Pros and Cons of Permanent Makeup

Deciding whether or not to get permanent makeup can be both enticing and somewhat intimidating. While it can be a hassle-free way to look polished the moment you wake up or get out of the pool, it can also be painful both physically and financially. So how can a person determine if permanent makeup is the right choice for them? While we can’t make the choice for you, we can make it easier for you to make the decision for your future with this list of pros and cons.

Pro: Promotes Self- Confidence

Whether you have pigmentation issues, are post-mastectomy, suffer from hair loss, or simply want to avoid applying makeup daily, paramedical tattooing and permanent makeup can change your life. From the ability to even out skin tone and recreate areolas to simulating hair on your head or brows, permanent makeup and scalp pigments can help make you look and feel like yourself again. When you look your best, you feel your best and permanent makeup can be one way to achieve your best self.

Pro: Simplifies Life

Almost everyone would agree that they wish they had more time in their day. Significantly reducing the time it takes to apply makeup each day by opting for permanent lip pigments, cosmetic pigments for eyebrows, permanent eyeliner, or even all three means you can be more productive or even sleep in! It also means a bathroom or handbag free of the clutter that all those makeup tubes and bottles cause.

Pro: Eliminates Challenges

For most people, it can be difficult to apply makeup, especially eyeliner. Even for someone with the steadiest hand, it requires a great deal of patience and precision. However, for the millions of women worldwide who have movement disorders like Parkinson’s Disease, applying makeup may be impossible. Permanent makeup techniques are an amazing alternative to having to choose between struggling to apply makeup or skipping it altogether.

Pro: Water and Sweat Proof

Most people can agree that raccoons are cute, but we can also agree that we don’t want to look like one. However, activities like hot yoga, swimming, or even a strenuous job will give you no choice but to pick between being makeup-free or risking embarrassing runny makeup.

In fact, eyebrows are so important that a study at MIT found that people had a harder time identifying celebrities when shown photos of them without eyebrows than they did when shown photos of them without eyes! So how do you sport your signature eyebrow look when you can’t wear makeup? The ideal solution to the problem is permanent makeup.

Mixed:Semi-Permanent

Permanent makeup is actually semi-permanent because it is not applied as deeply into the dermis as a traditional tattoo. While this means that it will require touchups and new applications every few years to maintain, it also provides the opportunity for change. Because your permanent makeup will fade naturally over time, it will allow you to alter your look slightly as you age and as trends and your tastes change.

Using high-quality permanent makeup pigments will ensure that as your permanent makeup fades, the colors remain natural and do not shift colors to unexpected tones. This is especially important when choosing the best pigment for microblading.

Mixed: It Can Be Expensive

While permanent makeup applications may be somewhat expensive depending on the type of application and your local market, it is important to compare it to what you would have spent over the next few years on the beauty products you will no longer need now that you have permanent makeup.

People say “time is money” and that could not be more true. If permanent makeup eliminates just 10 minutes a day from your morning routine, you will save over 60 hours a year! How much are those extra hours spent working or with friends and family worth to you?

Cons: Not For Everyone

While almost everyone can benefit from permanent makeup, not everyone is a good candidate. People taking certain medications or those who have health conditions that cause bleeding, scarring, or impaired healing, may not be a good fit for permanent makeup. While taking the proper precautions makes permanent makeup a safe alternative for most people, it is not for everyone. If you are not sure if you are a good candidate for permanent makeup, speak to your doctor before deciding.

Cons: Painful

Although the pain experienced during your procedure can be minimized through the use of numbing creams, permanent makeup applications can still be uncomfortable. In addition, the healing process from permanent makeup procedures can be uncomfortable. To ensure that you have the best results possible, always follow your artist’s aftercare instructions carefully, and use the best aftercare products.

Cons: There Are Risks

As the FDA warns, there are risks involved with permanent makeup ranging from dissatisfaction with the outcome to infection and allergy. However, many of these risks can be mitigated by doing your due diligence. Always consult your doctor before getting permanent makeup. Also, do your research to ensure that your permanent makeup artist is well trained, skilled, uses sterile equipment, and only the best EU REACH Compliant permanent makeup pigments. Make sure to look at photos of their healed work to ensure that the results match your expectations.

As with any “permanent” or long-term decision, there are many factors to weigh before making a final decision. We hope this list has helped make your decision about permanent makeup a little bit easier. Check out our FAQ section for frequently asked questions and more PMU tips and to see work by artists who use Quantum Micro Pigments, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.