What to Expect When Getting Permanent Eyeliner

If you are considering getting permanent eyeliner, you are not alone. A growing number of women throughout Europe are taking advantage of this way to accentuate their eyes without the daily hassle of applying eyeliner. Just like with other permanent makeup applications (including permanent eyebrow makeup, permanent lipstick, and scalp micropigmentation), it is crucial to know what to expect and properly prepare. If you decide to move forward with a permanent eyeliner application, these tips will help you make the best possible decision for yourself so that you end up with the best possible results.

WHAT IS PERMANENT EYELINER?

Although it is called “permanent makeup” and “permanent eyeliner,” most PMU applications are actually semi-permanent because they only last one to three years. Also known as eyeliner tattoo, permanent eyeliner is a permanent makeup (PMU) application that gives you the look of eyeliner without having to apply it daily. However, permanent eyeliner differs from a traditional tattoo because it only penetrates the uppermost layer of the delicate eyelid skin. While this shallower application means that it will fade much faster than a traditional tattoo, it also means that as trends and styles change, you can change your eyeliner to match! This is especially true if you use high-quality cosmetic pigments that fade beautifully and naturally over time.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PERMANENT EYELINER?

Almost anyone who does not want the daily stress of applying eyeliner but wants the benefit of eyes that stand out is a good candidate for permanent eyeliner. It is ideal for:

• Anyone with poor vision, hand tremors, or any other disability that makes applying eyeliner difficult
• Athletes, swimmers, or people in a strenuous profession don’t want their makeup to run
• People with sparse or light eyelashes
• Anyone who wants to accentuate the natural beauty of their eyes
• There are some factors that can prevent a person from being a good candidate for permanent eyeliner. If you have any health conditions or any of these apply to you, please consult with a medical professional before proceeding:
• People with skin conditions that affect the face, including psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, chronic acne, keratosis pilaris, or dermatitis
• Anyone using medications that make the skin sensitive or prone to bleeding, including Retin-A, Accutane, other skin peeling acids, blood thinners, or eyelash and eyebrow growth serum
• Those with a compromised immune system either due to a medical condition such as diabetes, people undergoing chemotherapy, those on medications, or anyone with an autoimmune disease
• Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR PERMANENT EYELINER?

Once you have determined that you are a good candidate and have decided to proceed, make sure that you are properly prepared for your permanent eyeliner application. Make sure to:

• Research your artist and review many examples of their healed work. Also, make sure they use premium, high-quality permanent makeup pigments. 
• Abstain from caffeine and alcohol 24 hours before your procedure to avoid excess bleeding.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Do not perm or color your eyelashes before your procedure. Your artist may recommend stopping these procedures anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks before your application.
• Give your eyes a break from eyelash extensions or false eyelashes for at least 3 days before your procedure.
• Let your artist know if you have had any cosmetic procedures or surgery on the eye area. This includes Botox, fillers, or laser eye surgery.
• Do not take any medication that can thin your blood for 3-7 days before your eyeliner tattoo, including aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, niacin, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, or blood thinners. Please check with your doctor before stopping any medication.
• Bring a pair of sunglasses as you may experience sensitivity to light after your treatment.
• Check out this ECHA article  to help you understand the risks.
• If you are in the EU, make sure your artist uses only EU REACH Approved cosmetic pigments.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT MY PERMANENT EYELINER APPOINTMENT?

Be prepared to spend anywhere from €300-€1,200 and a couple of hours of your time. The final price will depend on exactly what you want done. Expect to pay the higher end of this range if you want both your upper and lower lids done, if you are going to a more well-known artist, or if you are in a major city like Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, or London.

The session will begin with the artist consulting with you on the style you would like and the shape and colors that are right for your eye shape, eye color, and skin tone. Before starting any work, the artist will prepare the area by cleaning it and applying a numbing cream. Once the area is clean and ready, the artist will begin the tattooing phase. Expect them to make several passes to ensure that you have the desired coverage. The needling portion of your visit may take up to an hour to complete. Once they are done, they will clean the area again. Although the first session is complete, the process is not.

Your permanent eyeliner is going to look about 30% darker on the day it is done than how it will look when it is healed. You may notice it darken even more over the next few days as the pigments oxidize. After about 3 days, your permanent eyeliner will flake and will start to lighten. It will look lighter than the final result for the next few days. Don’t worry and try to remember that the healed result will look much better than it looks at this point in the healing process. In the coming weeks, as you continue to heal, the color will start “blooming” and become more and more like the expected final result. During this entire process, make sure to follow your artist’s aftercare instructions carefully. This will ensure that you avoid infection and have beautiful long-lasting results.

Your permanent eyeliner will be healed in 6-8 weeks. At this point, you will return to the artist for touchups so they can remedy any light patches. This is also the perfect time to darken up your lines if they are healing lighter than expected.

We hope these tips put your mind at ease about your permanent eyeliner application and help ensure that you have amazing results and a positive experience. If you are considering other permanent makeup applications, check out our other blogs. For the latest updates about our EU REACH Approved and original permanent makeup pigments including lip pigments, scalp pigments, and eyebrow pigments, follow us on social media.

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