Following good aftercare will have an enormous impact on your healed result. Rachel will go through your aftercare plan during your appointment. However, it’s a good idea to read through the following instructions in advance so you can prepare for your treatment and understand what to expect.
Top 10 Aftercare Tips
1. Keeping your fresh tattoo clean.
Six hours after treatment (and/or before you go to bed), wash your hands, then gently wash the area with a fragrance free, PH balanced cleanser. Lather gently, rinse and then pat dry with kitchen paper towel. Repeat this the following morning. You should continue to wash and pat dry twice a day, morning and night.
These basic cleaners work well:
2. Apply your healing balm SPARINGLY:
After washing and patting dry, apply a thin film of balm.
- Extract the balm with a fresh cotton bud.
- Apply to your hand to warm and soften.
- Apply very thinly over the tattoo, with your finger.
How much?
Only apply the size of a grain of rice for BOTH brows, both eyes, and lips.
And for the next 10 days….
3. Keep it dry!
At all other times you must keep the area dry for the next 10 days (until the top layer of pigment has flaked away). This will be beneficial to the healed result of your permanent makeup.
You might need to adjust how you cleanse your face to avoid excess water splashing on the area.
4. Avoid steam and sweat
Do:
• Keep your showers extremely quick and slightly cooler than usual.
Don’t
• Go to the gym or train for 10 days. Gym bunnies: give yourself a short break.
WARNING: If you sweat it out at the gym during this crucial time, you will see it in your results! Not only will the ink spread slightly with your skin as it expands with being treated, the salt from your sweat will cause excessive fading.
• Allow the area to become hot or soggy for 10 days. This will result in loss of definition and pigment
5. Manage swelling
For eyes and lips in particular – you may experience some swelling. This can peak the morning after treatment.
Prevention tips
• Obtain a clean ice pack and hold it gently on the area for short intervals on and off the skin. I.e. 2 minutes on, 1 minute off.
• This might be a tricky manoeuvre to upkeep, so at the very least try to keep your face cool
• Avoid becoming over heated and avoid overly hot, salty, spicy food.
6. Avoid make-up, moisturiser and suncreams
Don’t:
• Apply your makeup, moisturiser or suncream directly onto or within 2cm of the treated area until the scabs have peeled away completely– makeup and creams can clog the skin or worse, lead to bacterial infection.
7. Avoid itching and scratching
Don’t:
• Pick the flaking pigment
• Scratch the area if it becomes itchy.
Do
• Apply a little of the healing balm to help soothe your skin (as instructed above).
8. Sleep on your back
Do
• Try to sleep on your back for the first 14 nights.
Don’t
• Sleep on side or face down These sleeping positions can result in excess swelling and disrupt the healing skin.
• Wear an eye mask if you have had your eyes or brows treated.
9. Be patient
Be patient and let your healing occur.
The epidermis takes 4-6 weeks to go through its natural cycle. I cannot retouch the area until your skin is 100% healed. (If you email me within this time frame with concerns, I will advise to wait until they are completely healed before assessing.)
10.Be aware that the colour will change
The depth and tone of the pigment will fluctuate and shift from day 1 up to week 6 (especially notable with lip treatments).
If the pigment heals patchy/ too light/ too warm, this will be remedied by a retouch – all new permanent makeup treatments should be considered a two-step procedure.
** BONUS TIP:
Drink an extra 500-1000ml water per day, until Day 14
Hydration is key to keep your skin supple and nourished
TYPICAL FEELINGS AFTER A FIRST TIME TREATMENT:
Remember this is a process, here’s a list of very normal feelings during the healing journey:
Day 1: 🥺 “Oh dear this looks intense”
Day 2-3: 🤨 “NOW IT’S DARKER!”
Day 4-5: 😣 “Hmm this is feeling very dry and itchy.”
Day 5-10: 😦 “Gah, it’s so patchy!”
Day 10-21: 🧐 “Erm where did the colour go?”
Day 28-42 😊 “Much better, can’t wait for my retouch!"
(First timers) Day 42: RETOUCH (treatment to perfect your results)
🥺🤨😣😦🧐😊 Repeat the healing process as per day 1-21.
DAY 70-84: 🥰 “HOW DID I LIVE WITHOUT THIS ON MY FACE?.”
Keep in mind that all appointments are booked 1-2 months in advance, please book your 6-12 week retouch in good time. For example, if you wait to book until a couple of weeks before your 3 month deadline, there may be no availability, therefore you your retouch will be charged at additional cost, it is your responsibility to book your retouch.
LONG TERM
- Sun exposure will fade your permanent makeup. Wearing factor 50+ daily is recommended, but even this can't completely prevent fading if you're outdoors every day or frequently in extremely hot climates; wear a hat, stay in the shade when you can. Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyeliner and eyebrows.
- Anti ageing creams (such as retinol and vitamin c) will encourage skin renewal, therefore encouraging the pigment to evacuate the skin. You can of course maintain using your topical creams and serums of choice, but do not apply them directly over the treated area. The same applies for chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
- Please be aware that Botox can affect the shape and symmetry of your features.
If you have any questions please get in touch with Alex by emailing info@rachel-pitman.com.