Brow Care

Preparation

Follow these pre-care instructions to prevent bleeding, sensitivity, and poor retention during your session.

Day of your appointment

  • Items to Bring: comfortable clothes, water bottle, blanket (can get quite cold in my studio!), earbuds to listen to your own music and podcasts (no big headphones as they will be uncomfortable during tattooing)

  • Take Tylenol 1 hour before your appointment if you are sensitive to pain

  • Eat beforehand if you are prone to feeling light headed and dizzy

  • If you wear contacts you may want to take them out. Consider wearing glasses instead

  • If you are particular about your shape you may want to consider coming in with your brows drawn or have selfies ready to show

  • Avoid heavy eye and face makeup. Can get quite messy and will wiped off during the process. If you decide to wear it, bring your makeup to retouch

  • Consider bringing lashes to wear for the after photos. They pull the look together!

What to do and avoid

  • No caffeine or alcohol minimum of 48 hours before your procedure

  • Stop blood thinning medication 48 hours before your procedure such as aspirin, ibuprofen, niacin, vitamin E, Omega 3 – these will cause excess bleeding and may affect your results

  • Allow your brows to grow so we can see your natural hair pattern. Avoid grooming them, we will do it for you

  • Exfoliate brow area 1 week prior to help prep skin for tattoo session

  • Stop using any skin thinners and lighteners such as vitamin A, vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acids, alpha hydroxyl on the brow area 2 weeks before your appointment

  • Brow tinting: wait 2 week before booking

  • Tanning: avoid for at least 2 weeks prior and approximately 2 weeks after

  • Chemical peels: it is recommended that you ask your esthetician or dermatologist when they feel it is safe for you to get your brows done. We require you to wait at least 4 weeks before and after receiving services

  • Cosmetic botox or fillers: should be done at least 4 weeks prior and no sooner than 4 weeks after the final session. Do not get any botox or fillers between your initial appointment and your perfecting session

  • Accutane: you must stop topical application at least 6 months prior and internal dosage (pills) for at least a year before services. Failure to do so can cause severe scarring

  • Brow serums: any kind like Latisse, you must stop at least 6 months prior and at least 4 weeks after the final session. Using serum post procedure can decrease retention

Aftercare

Your brows are now an open wound! Prevent risk of infection by keeping them clean. Read everything and TRUST THE PROCESS!

Absorb day 1, day of session: Remove excess fluid and pigment by blotting your brows down with a clean and damp cotton round every hour until bedtime

Wash 2x day 2-7: Morning and night, wash your hands then lather a small amount of gentle cleanser (Cetaphil or CeraVe are favored) or antibacterial soap (like Dial) to your fingers. With gentle pressure go over your eyebrows and the area around it. Rinse then pat dry with a clean tissue

Moisturize 2x day 2-7: After rinsing and drying your skin, with your clean finger or cotton swab apply the ointment provided to you. Once applied it should be sheer and barely noticeable. Do not to over apply to avoid suffocating your skin. Save what is left of your ointment (in a ziplock so it does not dry out) for your perfecting session if you have one scheduled

Sunscreen once scabbing is finished: Begin putting SPF 50 on your brows going forward each day to prevent your brows from fading and color for altering

What to avoid:

  • No dirty hands when treating the area. Wash your hands!

  • No scrubbing, rubbing or picking at the epithelial crust (scabs) that form; allow it to flake off by itself. If it is removed before it is ready, the pigment underneath may be pulled out

  • No sleeping on your face

  • No activities involving dust or dirt

  • No retinol, acids, acne products near the treatment area. Gentle cleanser and moisturizer is okay on your forehead and between brows

  • No makeup near the procedure area until all scabs have fallen off to avoid infection

  • No submerging your brows in water. This includes swimming and showering with water hitting directly into your face. Over saturating your brows may cause premature fading and impede healing

  • No direct sun exposure for two weeks to prevent premature fading and discoloration

  • No activities that involve sweating, heat and steam such as working out, hot showers, saunas and hot tubs until all scabs have fallen off. Sweat contains salt which will break down your pigment resulting in premature fading. When you return to these activities make sure you are patting your brows down. Do not let sweat soak into your brows

Healing process (general timeline)

  • Day 1: You may experience swelling and redness. This should subside within 24 to 48 hours

  • Day 1-3: Your brows will appear darker than they were initially

  • Day 4-7: Your brows may begin to scab or flake. Scabs should be dry and thin. Brows will appear patchy, light and possibly uneven. You may even feel as if no color has retained. This is normal

  • Day 7-14: Your scabs should be all gone. Begin to apply sunscreen each day going forward

  • Day 14+: Color will begin to resurface and darken

Powder brows are typically a two step process: initial session and 6 to 8 perfecting session. In some cases, a third session may be needed to achieve your desired look.

Long-term aftercare

  • Groom the outgrown hair right around your tattoo. This will help you keep your shape defined. This way, you’ll be better able to distinguish if a touch up is needed down the road. You may groom them anyway you like as long as your brows are healed. Easy way to do it yourself is with an eyebrow razor and tweezers

  • Avoid applying strong skincare products like retinoids or acne products on top of your permanent makeup for longer lasting results and to prevent the color from altering

  • Apply sunscreen each and every day! It’s your tattoos best friend!

  • Always let your esthetician know you have permanent makeup before your treatments

  • Schedule your touch up as needed (every 1 to 3 years)

Flakes & Scabs!

This is an example of what scabbing may look like for you. This is 100% normal. It may look very, very light underneath your scab. You may be afraid you did not take any pigment. Trust the process because your color will steadily come back in the next coming weeks. Come back for your 6-8 week perfecting session, especially if you want your brows darker and/or bolder in size.