffee, wine and other staining drinks.
If you have ever had cold sores, tell your artist before booking and ask your doctor whether you should take anything before your lip appointment, because the treatment can trigger a flare.
Permanent eyeliner aftercare
Ice on procedure day helps with puffiness, which is often most noticeable the next morning. Apply ointment sparingly along the lash line so it does not get into your eyes.
- No mascara, eyeliner or eye shadow for 10 days, and no lash tinting, perming or extensions for 2 weeks.
- Do not rub your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, ask your artist when you can go back to them; glasses are easier for the first days.
Scalp micropigmentation aftercare
Scalp micropigmentation is done over several sessions, about 3 hours each, so you repeat a short healing period after every visit. The scalp heals differently from the face, and your artist will give you exact day counts for your sessions on the scalp micropigmentation service page and at your appointment.
- Keep the scalp dry and avoid washing it for the first days after each session, as your artist instructs.
- Do not shave the treated area until your artist says it is safe.
- Avoid gym workouts and heavy sweating, swimming, saunas and steam rooms while it heals.
- Do not apply hair products, oils or creams to the scalp unless your artist recommends them.
- Stay out of direct sun. Once healed, protect the scalp with a hat or sunscreen, since sun exposure is one of the main things that fades the pigment over its typical 3 to 5 year life.
When to call your artist or a doctor
Some redness, swelling and flaking is expected. Redness, swelling or warmth that keeps getting worse, a rash or bumps around the area, pus, or a fever are not normal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists these as possible signs of infection or reaction after a tattoo, including permanent makeup, and advises contacting your health care provider (FDA: Think Before You Ink). Let your artist know as well, so they can tell your doctor which pigment was used. If you are planning your visit, our before your appointment guide covers what to avoid in the days ahead, and you can ask any aftercare question at a free consultation.
Aftercare by service
Healing differs by area. See the service page for what you had done: microblading, nano brows, powder and ombre brows, lip blushing or permanent eyeliner. Whatever you had, the perfecting session four to six weeks later is part of the result, and what the later refresh costs is set out in microblading touch up cost in Los Angeles.
