lady with beautiful cosmetic tattoos

Frequently Asked Questions

Read this before getting cosmetic tattoos put on your face.

Sara Justice Cosmetic Tattoo understands that people have a lot of questions about cosmetic tattoos. What was once a fashion industry secret is gaining mainstream popularity. Its procedures are still shrouded in mystery for many. They are also known as permanent makeup, semi-permanent makeup or micropigmentation. (We use these names interchangeably throughout the website.) The idea is to remove the need for traditional makeup. People who choose it profit from the knowledge and skill of a professional makeup artist. They may have unwanted features or be looking to enhance their beauty. This guide will give you the information you need if you are considering it as well.

Questions & Answers about Cosmetic Tattoos

Cosmetic tattooing is the process of placing color pigment under the skin. Its goal is to enhance the natural beauty of the face. It is a good way to fill in eyebrows or eyelashes. We also use it to enhance the lips of eyes, like makeup. It is also called micropigmentation or semi-permanent makeup.
Cosmetic tattoos using special pigments rather than ink. They enhance the client’s appearance without looking forced or unnatural. They are only semi-permanent, unlike traditional ink tattoos.

We make every effort to ensure that our clients are comfortable. We use a anesthetic cream and gel to keep pain away. Please notify us if you are a frequent smoker, on your menstrual cycle or have fibromyalgia. These situations may need extra care.

You must be at least 18 years old to receive a cosmetic tattoo at our studio.

Cosmetic tattoo treatments will fade over time and may need touch-ups every year or two. A variety of factors affect this that are beyond our control. We cannot guarantee the length a treatment will last since for this reason.

Most clients need two treatments at least four weeks apart. We will assess the color retention and make adjustments as necessary. With most procedures, the color looks a lot lighter after the first week. Some clients prefer this, while others opt for a bolder look. Do not worry if your cosmetic tattoo does not heal as intended after the first session. We can always go darker and add more density during the follow-up. Older clients sometimes need more sessions.

PLEASE NOTE:
If you want us to work on a tattooed area, you must email us a clear photo before booking your appointment. We cannot guarantee results for cases such as these and we must approve that the area workable. You may need the existing tattoo removed before we begin the cover-up/re-work. Such work almost always requires more touch-ups for best results. Only the first follow-up appointment is free.

  • The amount of sun exposure
    The sun will soften the look of your tattoo. Use sunblock (once healed) to prolong your enhancement.
  • The regeneration of skin cells
    The longer the regeneration takes, the longer the pigment holds.
  • The speed at which the skin absorbs the pigment
    The slower the absorption, the longer the pigment will hold.
  • The choice of color
    Some colors fade quicker than others (ex. a blonde color will fade quicker than a dark brown color).
  • The area of treatment
    Some parts of the face fade quicker due to constant exposure.
  • Bleeding during the procedure
    Any bleeding during the tattooing procedure will reduce the amount of pigment absorption. Alcohol and certain medications act as blood-thinners. Do not use them before or right after your appointment.
  • Leave at least 14 days after the procedure before going on vacation.
  • Avoid any blood thinning medication for at least 72 hours before their appointment. This includes Vitamin E, Aspirin, Niacin, fish oil supplements, and Ibuprofen.
  • Do not drink any alcohol during the 24 hours before the appointment. Limit your caffeine intake during that time as well.
  • You must wait at least one year if you have been on prescription Accutane.
  • We recommend that you avoid sun and tanning bed exposure for 30 days before and after your procedure. If you show up for your appointment with a new tan or a sunburn, you will need to reschedule and will lose your deposit. As your skin exfoliates from a sunburn, it will take the pigment with it.
  • If you have an ideal shape and color in mind, bring a few reference photos with you to your appointment.
  • You may fill in your eyebrows so we know what you like.
  • Do not shape, wax, thread or tint your eyebrows within three days of your appointment. We can remove are any stray hairs that fall outside of our final shape.
  • Remove contact lenses before the procedure. You may put them back on immediately after.
  • Moisturize your lips for a few days before your appointment.
  • You will also want to do a light exfoliation on them the day before. A clean toothbrush and warm water work well.
  • Let us know if you are prone to cold sores or have ever had one in the past. There are special precautions we will need to take to prevent an outbreak.
  • Stop using Latisse eight weeks before your appointment.
  • If you have an ideal look and style in mind, bring a few reference photos with you to your appointment.
  • You may wear eyeliner to your appointment so we know what you like.
  • Remove contact lenses before the procedure. You may put them back on immediately after.

Your semi-permanent makeup will be darker than expected for the first few days. It will lighten during the healing process. Redness and swelling are minimal. Please view our aftercare instructions here.

We have detailed aftercare instructions listed here. Follow these instructions to heal well and get the best results.

We assess your skin color, anticipating how the tattoo will fade. Then we choose pigments that blend well with your natural features. Sometimes the colors shift when fading. In such cases, we correct it at the follow-up appointment. We would also add a special formula to prevent further color change. As you age, your eyebrow tattoo will look softer and have more of a “powdered” look. To keep your hair strokes looking good, try a refresher appointment every 1 to 2 years. Results vary with each client.

Apply a good sunscreen daily after healing to help keep color true. As with any tattoo, sun exposure will make the color soften faster. Skin type, lifestyle, pigment color used, and broken capillaries are other factors. When planning a chemical peel, laser treatment or other medical procedure, inform the technician of your tattoo.

  • If you have extremely oily skin, the hair stroke eyebrow technique will not work well for you. The constant production of oil will cause the hair strokes to heal with a diffused, softer look. Your end result will look more powdered than you would expect.
  • If you have little to no hair, your tattoo will appear flatter than those clients who have more hair.
  • If you are a frequent smoker, your pigment may fade sooner.
  • If you are iron deficient or anemic, your pigment may fade sooner and bleeding/bruising may occur.
Absolutely! We pride ourselves on having an immaculate and sterile studio space. We only use single-use, disposable needles and supplies. This means that each set-up for each new client is discarded safely afterwards. Each of our stations is thoroughly disinfected before opening and after each procedure.
We accept all major credit cards and cash.

We are no longer offering cover-up or rework services for eyebrow tattoos. We cannot guarantee results in the rare event that we do rework an area. We also must caution that it often takes several sessions. You may also need to have the old tattoos removed. Be prepared to cover these extra expenses if you go ahead. Please contact us if you have questions.

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