When you enter a clinic to have a cosmetic eyebrow tattoo procedure, naturally you will have researched information to know what an eyebrow tattoo is all about and what benefits it will bring to you and what the potential risks may be.

You will naturally expect that a trained aesthetician or cosmetic permanent makeup specialist will offer you their eyebrow tattooing expertise in a professional and hygienic manner during the tattoo eyebrows operation and that the equipment used will be modern and the best available in your area.

So after you have had an initial consultation with your cosmetician and have been shown pictures of tattoo eyebrows and have selected what shape and color you want, you will probably leave the procedure in the hands of the experts. But eyebrow tattoo pictures and a Q & A during a brief consultation may not provide all you need to know.

Since you are about to have ink permanently injected under your skin that will last at least 5 years, and will be visible to everyone you encounter for a long time, and will be the first impression you give to the world, I suggest that you delve a little deeper below the surface of eyebrow tattoos.

An eyebrow tattoo is a delicate procedure that requires skill to do correctly and also requires the correct instruments, needles and equipment. It also demands the application of anesthetic to keep you comfortable before and during the operation, be it a topical cream or spray or some kind of anesthesia to dull the pain. Then, once you have received your permanent eyebrow tattoo you will need to be sure that your care provider has given you what you need to heal properly and that the brow region will not become needlessly infected.

Newly tattooed eyebrows need to be cared for and guarded from infection and it is also imperative that you return to visit your cosmetician at least once for a post-operation assessment of healing and perhaps even some touchups.

Permanent Eyebrow Tattoos – General Overview

I want to go through some of the procedures that involve this specialized field of tattoos for women and the types of products specific to the permanent eyebrows industry that are used so that you can be sure you are receiving the best cosmetic tattoo eyebrows that are possible. Don’t make the mistake of walking into a shop and saying, ‘tattoo my eyebrows, please’ and not know what you can have or what it will be like and then end up looking for a very expensive eyebrow tattoo removal clinic.

An eyebrow tattooing procedure can be very comfortable and trouble free if you know what to look for, what to ask, and have selected a clinic, tattoo shop or aesthetician wisely. Before I decided who would tattoo my eyebrows, I read as much information as possible and went to several clinics for consultations, first to have questions answered, and second, to view the facilities before scheduling an appointment.

A good clinic will give you a local or topical anesthetic that will numb the region where the tattooed eyebrow will be. This is essential because the micropigmentation needles will rapidly penetrate and puncture your skin in a very small area during an hour or so and this can be very shocking to that delicate area of the face and very painful without anything to numb the sensations. If a good anesthesia has been properly applied, you can expect to feel nothing more than a tickle, a slight bit of pressure or a little tug like plucking your brows, but without any sharp pain at all.

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. 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.

Having a successful eyebrows tattooing procedure requires these 10 basic things:

• a well trained and experienced permanent makeup specialist or aesthetician
• a good sketch drawn onto your brow with the final shape YOU want
• the right pigments or ink color that will match your skin tone and hair color
• receiving proper anesthesia before the procedure begins
• the use of a modern rotary machine
• the right selection of needles for the right style of cosmetic tattoo
• numbing creams or anesthesia during the procedure to ensure your comfort
• proper application of aftercare products immediately following the procedure
• the right aftercare products at home to avoid swelling and infection
• a follow-up visit with your tattooing specialist a week or two after the procedure

The Anesthesia or Numbing Agent

Cosmetic tattooing and permanent makeup is not only for the brow. Many people schedule several sessions to have tattooed eyebrow procedures as well as to have eyes lined and lips enhanced with liner or completely filled in with color. Each procedure takes about 1 hour, however if a brow must be reconstructed after an illness or due to burns or if there are any other issues that complicate a tattooing procedure it will take longer.

In all cases a numbing agent will be applied to the area. This is how:

• The area will be cleaned and disinfected.

• Then a numbing agent will be applied using a sterilized cotton swab.

• It will take 15 to 20 minutes for the anesthesia to take effect.
• Then the anesthesia, if it is a cream, will be wiped away and the area cleaned and dried.
• After that, the eyebrow guide line will be drawn onto the brow area to be tattooed. This must be done quickly so the anesthetic does not wear off.

It is also possible that the aesthetician may draw the brow first, then apply a numbing agent. After waiting the same 20 minutes, it may be blotted and the micropigmentation may begin.

Most numbing agents are safe for eyes, eyebrows and lips and some creams are very smooth and effective especially those that contain about 4% Lidocaine made especially for eyebrow permanent makeup applications and other delicate facial procedures. There are also anesthetic ointments that numb instantly without the 20 minute wait. These ointments are also good to have applied during the procedure because in my experience one application for the entire hour is never enough.

Soothing and Numbing

Your aesthetician or eyebrow micropigmentation specialist may also use such things as tea tree oil or even just some aloe mixed with a sterile gel and some anesthesia containing Lidocain or some other numbing agent. The tea tree or aloe will help sooth and avoid excessive redness or irritation while the Lidocain will eliminate the pain.

Extra Anesthesia During the Procedure

During the tattoo procedure there is no reason to grit your teeth and endure if sensation begins to return to the area. I had one aesthetician who said it was normal that the area would become a little more sensitive 45 minutes into tattooing, but there is no reason to suffer. All that’s needed is a quick word or gesture to your specialist and she/he will apply an instant numbing cream or ointment.

It shouldn’t matter if the micropigmentation tattoo procedure is well underway, all good cosmetic tattooing centers will offer an instant numbing agent to help keep you comfortable and to allow the skin to relax and not get dehydrated as your aesthetician creates your permanent makeup eyebrows. The creams or ointments used should be water-resistant so it won’t matter if a little blood needs to be washed away midway through the operation, the anesthetic should still remain.

Anesthesia Spray – Lidocaine and Epinephrine

There is also a topical anesthesia spray that is very effective for after the skin has been broken with the needles. It’s especially great because it contains an agent that reduces swelling and it feels cool and gives relief midway through any procedure. If it’s not offered, and you begin to feel uncomfortable, ask for a spray to be applied. Make a note that you want Lidocaine and Epinephrine and any trained permanent makeup cosmetician will understand.

Avoiding Bleeding

If you tend to bleed, this may not only be uncomfortable and unhealthy but it may get in the way of the area where the eyebrow or permanent tattoo is being created. It is difficult to make fine details and use feathering techniques if there is blood. The artist or cosmetician also needs to follow the guide line that has been drawn onto the brow and too much blood or swelling or irritation may make this difficult. There is a special gel that can eliminate most of this. It is a coagulating gel that stops bleeding and swelling (specific for use during the creation of permanent tattoos) and can also be combined safely with any numbing cream or instant painkilling ointment. It also contains Epinephrine. Don’t forget to tell your cosmetician beforehand if you already know that you tend to bleed more than average so she/he can have the right products prepared.

Eyebrow Tattoo Needles

You may not need to know what tattoo equipment or what exact needle your cosmetic permanent makeup specialist has chosen, it may suffice to see her/him remove it from a sealed wrap and insert it into a rotating machine and know that it is sterile and disposable. However if you’re like me and like to know every detail of what is being done to your body and how everything works you may find the needle selection interesting and may even want to discuss with your aesthetician which needles will be used to achieve the desired effect on your new eyebrow tattoos.

One and Two Prong Needles

There are prong needles that are round and are used for adding filler to brows and for creating thick eyeliners and for lips. (Just a note: A lip tattoo is different from a lipliner or a full lip filling tattoo in that a lip tattoo is usually thought of as a decorative mark inside the lip and is done in an artistic tattoo shop, whereas a cosmetic tattoo for adding color to your entire lip is done in a clinic with special needles for tattoo makeup that are round and eliminate scaring on very delicate areas such as lip liner.)

There are also 2 prong round needles which ensure that ink or pigments are injected more quickly and evenly. The angle of the needle is also important and it is imperative that there is not a back suction of pigment and blood. Needles should all meet the standard of cosmetology and medical needles and be made of medical grade stainless steel, come in sterilized individual packs and be disposable. Any other kind of needles and you should seek a new eyebrow tattoo clinic. Modern eyebrow tattoo equipment should be sterile and/or disposable with no exceptions.

Three Prong Needles

There are also 3 prong needles which help skin to heal better because they have something to protect the sharp point and not bend or cause excessive bleeding and are also better for leaving fewer scars in delicate areas. These flat needles have a space for ink or pigments and this makes for smoother color and have a finer point, and therefore are best for eyeliner (and not tattooed eyebrows) because it can deposit more color in a finer line and therefore avoid some of the future fading problems. These specific needles (that are used in rotary machines other styles of modern tattoo equipment) are used to create the initial outline of a brow or for feathering techniques that make an eyebrow tattoo appear a little more natural as if it were hair.

Four to Seven Prong Needles

Yes, there are also 4 prong flat needles that function much the same as a 3 prong except they insert pigment even smoother and faster, however the ones most frequently used to fill in the eyebrow tatoo area (after having been outlined) are the 5 prong round needles. 6 prong needles are flat and again are better lipliner and feathering or creating the look of fine hairs. 7 prong round needles work in rotary machines to give strong lines and fill very quickly. This will depend on the size of the bow being tattooed and how fine or delicate the skin is and how the skin reacts to the pigmentation.

For all of these needles a small handheld rotary machine is required. There are also some small disposable sleeves that you may see attached to these machines to help the aesthetician grip better and to also avoid ink, pigment or blood splatter. If these sleeves are not disposable then you should make sure that you see the metal sleeve of the rotary machine having come directly from a sterilizer.

Eyebrow Shape with Stencils

Although the shape will have been decided before the procedure commences, it must be drawn or somehow applied to the brow area and remain as a guide for the eyebrow tattoo expert to use as she/he forms the brow with ink. Sometimes a pencil or brow marker may wear off or become less visible. You do not want your aesthetician guessing halfway through the procedure where to form the brow. One way to ensure that this does not happen is to ask if an eyebrow stencil is available. There are usually a dozen or more shapes that you can choose from and will be placed on your brow to ensure a perfect design. Sometimes an aesthetician will design one just for you if you discuss this in advance.

I can’t stress the need to do this pre-shape consultation with an aesthetician or to do some shaping through trial and error on your own brows with a pencil or with plucking technique, prior to anything else. Consult eyebrow shaping books and look at pictures and make a stencil yourself…anything…but get it right the first time so that you will never need to have eyebrow tattoo removal done because the shape was off. Your face is the canvas, the stencil or shape is the basis for the art that will take shape and it’s permanent and it’s on your face!

Eyebrow Tattoo Aftercare

Once the eyebrow tattooing procedure is complete it is imperative that your permanent makeup cosmetician apply a soothing and healing protective cream or gel to the newly tattooed area. Tattoo care is important right from the start. Remember that the region has had a needle inserted into the skin hundred of times and requires help repairing. It also needs something to calm the swelling that will occur but can be slightly minimized with a soothing cream, ointment or gel. You also want to protect the color which can begin to scab and crack and fall away taking the color with it. You do not want your new brows to flake away. So, your professional cosmetic tattooing specialist will apply a small amount of cream or ointment or gel using a soft cotton swab to the eyebrow or tattooed lips or eyes.

Now all that is left to do is to take a little cream home with you, listen to your homecare instructions carefully and wait.

Tattoo Care at Home

Don’t panic if your brows begin to itch and have scabs. Just don’t pick them off and don’t rub the region. It is best not to wash them and certainly don’t scrub them unless you want to repeat the entire procedure. If your permanent make up tattoo appears too dark, don’t worry too much. Eyebrow tattoos often look darker than expected for a few weeks, but they should fade. If you are unhappy with the shape or there has been a mistake or they are getting infected or the swelling isn’t going away after about 48 hours, you must call your aesthetician and also see if you may need an antibiotic. Also if the shape is a little off, you can get advice on how to pick off the scabs to eliminate some bad areas and have these retouched. Do not just go home and sulk if everything is not what you expected. Return quickly to the clinic where you had the permanent cosmetic make up done and immediately plan how to fix anything that is not to liking. It is best done early than late.

Give Your Brows a Month

In normal cases, the brows will heal in two weeks or so. Give it a month for them to be faded a little and totally lovely. That is why you should never have this procedure done anytime near an event where you must be in public for a wedding r special occasion. Plan your eyebrow tattooing procedure for an off season in your year.

Making the Decision

If you are reading this and have not yet made the decision as to weather you are going to go ahead with a cosmetic eyebrow tattoo or any kind of permanent cosmetic tattoo on your face, then here are some benefits you may want to consider. If you wear eyeglasses and your eyes are hidden from view and they are a light color and have little or no hair on your brows, then you might consider enhancing your brows to give your eyes some shape and zest from above the glasses. If you feel that your face looks dull or lifeless when you have little or no makeup then perhaps a little pick me up is in order.

Eyebrows can be enhanced with your own natural hair, eyeliner can be drawn on permanently with a tattoo around your eyes and your lips can be made full and splashed with color without having to spend hours a day or worry about waking up without your face. However the most common and popular procedure is the permanent eyebrow tattoo, which to set your mind a little more at ease, has been used successfully for centuries in Asia and only more recently has spread to Europe and the Americas. But don’t be frightened by thinking it is a new fandangle fad that is not a tried and true beauty technique that is well founded. The history of tattoos is part of the ancient oriental arts from China, Egypt, India and the middle east.

Many of the beautiful oriental women that western women admire for having delicate eyebrows and wispy long lashes and liner that extends away from the corner of the lashes have been enhanced by some cosmetic tattoo procedure. It is by no means a new art and will continue to beautify women’s features for a long time to come.

Temporary Eyebrow Tattoos

If you want to test what shapes may best suit your face shape and brow structure, it is a good idea to try temporary tattoo brows that are smudge proof and waterproof and will give you a good idea what to expect prior to a formal permanent tattoo procedure. Temporary tattoo eyebrows come in many styles and colors and are very cheap and can even be ordered online.

Temporary eyebrow tattoos are easy to apply and can cost as little as $10. there is also a pen available for #18 from Sephora that is waterproof and creates a temporary eyebrow tattoo or eyeliner that will give you an idea of what you can expect from a cosmetic tattoo eyebrows. However keep in mind that brows drawn on with a pen or a temporary tattoos are much inferior to those that are custom designed for you and are created with an eyebrow tattoo machine that will make eyebrows tattoos that mimic hair through feathering and fine hair mimicking techniques. If you like the results of what an inferior semi permanent eyebrow tattoo looks like then you likely be delighted with a the real tattoo.

Since eyebrow tattoo cost can be quite high (eyebrow tattoo price ranging from $400 to over $1,000 per procedure), having a sneak peek at eyebrow tattoos that stick on or can be drawn on in advance for a few dollars is well worth the time and effort. The eyebrows tattooing information that you may get from looking at pictures of tattoo eyebrows and seeing before and after shots and asking specialist how to tattoo eyebrows so you understand the procedure is not something you COULD do or MIGHT do if you have the time, it is a MUST do for anyone contemplating a tattoo. Please try some temporary tattoos and read the books available (I recommend some on this site). Please look at lots of eyebrow tattoo photos and watch some videos and search for tattoo eyebrows pictures online. Please ask the tattoo professionals as many questions as you can. You can also send me your questions or post them at the bottom of this article and will try to help, but it is best to discuss your specific concerns with someone in your area. I will soon try to include a list of professional permanent makeup experts and tattoo websites.

Permanent Makeup for Active Lifestyles

If you are like me and lead an active life where swimming and traveling are a part of your lifestyle, permanent make up and cosmetic tattooing can really make a difference. Also if you find that your eyes get watery in the wind or are very sensitive to the elements and make wearing makeup difficult, then permanent eyebrows and liner may be just the thing.

Many women are also very busy professionals and need to wear make up in their everyday life but are not adept at such things nor do they have an interest in drawing beautiful eyes and lips on every morning.

More Reasons For Permanent Cosmetic Tattooing

Other women have found that due to eyesight problems they simply forego makeup because they can’t see what they are doing or have shaky hands. These ladies need not worry if they have eyeliner and eyebrows permanently tattooed on and all they need is a touch of lip-gloss or a little powder on their nose and they’re good to go.
Another reason women opt to have permanent facial tattooing is because of allergies to commercial cosmetic products. Other ladies have had chemotherapy or have hair loss illnesses that have made them feel less feminine. These issues can be altered with cosmetic tattooing and can give ladies a whole new sense of self esteem.

You may just be sick of drawing eyebrows and eyeliner on each day and you want to treat yourself to a little something just for YOU. Try getting some liner done and then a lipliner and last a brow. Eyebrows are the most dramatic and therefore you can start slowly with a few other cosmetic tattooing procedures first to get your feet wet.

Selecting the Clinic or Tattoo Specialist

When you seek a clinic look for professionals who have experience with permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing and micropigmentation or micro pigment implantation and derma graphics. There are pens, coils, rotary machines, and hand tattooing methods that all work well, but the best would be a rotary machine for eyebrow tattoos.

You can have your eyebrows enhanced a little or totally reshaped, you can have top and bottom eyeliner or just top or just bottom. You can have a little color deposited into your lash line just for a slight natural enhancement of color around the eyes and you can have a light lip line tattooed around your lips or have them totally filled in with pigment. You can also have scars made less obvious if they are in the eyebrow region and also have other cosmetic facial enhancements depending on what specialist are in your area.

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.

Facilities can be tattoo shops in conjunction with piercing but must also have an eyebrow studio and/or a certified permanent makeup specialist who meets a standard and operates with international medical standards.

Hygienic, Sanitary Permanent Cosmetic Clinics

When you go to the aesthetic shop or clinic for an initial consultation make sure that the place is clean and that bedding or sheets are changed frequently and that in general the air is like a hospital or clinic and not like an underground tattoo shop where you would go to get a dragon tattooed onto your back. It is up to you to choose who will do this procedure. For you to be even better informed, go to list of permanent make up and cosmetic tattooing books that are available for sale through Amazon.

If you are unhappy with the results of your recent eyebrow tattoo or have had your eyebrow tattoo done when styles were different, or if the color ended up wrong or your technician or aesthetician or surgeon made a nasty blunder, or for whatever reason you are unhappy with your tattooed brow, there is hope to return to your natural brows.

Simply put, eyebrow tattoo removal is done in laser clinics that specialize in removing facial tattoos.

What’s involved in laser Tattoo Removal and how do I get started?

First, the clinic should run tests on what kind of pigment or ink was used before they even begin any kind of treatment. They spend a great deal of time (at least an hour or more), at the initial consultation determining how to best correct the situation and if you are even a candidate for the procedure or not. Laser tattoo removal is not for everyone.

The factors they take into consideration are your health history and the tattoo itself. It is evaluated and determined weather it is removable or not. It is not possible to do this evaluation by telephone or online. It must be done in person. You must also be at least 18 years of age, which I find a little strange because often I have read about girls who have their brows tattooed at age 15 or 16 and are not happy because they are too dark for their complexion at such a young age. However, you may not have them removed until you are 18. The fee for the initial consultation varies from clinic to clinic, but is not a free service because each case must be evaluated individually by a specialist.

So the price is usually about $50 and goes toward the cost of the removal treatment should you proceed. If you do not have the laser tattoo removal surgery the consultation fee is usually not refunded.

According to some patients who have had laser tattoo removal, some say all the ink or pigment was removed while others say the surgery only took away about 80% and the rest faded faster than normal over a period of time. If your eyebrow tattoo was of black ink it is the easiest to remove.

How does laser surgery remove the tattoo?

Laser surgery for removing eyebrow tattoos has come a long way from the days of dermabrasion, salibrasion and C02 lasers that often left scares or noticeably lightened the skin where the tattoos had previously been. Modern clinics will probably use Q-switched lasers, a laser procedure in which a beam of light is applied to the skin and absorbs natural melanin and tattoo pigments. Each treatment lasts about 30 minutes.

It is claimed that the chances of scarring is less then 5% using this laser tattoo removal system and even better if you carefully the doctor’s follow-up care instructions which will include things like how to keep the area clean and dry and out of the sun. The area where the tattoo has been removed should not be scrubbed and you should be provided with a kit, ointment and bandages, to take home and care for yourself.

Tattoo Removal Cost

There are many different prices but the range is from $250 to $900 per laser treatment. Remember that it may require several treatments (up to 10) to successfully remove a tattoo. Some clinics offer discounts if you buy packages of treatments in groups of half a dozen or more.

Will it hurt?

Yes, a little, somewhat like the snapping of a rubber band, but you will receive a topical anesthetic to numb the region. Most clinics promise to make you comfortable and give you as little pain as possible; some say you will feel nothing at all.

Side Effects?

There are normal side effects after a tattoo laser removal surgery such as blistering and crusting. Redness and crusting is normal for a week to two weeks after the treatments. That is why there is a long interval between treatments.

Eyebrow tattooing is a cosmetic procedure technically called intradermal micropigmentation that uses pigments or dyes or inks in a similar fashion that artistic tattoos are done. Using a needle inserted in a tattoo gun with ink or pigment, the doctor or aesthetician or tattoo artist moves across the brow with the vibrating needle and implants the color under the skin.

If it is only implanted in the top layer it is considered semi-permanent, if it goes into the second layer it is permanent just like any other type of tattoo. This procedure must be done by a qualified and reputable technician and under hygienic conditions. Since it is a tattoo on your face, in a most delicate area, it can be painful, and requires a local or topical anesthetic to be applied or administered.

Why have your eyebrows tattooed?

The wonderful thing about eyebrow tattooing is that it can correct flawed eyebrows, shape brows that are not to your liking, make absent or hairless brow areas appear to have hair, and accentuate the eyes and face, and with little effort an eyebrow tattoo puts an end to having to draw on eyebrows each day. It’s also possible to sleep and work and swim and awaken or come out of the water with perfect brows.

Reasons not to get eyebrow tattoos

Some concerns about the cosmetic tattooing or permanent make up procedures is that it is relatively expensive, it may not turn out exactly as you hoped and the color fades over time requiring eyebrow tattoos to be retouched every few years. You can develop infection, though very rare, and may have scares if you do not go to a good technician or doctor.

You may end up with a shape that is unnatural or a color that is so dark you can’t hide them with makeup. You simply may not like your new brows and the only way to wipe them off is with laser surgery. Although most women, about 70% who have had the procedure, are very happy with the results, you must consider that 30% of them were not happy at all.

Additional Eyebrow Tattoo Considerations

When selecting a cosmetician, aesthetician, doctor, nurse or artist to do your delicate eyebrow tattoos consider if they will have the expertise to make your brow look natural by using a feathering technique and the correct color pigments that will match your own hair and skin tones.

It is important for you to understand the eyebrow tattoo procedure. It is not a quick eyebrow fix for a special occasion. It will take weeks for your brows to heal and for you to have the necessary touchups until they are exactly as you want them. They may fade and/or be too dark or too thick or too thin and may need to be fixed over a period of a month or two.

So do not plan on having your brows tattooed a week before summer vacation because you want to go swimming and not worry about make-up. And do not do it just before an important meeting or an event like your wedding.

It is important for you to select your technician or beauty specialist or doctor with care because the affects of permanent eyebrow tattoos are exactly that – permanent!

Some of the books that I recommend deal with reasons to get an eyebrow tattoo or permanent makeup and others explain personal benefits and risks. A few of the books have been written for aestheticians, technicians and cosmetic tattooing professionals however these books also contain valuable information that a client may also benefit from. Being an active participant will encourage the specialist to give you the best treatment possible and you will find the cosmetic tattoo experience a fascinating one as you journey into the world of your own beauty.

I Love My Permanent Makeup

by Debbie McClellan

Although you may have an hour consultation with a permanent makeup specialist prior to the procedure, it is difficult for you to know what questions to ask and for a specialist to give you all the information available in such a short span of time. That is why this book is great for you to read before the procedure because it has the 65 most common questions and their answers regarding permanent makeup.

It also contains information regarding safety and includes testimonials from women from different parts of the world who tell about their positive cosmetic tattooing experiences and how their tattoo eyebrows have turned out. This book is the revised edition of Is Permanent Makeup for you.

101 Questions & Answers On Permanent Makeup for the Technician

by Debbie McClellan

This book is directed toward a professional permanent makeup and eyebrow tattooing specialists and offers the steps that qualified professionals will take in creating eyebrow tattoos, eyeliner, lip liner and full lip procedures. It helps with making the all important color decision for matching hair colors and even skin undertones. She offers quite extensive information on skin undertones because by knowing these tones it can help to decide on the best possible colors for cosmetic tattoos.

The author Debbie McClellan is a qualified and experienced cosmetic tattooing expert who, as a permanent makeup specialist for more than 13 years, has 10,000 successful procedures to her credit. Her book discusses implanting techniques and if touchups are really a normal part of makeup tattooing follow-up procedures.

She discusses equipment and table set up and the actual eyebrow tattooing procedure. She answers questions about migration and how to properly measure brows when drawing them on before the tattooing begins. There are suggestions on how to improve the shape and style of the brow as well as tips for lips, especially lip liner procedures and how to fill them in. She also discusses the lip colors that are best and most often used, and how to keep colors looking rich.

(Spanish Edition)

Permanent Makeup and Reconstructive Tattooing

by Eleonora Habnit

If you’re like me (before I decided to tattoo my eyebrows), and are tired of the daily ritual of makeup, and desire to have perfect eyeliner, eyebrows and outlined lips then author Eleonora Hanit suggests that permanent makeup may be what you need. She also suggests that if your hands are shaky or you are allergic to cosmetic products the choice of having cosmetic tattooing or an eyebrow tattoo may be right for you. She writes that permanent tattooing can help to conceal scars and be the last step to completing a look after cosmetic or plastic surgery.

Eleonora Habnit is a specialist in the field and her book offers many eyebrow pictures and before and after shots of those who have had permanent makeup.

She also discusses ways to find and work together with a professional if you are considering a procedure and gives an idea on eyebrow tattoo cost. There is also information for those who are contemplating becoming specialists in this area of tattoo art. For professionals she gives information on color, equipment, certification and professional associations in the United States. It is a book that is dedicated to the public and will also be useful to permanent makeup practitioners, cosmetic surgeons, tattoo artists, and anyone who is the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Milady’s Aesthetician Series: Permanent Makeup, Tips and Techniques

by Pamela Hill

This book, written in 2006, may be a little outdated as to the newest equipment, but Pamela Hill’s suggestions regarding permanent makeup and eyebrow tattos techniques that remain timeless.

This book is designed both for the tattoo specialist as well as the general public with topics for how to get involved in this profession, and for those already qualified, how to expand on techniques. It also contains information regarding cosmetic tattooing laws in the United States. For readers who are interested in undergoing a cosmetic procedure for the first time, she discusses aspects of anatomy and physiology and explains pigments and how the best results can be achieved. This is an illustrated book with eyebrow tattoo pictures and photographs of the techniques and what to expect from permanent tattooing makeup procedures.

Beautiful Brows: The Ultimate Guide to Styling, Shaping, and Maintaining Your Eyebrows

by Nancy Parker and Nancy Kalish

This book has illustrations and instructions that will help you to create beautiful brows. It may be useful for those who are contemplating a permanent makeup procedure because it helps to decide what shape and style of brow will be best with your face shape and to enhance your best features and also may provide ideas for temporary eyebrow tattoos that you can later have made into permanent ones.

Although it is designed as a guide for plucking and shaping your own brows, it has pertinent information that you can discuss with a cosmetic tattoo professional to help you and your specialist achieve the best permanent eyebrows. There are few book son the market that have this much eyebrow specific information that is laid out in terms any woman can easily follow and understand.

The contents of this book tells it all:

Part One:

• The best Brow Formula: Choosing the right shape for you
• Anatomy of an eyebrow
• The five basic brows
• Step one: Find your face shape
• Step two: Figure out your signature features
• Step three: Determine your best brow strength
• Step four: Put it all together

Part Two:

• Define and Conquer:
• How to shape, color, and recreate your brows
• The tools of the trade
• Good Riddance: the best (and worst) hair removal methods
• Eyebrows for dummies: Brow shaping 101
• Arch Enemies: The most common brow problems
• Basic brow cleanup
• Consider your inner corner

How to Create the Perfect Eyebrow

by Victoria Bush

Victoria Bush offers 13 chapters on how to create the perfect eyebrow by comparing what other beauty and eyebrow shaping experts have written and expanding upon that information. Victoria Bush is a makeup artist, image consultant and has a line of eyebrow enhancement products.

Again this book is not specific to the permanent makeup industry, but it is specific to eyebrows, and before any cosmetic tattooing or before a micropigmentation tattoo specialist even comes near to working on your brows, YOU must know the shape and style and have a plan for what you hope to achieve.

This book can help you decide on tattoo patterns for your brow and how you can work with a specialist to get that perfect eyebrow shape perhaps by using the suggestions to play with temporary tattoo eyebrows before getting the real deal, or by shaping your natural brows better so that eyebrows tattoos will simply enhance what you already have achieved naturally.

Here is what Victoria Bush discusses in 169 pages divided into 13 chapters:

• Chapter 1 – The art and science of creating beautiful, symmetrical brows
• Chapter 2 – The study of the facial zones
• Chapter 3 – The study of the geometric face shapes
• Chapter 4 – The study of eye set
• Chapter 5 – Assessing the facial features
• Chapter 6 – Assessing the eyebrow
• Chapter 7 – Rules of proper eyebrow management
• Chapter 8 – Corrective techniques to the eyebrow to enhance the features of the face
• Chapter 9 – Eyebrow design methods
• Chapter 10 – Performing eyebrow design and enhancement
• Chapter 11 – Hair removal for the eyebrows
• Chapter 12 – Other eyebrow enhancement services
• Chapter 13 – Case studies: Eyebrow design in practice

Makeup Makeovers: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations

by Robert Jones

International makeup artist Robert Jones believes any woman can be beautiful and he details how this is possible with a step-by-step guide and lots of photos.

Although this book does not discuss permanent makeup techniques nor eyebrow tattoos, it is a perfect compliment to cosmetic tattooing treatments because the end result is for a woman to use her features to look her best. How to apply a little foundation makeup in a way that will make her feminine after her procedures can be useful. The great thing about this book is that’s not about celebrities or unattainable model looks but about how to enhance your skin and eyes and bring your best to the forefront with your own true beauty from the inside out.

Tattooed eyebrows, perfect eyeliner and even lips filled with permanent color are a great place to begin, but it’s still necessary to know simple techniques to camouflage flaws and how to make your new eyes and brows really work in your favor. This book is for women of all ages not just the ones with young perfect skin. It has been recommended by Rhonda Shasteen, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Mary Kay Inc.

Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery (Yale University Press Health & Wellness)

by Arthur W. Perry MD

Dr. Arthur W. Perry, a plastic surgeon for over 20 years, gives general information on all procedures pertaining to cosmetic treatments. He discusses benefits and risks and explains terms and offers suggestions for finding doctors and facilities. It is an ideal book to read if you are considering any kind of cosmetic surgery or skin-care procedures as well as those who need advice regarding tattoo removal.

Although he does not specialize in permanent makeup tattooing, make up tattoo micropigmentation or specific eyebrow tattooing applications, he touches on these topics and his advice and suggestions are pertinent for those who are contemplating procedures in conjunction with a cosmetics tattoo, such as scare removal and illness related cosmetic enhancement needs.

Here is an overview of the book’s contents:

The book also discusses:

1. The Future of Plastic Surgery
2. Fees for Typical Procedures
3. National Ranking for Cosmetic Procedures
4. Age Distribution of Cosmetic Procedures

Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types

by Pearl E Grimes

This book offers a guide to surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatment of patients with darker skin pigmentation — African, Asian, and Latin descent and is actually written by a variety of international experts.

Amongst the wide range of surgical topics he does include advice on micropigmentation and permanent tattooing procedures and also on tattoo removal and skin discoloration. The book is edited by a world-renowned researcher on pigmentation disorders and is enhanced with over 350 color illustrations.

The Eyebrow

by Robyn Cosio

Robyn Cosio, a renowned make-up artist in New York and LA who specialized in eyebrows, has provided an eyebrow shaping and designing encyclopedia that includes a historical overview of the brow, and offers facts that are also entertaining such as how women used false eyebrows from mouse hides in the 1700’s.

There are many examples of famous eyebrows and how the eyebrow gives shape to ears, and she even discusses male brows.

She does not discuss eyebrow tattooing at any length but does provide many ideas for designs and shapes and the book is full of eyebrow photographs which may be helpful to those who are contemplating redesigning their brows with eyebrow cosmetic tattooing procedures.

Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority

by Melissa Schweiger

Melissa Schweiger is a freelance writer and editor with articles in Women’s Wear Daily, Interview, Marie Claire, Redbook, Hamptons, Seventeen, and In Style, and on Sephora.com. This is not a book I recommend for its intellectual merits or as a guide on cosmetic tattoo or microimplataion procedures. It is simply a book that may be useful to guide those who are searching for a new look and need ideas.

There are full color pictures and lots of brows and lots of simple beauty suggestions for beginners. It’s a picture book with lots of Sephora products but the faces and their eyebrows may serve to inspire your new eyebrow tattoo!

Eye Candy: 55 Easy Makeup Looks for Glam Lids and Luscious Lashes

by Linda Mason

Linda Mason is a professional makeup artist from New York who in this book has catered more to a young audience, however the eyebrow shapes in the 55 looks she offers in full color illustrations are good to find a brow that will be right for a younger person and for the older women who may want to see the difference between brows and makeup styles from fun daywear to dramatic eveningwear.

There are diagrams and instructions for makeup, but for those who are considering eyebrow tattoo procedures the photos are a great way to get an idea of what is possible, see different face shapes and arches and to see how makeup can be later applied to enhance the brows and facial features once the cosmetic tattooing has been completed.

Make-Up : Fresh Ideas for Fantastic Looks

by Bernadine Bibiano for The Body Shop

This may be a beauty book for beginners written to promote The Body Shop products, however, it is a very useful tool for those who are needing inspiration while seeking to change their eyebrow shape or their look because the photographs are not of perfect western models but beautiful real people from all around the world with a variety of skin tones and complexions and facial features.

This book does not discuss cosmetic tattooing but does offer real advice for looking your best and has lovely pictures of eyebrows that may provide the basis for eyebrow cosmetic tattooing. And, The Body Shop has some excellent products for caring for your skin; especially tea tree oil products that will help to care for your eyebrow tattoos after your procedure is finished.

Remember a little tee tree will sooth the swelling immediately after the eyebrow tattoo procedure and help to avoid excessive scabbing and crusting during the healing process. There are also tea tree sprays that you can lightly mist your face with when you feel your tattoo eyebrows itch and cannot scratch or rub them after days after the procedure.

Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women

by Taylor Chang-Babaian with a foreward by Yoko Ono

Professional makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian has created a beautiful book with techniques and styles for Asian women of all ages and ethnicities. I have included this book on my recommended list not because it is the best beauty book on the market but because it has 100 full-color photographs of Asian women that might inspire eyebrow tattoos from where eyebrow tattooing began – Asia.

Although the technical aspects of cosmetic tattooing procedures are not discussed, I suggest it as a resource for finding YOUR look. Since this book is filled with gorgeous pictures that do not try to make Asians look Caucasian but enhance their own unique beauty features, I believe it is essential for international women who seek eyebrow ideas and makeup tips prior to micropigmentation or tattoo eyebrows enhancement.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro

by Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown, if you don’t already know, is an internationally renowned makeup artist and CEO of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. Her products are sold in over 400 stores and 20 countries worldwide. Bobbi is also the exclusive beauty editor of NBC’s TODAY show and a frequent guest on E! and the Style channels. Need I say more!!

My list of beauty books and eyebrow enhancement suggestions and photo idea books would just not be complete with at least one of Bobbi Brown’s books. You can select any of her books because they are all great, well written, easy to understand and have lots of glossy pictures. This book includes some breathtaking photos that may inspire you and your cosmetician to create the best eyebrow tattoos yet. Enjoy! It’s Bobbi Brown, you won’t regret reading her and looking at her creative faces.

Making Faces

by Kevyn Aucoin

This book is by the famous Kevyn Aucoin who needs no introduction since his work is on the faces of Cher, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams, Julia Roberts and others.

The final chapter is entertaining and fantastic with the likes of Isabella Rosselini, Demi Moore, and Nicole Kidman as made-up characters that are wonderfully photographed.

Just for fun and ideas, check out these gorgeous star’s eyebrows for permanent make up eyebrow tattoo inspirations.

Kevyn Aucoin’s other bestseller, Face Forward, is also a great book for eyebrow tattoo shape ideas. Again this incredible makeup artist shows what he can do to faces like those of Calista Flockhart, Jodie Foster, Jewel, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Diana Ross, Christy Turlington, and Vanessa Williams. There are more than a few good eyebrow shapes amongst these!!!

Beautifeye: State-of-the-Art Methods to Enhance and Rejuvenate the Eyes, Brow & Face

by Dr. Stephen Bosniak

Author Stephen Bosniak, both an eye surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon, has complied invaluable information regarding surgical and non-surgical procedures to help you select which ones to use to rejuvenate your eyes; everything from brow lifts to Botox and semi-permanent makeup.

It is co-authored by Dr. Marian Zilkha, an eye surgeon, who tells of the latest medical procedures from Brazil to New York.

This book is not only informative regarding micropigmentation options and eyebrow tattoos and permanent makeup solutions but is also filled with helpful illustrations. The book is endorsed by Kevyn Aucoin.

The Green Beauty Guide

by Julie Gabriel

Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances…

Nutritionist, and beauty advisor Julie Gabriel discusses green health and beauty, and ways to make your own beauty products.

Yes I know this book has nothing to do with eyebrow tattoos in specific, but since I love to make my own beauty products with olive oil, shea butter, avocado and cucumber, I thought I’d share this with you, so that after your permanent makeup procedure you can come home to nourish your skin in natural ways and keep your permanent makeup permanently lovely on fresh skin.

By about 3:00 AM, as he walked me to my flat, he asked if he could see me again. I replied that I was leaving for Seville in the morning and wouldn’t be back for some time, but that I was certainly wrong for him because I had tattoos. He stopped in his tracks and looked me in the eye. “Where?” he asked with disbelief.

“You’ve been looking at four of them all evening,” I said with a laugh.

He found it rather humorous to discover my only tattoos consisted of permanent make up, but I found it comforting to know that my choice to have cosmetic tattooing was not so obvious so as to scream FAKE at first glance. And the tattoo situation didn’t hinder me returning to Barcelona, falling love, and having a wonderful man chase me around the world until we finally married a year later in Hong Kong (where I had my eyeliner tattoo refreshed).

Me and my permanent eye make up

My husband has often commented on is the speed at which I can be ready to go out. He is a rather spontaneous man and many times in the past 3 years he has entered the house and announced, “You have 7 minutes to be gorgeous and ready to leave!” To date, I have been ready on time!

I know that there are risks in telling other women of how fabulous permanent eyebrow tattoos and eyeliner can be because it isn’t always true. I also know that many of the ladies who will read this are from western countries where the idea of permanent make-up is relatively new and still perhaps classified as faddish. Yet it’s not a new concept at all. It’s an ancient art that has been used by ladies of style and class, by courtesans and by princesses for centuries. In India it is such a common practice to have eyebrow tattoos and permanent eyeliner etched around eyes that there is a tattoo shop or ladies beauty parlor that offers permanent cosmetic tattooing every few blocks.

In China and Japan almost all the mature, elegant ladies have some form of cosmetic tattooing that is quite obvious (and not very natural) since the applications from 30 or 40 years ago were much more dramatic than what is stylish today. But young women also indulge in having an eyebrow tattoo or eyeliner or lip liners tattooed because the techniques used today can be subtle and naturally blend with hair and skin tones.

Permanent make up may not actually change your life, but it certainly can give a little more freedom to a woman who values being feminine without having to arrive fashionably late.

The color choice is bit trickier because cosmetic eyebrow tattooing pigments change over time and fade or alter based on your natural skin tones, your lifestyle, the sun, how you cleanse your skin and how many touch ups you had after the original procedure. Try to stay away from cleansing products and creams that contain alpha-hydroxy acid since they alter the color and sometimes make the tattoo fade faster.

Your color choices for eyebrow tattoos and liner include: henna, auburn, dark brown, black, grey, blue and bluish-purple (if you want permanent dramatic). Most fair skinned women select light brown or henna and this can be a mistake. Unless you are a redhead you want to neutralize the red tones with a little blue or black even if you are fair.

It’s better to have your eyeliner fade to grey than to a pinky-ginger tone and it’s better to have slightly darker brows than to have vibrant carroty color ones. Ask for the pigments to be blended and not used pure, unless you have black hair then go with pure black or red hair go with henna, otherwise BLEND!

It’s obvious you want to know all you can about the techniques involved, what the procedure will be like, will it be painful, what about health concerns, what clinic or tattoo shop will be best for you and the cost of such cosmetic tattoos. But one very effective way to know if eyebrow tattoos are for you is to look at eyebrow tattoo pictures, of what other women looked like before and how the tattoo changed their appearance for good or for bad.

Where to find Eyebrow Tattoo Pictures

There are many internet sites that offer eyebrow tattoo pictures, but even better is to make an appointment for a preliminary consultation with a cosmetic tattooing clinic or beauty salon in your area and look through the portfolio of actual clients. There you will be able to see what colors worked on women with your similar complexion and hair color.

You may also be able to see what to avoid in terms of brow shape and what not to do based on what others have done wrong.

Also you should look at tattooed brow pictures and eyebrows in general to find what you like and use as a model to show your aesthetician or tattoo professional. Many of the lovely natural looking brows of celebrities have been enhanced by permanent eyebrow tattooing, and there is no reason you shouldn’t look as good as the stars.

Cut out your favorite brows and place them on yourself and look in the mirror, or draw them on with your brow pencil, and play with styles until you have the exact shape that suits you. You can’t expect a tattoo artist to give you perfect eyebrow tattoos if you don’t know what you want or what will suit you best.

Not just the Pretty ones

Don’t just look at the pretty tattoo eyebrows pictures that tout perfection, have a look at the horror story pictures also; not to scare yourself, but to know how the problems with cosmetic tattooing have arisen and to ask yourself if you are a good candidate for a cosmetic make-up procedure of this nature.

Ask yourself: how well do I heal when I get a cut? Do I bleed more than most people? Will any health condition I have be a contraindication for getting permanent eyebrow tattoos? How do I react to pain? How important is looking good versus the possible side effects I might experience?

Go Ahead and Get those Eyebrows Tattooed

If after looking at before and after pictures and doing your research you decide to go ahead and have your brows tattooed, then ask yourself one final question: When is the best day to have it done? Remember it will take several weeks for the tattooed area to heal.

When you’re all healed, don’t forget to get someone to snap a picture of your new brows to give to your eyebrow tattoo shop or clinic so they will have a record to pass on to other women that shows what eyebrow tattooing is all about!

Let’s assume that you have researched eyebrow tattoos and you know it’s the right choice for you because you have sparse eyebrow hair, and what is visible is fine or blonde, or perhaps you are recovering from an illness that caused hair loss and you simply wish for a natural looking permanent eyebrow tattoo to feel whole again. You have decided that the benefits outweigh the potential risks and you just need to know where is the best place to go for tattoo eyebrows that will enhance your look.

First you can check out plastic surgery clinics in your area and ask if they offer cosmetic tattooing. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the procedure can be performed in hygienic clinical conditions that will set your mind more at ease. Just make sure that they offer a selection of colors and high quality pigments and will take the time to design your brow the way you want it.

Second, go to your favorite hair salon or aesthetician and ask for them to recommend an aesthetic permanent make up artist in your area. Most hair care professionals and regular makeup artists are familiar with who does eyebrow tattoos for the best price and with the most care. There are also highly qualified tattoo artist and permanent make up specialists who work from home and have better prices than the clinics or beauty salons and offer personalized appointments.

Your ideal eyebrow tattoo shop, clinic or beauty salon selection should be based on where you feel most comfortable having the procedure done. Here are 10 things to consider when choosing where to go:

1. Sanitary conditions and a comfortable atmosphere
2. A pre tattoo consultation, free of charge, to discuss your personal needs
3. A stenciled outline of what your brow will look like, and a session to do some trials with a pencil
4. A wide range of colors (that can be mixed) to match your natural tones
5. A semi-permanent tattoo option to test if you want them to become permanent
6. A large portfolio of clients with eyebrow tattoo pictures of before and after the procedure. Beware if all the pictures are perfect and everyone claims to have healed without incident. It must be an honest portfolio of real clients and the way they have healed well or not and the shapes that worked and the ones that did not. No clinic or aesthetician should show you only the good eyebrow tattoo pictures. You need to know what hasn’t worked to be well informed and avoid the same mistakes.
7. A straightforward list of the risks and benefits you can hope to achieve with cosmetic tattooing. Remember it won’t change the shape of your face or your eyes, it will only aid in framing the face and accentuating your eyes. Be realistic and seek a professional who is honest about what you can expect.
8. Unlimited post tattooing consultations for at least one month after the initial procedure. You may need to call to ask questions when you wake up and your brows are crusty and itchy. You may not know if this normal, (which it is) but it’s nice to have someone to call. You should also be able to return within a week or two to have someone take at look at the healing process and see if you will need touch ups. This is a good time to make follow up appointments so you don’t get discouraged if a crust has fallen off and there are small gaps in color. (This is normal so don’t panic!)
9. Retouching of the brow area (for a period of about 2 months after initial procedure) or until the brow is how you want it. This service should be free of charge, included in the initial price or charged at a very low, nominal rate. Most reputable shops offer post eyebrow retouches, for a reasonable time after the initial surgery or procedure, for free.
10. You may need to choose a more clinical environment instead of a funky eyebrow tattoo shop if you need medication prescribed, such as an antibiotic. If you know that you are a slow healer, have heart problems, are diabetic or have other health concerns you should have the procedure done at a clinic where there are surgeons and nurses to attend to you. I have a prolapsed mitral valve heart condition so I must take antibiotics prior to the procedure to avoid infection. That is why I have almost always gone to a clinic for my cosmetic tattooing.

If you are searching for a tattoo shop near you and are using the internet here are some phrases you might want to keep in mind: permanent make up, cosmetic tattooing, cosmetic surgery, eyebrow tattoo, permanent eyebrow tattoo, semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo and plastic surgery clinics.

Here some of considerations before getting a permanent eyebrow tattoo.

1. To state the obvious, eyebrows are made of hair and tattoos are ink or pigment. If you have no natural hair at all, the results will be somewhat false no matter how well the eyebrow tattoo is done. You may consider this better than having no brows at all and that will be your decision. For the ladies who have hair but the shape is wrong or the color is too light, or there are bare patches, consider that you are filling in empty spaces with ink and not hair and therefore up close the difference likely will be visible. Once again, remember hair cannot be replaced by pigment no matter how good the color. If you don’t like what an eyebrow pencil does to your brow, you won’t like eyebrow tattooing results either.
2. It’s a tattoo! Tattoos are ink or pigment injected into your skin. It is permanent coloration. The only way to change your brow after cosmetic tattooing is with very expensive laser surgery. If you are unsure, or if your natural brows are not too bad when plucked nicely and cared for with a little tinting, you might want to try a semi-permanent tattoo before going all the way to a permanent eyebrow tattoo.
3. It may not be very frequent but it does happen. Eyebrow tattoos have been known to heal poorly, get infected, damage the hair follicles in the region and leave scarring that cannot be corrected except by surgery. Although healthy women who normally heal well usually have no problems with tattoo eyebrows, if you have diabetes, bleed easily, have herpes simplex or any immune system problems or healing problems at all, getting eyebrow tattoos is not recommended.
4. Keep in mind that although the inks and pigments used for micropigmentation are regulated as if they were cosmetics or food dyes, there is nothing to control the actual tattoo industry and therefore there is no standard other than the one that you research and find to be up to YOUR standard. If you do not know what the standard should be you may not get what you’re hoping to find. Do some research and talk to the professionals in your area. The best advice will come from those who have had a permanent eyebrow tattoo done or are in that line of work.
   Take it slow and don’t rush into having eyebrow tattoos!