Comments on: An Eyebrow Tattoo Procedure Guide

By: Law Office Administrator

Law Office Administrator — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:44:28 +0000

Had my eye liner done two weeks ago and I love it! I have already made the appointment to have my eyebrows done this week.

By: Elena Astor

Elena Astor — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:44:10 +0000

I agree with Lisa on many points that she makes above. However, as a certified, practicing permanent makeup technician with considerable experience, I would caution against relying too much on SPCP certification in selecting your technician. While such certification is better than no certification at all, it is far less rigorous than may appear to the general public. A far more rigorous examination is administered by the American Academy of Intradermal Cosmetics, the largest permanent makeup educational establishment in the US. The AIIC Master Technician certification is unique in that, in addition to the competency exam similar to that of SPCP, it requires a practical exam. During the practical exam, the technican performs all the procedures on live models before a panel of recognized experts. This assures that the technician has actual practical, not just theoretical skills.

Here are the three criteria I would recommend for selecting your technician:

1. STERILITY: It is extremely important. Make sure that the technican has license from the local Department of Health wherever such license is available. Prefer technicians affiliated with or working under the supervision of a physician.

2. SKILL AS A MAKEUP ARTIST: Many permanent makeup artists are tattoo artists, electrologists, estheticians. None of that means that they have any skills whatsoever in designing makeup that will look good on you. Creating flattering makeup is a very specialized skill and you should seek technicians trained and experienced in that. Especially if the makeup that they will put on your face is permanent!

3. SPECIALIZATION: Avoid establishments that do not specialize in permanent makeup. Such establishments are unlikely to invest time and money into continuous training, top quality pigments and equipment.

You can find additional information on this topic at http://www.ChicagoPermanentCosmetics.com

By: medical assistant

medical assistant — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:21:23 +0000

This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:17:18 +0000

Thank you for your comment Heidi Livens. And I agree that tattoos should be permanent and in fact are permanent in a general sense. I have never suggested in my articles that permanent makeup must be retouched every few MONTHS, however tattoos in general are known to fade slightly over time. To keep permanent makeup fresh and bright it can be retouched every few YEARS not every few months. As you said, if your permanent makeup was done well the first time it should last a lifetime and it does in general. However in the case of eyeliner or eyebrow tattoos the bright, rich tones that make it replace the need for a brow pencil or eyeliner, often dull after some years (especially if a person is in chlorinated or salt water everyday like I am when I swim) and sometimes the initial richness of the color turns light henna or very light brown and in the case of black eyeliner can fade to a gray-blue. To maintain the rich dark eyeliner lines and the brightness of the brow color, a touch-up just refreshes the look even though the tattoo itself is still there. I have had several retouches over the last 12 years, especially of my eyeliner, because I like it dark, almost black. All the Micropigmentation specialists I have read or spoken to agree that permanent makeup fades over time.
Retouching immediately after a procedure is also common, not because the procedure was done poorly, but because we each heal differently. There are cases where scabs have formed and when they fall off there is a small space where the body has rejected the pigment, and these small areas sometimes need a touch-up a month or so after the initial procedure. This seems to be true more so of very sensitive skinned individuals but I am not a doctor and do not understand why sometimes a transplant or a bone or a graft is rejected and sometimes the body accepts foreign material without question.
The permanent makeup and tattoo specialists I know who have clients that have required a touch-up, always do this free of charge and the end result last years and clients are satisfied.
Regarding guns versus tattoo machines, you and I both know that the hand-held equipment used to tattoo is called a tattoo machine, a rotary machine etc…and in this last post I have referred to it as such. In other posts I have used the term tattoo gun because beginners may be familiar with that term.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:13:50 +0000

Thank you very much for taking the time to comment LiZa, CPCP. I totally agree with what you have said and thank you for bringing this to my attention. There are indeed many lovely, bright and hygienic tattoo shops and parlors where very talented artists create works of art and some are also certified permanent makeup specialists as well. Without a doubt, it is unfortunate that there are dingy hair salons and dingy aesthetic studios that are anything but aesthetic and hygienic and give permanent makeup a bad name. That is why is it is so important, and I stress this in all my articles, that the public seek ONLY reputable aestheticians and cosmetic tattoo professionals that operate according to a hygienic standard that is above the old cliché of a dingy tattoo parlor. The dingy tattoo parlor quote is only valid when read within the context of the full text, and was not intended as a derogatory remark to the many marvelous tattoo shops and parlors around the world but merely intended to highlight that a hygienic and certified environment is a MUST, and I quote the entire passage that stated: “Cosmetic tattoos are different from artistic permanent tattoo treatments because your facial procedures will be done in a clinical environment and not in some dingy tattoo shop(and I could add dingy hair salon or dingy aesthetic center). The comfort level you should be offered (and must demand) should equal that which is offered at a dentist or a doctor’s office or with a plastic surgeon. Anything less is unacceptable.”

Furthermore I recommend wholeheartedly that those who are contemplating a cosmetic tattoo procedure seek all the information available, and I recommend the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals for those who are in the United States, and to seek other similar associations or societies in whatever country a person may reside. Since I live in Europe there are many different associations depending on the country. I hope to be able to compile a list of such professional associations to help international people be even better information.
My articles and advice are in no way intended to replace information offered by professional association but to offer a real life example of successful permanent makeup procedures and answer basic questions from personal experience. My article clearly states: “Make sure that your professional aesthetician or tattoo artist is trained in their craft and have at least 40 hours of practice – more if possible. In the US there is a Society of Permanent Cosmetics. In other countries there are organizations that monitor the quality of these procedures by making sure the technicians or tattoo specialists are qualified and that the equipment is hygienic and modern.”

Thank you again for your comment, and I hope you will visit the site and comment on future posts.

By: Heidi Livens

Heidi Livens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:45:20 +0000

Tattoos should be permanent and forever, so if cosmetic eyebrow tattooing is so called ‘PERMANENT” why do they need to be retouched every few months? If the tattooing was done properly with the right “machine” then you shouldn’t need to have them retouched. The reason why you have to keep going back to retouch them is because if it was done properly that resulted it in being permanent then the Micropigmentation Specialist would be out of business.

Btw, “GUNS” kill people “MACHINES” tattoo. It’s a tattoo “machine”. People that are not knowledgeable call them “guns”.

Everyone that gets their eyebrows tattooed by this artist out in Hawaii never had to get them retouched.

So something that is PERMANENT should be PERMANENT. Having to keep going back to get them retouched because it fades etc. is not permanent. The faded tattooed eyebrow remains there forever so I guess that’s the permanent in permament cosmetic tattooing.

By: LiZa, CPCP

LiZa, CPCP — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:01:22 +0000

All in all, there is some good advice here. However, I take exception to the ‘dingey tattoo parlor’ remark. Tattoo artists have proven over the years to be quite capable of regulating themselves, it is permanent makeup people who have given the public a taste of bad medicine. I know many brilliant permanent makeup artists who work in lovely tattoo studios and I know many perm. makeup people who work out of hair salons with poor standards when it comes to blood born pathogen and cross contamination prevention.
Anyone looking for permanent cosmetics should begin by consulting the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP) website at spcp.org.
The SPCP is the largest non profit member supported organization representing the permanent cosmetics industry. Its members must adhere to the strictest and highest standards put forth in the industry. Upon passing a competency exam, SPCP members are proud to hold CPCP credentials. (Certified Permanent Cosmetics Professional).
All permanent cosmetic professionals should seek membership with the SPCP and all the public should begin their permanent cosmetic experience at http://www.spcp.org