How you care for your permanent makeup is just as important as the treatment itself when it comes to achieving the best healed results.

 

You will receive detailed aftercare instructions by email before your appointment, and your PMU artist will also talk you through everything you need to know during your treatment. Your aftercare may be adjusted slightly depending on your skin type and how your brows respond, but the following is a general guide.

 

Immediately After Your Treatment

Immediately after your treatment, your brows will likely appear stronger, bolder, darker and warmer than your desired healed result. This is completely normal and the colour will soften significantly as your brows heal. Treat the area with care and follow your aftercare instructions carefully.

 

Do not get your brows wet until all flaking has completely finished, except for the specific cleansing routine outlined below for Days 1–2.

 

Days 1–2: Cleansing

Gently cleanse your brows using clean water.

• Using clean hands, wash the area using small circular movements or light strokes. Don’t be afraid to cleanse thoroughly - we need to remove any lymph fluid or excess pigment from the surface of the skin.

• After washing, thoroughly pat the area completely dry using clean kitchen roll. Your brows should be completely dry after each cleanse.

 

Repeat this routine approximately every 2 hours, or at least 3 times throughout each day. You do not need to wake during the night to cleanse your brows.

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Days 3–10: The Flaking Stage

Your brows may begin to flake or lightly scab as they heal. This can look different for everyone. For some people, it may appear like light dandruff for a couple of days, while others may experience heavier flaking or scabbing for a week or more. This is a normal part of the healing process.

 

Do not pick, scratch or pull at any flaking skin. Allow it to come away naturally.

 

Until all flaking has completely finished, please avoid:

• Getting your brows wet unnecessarily - baths may be preferable to showers.

• Excessive exercise and sweating.

• Hot steam, saunas and swimming.

• Rubbing or using abrasive products such as towels, flannels or exfoliants.

• Touching, picking or peeling the area.

• Soaps, makeup or skincare products directly on the brows.

• Facial treatments such as facials, waxing or lash treatments where the area may be affected.

• Direct sun exposure and sunbeds. If sun exposure is unavoidable, protect the area with a hat or other suitable covering.

• Bleach, brow tint or fake tan.

• Applying other products to the face that may come into contact with your brows while they are healing.

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The Ghosting Phase

Once all the flaking has finished, it is completely normal for your brows to appear pale, patchy or even almost colourless. This is known as the ‘ghosting phase’ and is a completely normal part of the healing process. The colour will gradually begin to return as your skin continues to heal over the following weeks. Once the flaking has completely finished, you can return to your normal routine, including getting your brows wet and using makeup as usual.

 

Your true healed result will not be visible for approximately 4 weeks after your treatment.

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Your Perfecting Session

If, after 4 weeks, you feel that not enough pigment has returned following the ghosting phase, or your skin has not responded as expected, please don’t worry.

Everyone’s skin heals differently, and your PMU artist can assess your healed results and make any necessary adjustments during your perfecting session.

What we do at your perfecting session will depend on how your brows have healed and how you feel about your results. You may simply want to add a little more definition, or you may prefer a stronger or darker overall result. Your artist will work with you to determine the best approach.

 

Long-Term Brow PMU Care

Once your brows have fully healed, protecting them from the sun is one of the best ways to help maintain your results.

Try to avoid prolonged sun exposure wherever possible. When sun exposure is unavoidable, use a high-factor SPF 50 and protect your brows with a hat where appropriate.

Some products containing SPF can be suitable for protecting healed PMU. We particularly like:

• Vichy Capital Soleil SPF50+ Stick

• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defence Stick SPF50

 

We also recommend avoiding skincare products containing exfoliating acids such as AHAs and BHAs directly over your PMU, as these may contribute to premature fading.

 

Makeup & Your PMU

Once your brows are fully healed, you can continue to wear makeup as normal. When applying foundation or concealer, try to apply it around your PMU rather than directly over it, or gently wipe away any product that settles over the brows.

 

Remember, PMU is low-maintenance, not no-maintenance!

 

You may still want to wear makeup on occasions when you would like a stronger or more defined brow. If you’re used to tinting your natural brow hairs, you may also wish to continue doing this once your PMU is fully healed to make the hairs themselves appear darker.

 

As your PMU naturally fades over time, some clients find that a brow tint or henna can help refresh the overall appearance of their brows and make the most of their treatment. We generally recommend considering this once your PMU has reached around 20–30% fading, provided your skin is fully healed and the treatment is suitable for you.

 

With the right aftercare, sun protection and occasional maintenance, you can help your PMU stay looking its best for longer.

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Colour Refreshes

Permanent makeup is designed to fade gradually over time, and the longevity of your brows will vary depending on your skin, lifestyle, skincare routine and sun exposure. When your brows have faded sufficiently, a colour refresh appointment can help restore lost colour, definition and vibrancy. To be suitable for a colour refresh, your existing PMU should be at least 50% faded or desaturated. A simple change in tone or colour does not necessarily mean your brows are ready for a refresh - there needs to be enough pigment loss for us to safely add more.

 

If your brows have changed in tone but still contain a high level of pigment saturation, adding more pigment could lead to over saturation, colour muddiness or an overly dense result. In these cases, you may need to consider a laser PMU removal or lightening session before a new colour refresh can be carried out.

 

If you're unsure if your brows are ready for a colour refresh, please send some images so your artist can assess and advise whether you are ready for a colour refresh or whether further fading or removal would be recommended first. This ensures we can continue to achieve the best possible results while protecting the long-term appearance of your brows.

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