Permanent Cosmetics

[Phantasmagoria]

I'm considering having make-up tattooed on my face :boggle:
I know that sounds pretty drastic, but there are some advantages. Like, no more messing around with removable makeup!
What I want to do first is lipcolor. I'll probably have it done in a nice natural pink.
Have any of y'all had permanent makeup done? Specifically, lipcolor?
I'm wondering how long it would last, considering we do so much more with our lips versus any other part of our face. And my lips tend to peel, so would the color fade too quick to be worth it? Thanks in advance!

[eiyela]

Links for starters:

http://www.spcp.org/

http://www.permanentcosmetics.net/

Think long and hard about whether or not you're going to do this. The make up will fade a bit over time, but there's absolutely no guarantee it will all go away. It's just like any other tattoo, just on your face. Count on it to be there for life, through any and all changes your face may go through until you die. And make sure you do some very thorough research on the technician you pick, and also take a look at his/her previous work to make sure you like it.

I don't mean to discourage you, I promise. Just trying to make you think of the possible drawbacks before getting blinded by the benefits.:innocent:

[Kitten]

There is a beautician (sp?) that is licensed to do that here where I live. I have looked at her portfolio and do NOT recommend it to anyone. It doesn't look natural and looks really really bad. The photos I found on the 2nd site listed by eiyela where extremely better than what this lady does. I think you should really think about this for a while. I thought about it for a while and decided against it when I saw her work. Definately research who ever you are interested in hiring to do it. Also, if you decide to get it make sure that they stay inside your lips (not usually the case on what I've seen by this woman and others who have had it done). Also I wouldn't recommend adding a permanent "highlight" to your lips. Its when they add a whiteish line at the bottom lip and top peaks so that it looks like the light is hitting it. That is not, IMO, what it looks like. Not trying to be negative (those on the site look good). If you have seen someones work, preferably the person not just their photos and like the look, go for it. Just think it though first because like eiyela says, its permanent. HTH

[CurlyBrunette]

I dont know about tatoos on the lips or if they are even done but I can comment on eyebrow tatooing. My Mom literally plucked her eyebrows so much that they never grew back so she was constantly drawing them in with a pencil or powder. The problem with this was when she sweated a lot or swam they would come off. She had permanent brows tatooed on a few years ago and they look fabulous. She had to go back a few times to make sure they were fillled in properly but it was worth it. For me to say they look great, you know they look great. You would never guess that they are tatoos either.

[TheBlondeApple]

I am constantly getting compliments about my permanent eyeliner (by people who are WAY more into make-up than me, I just had this done because I look dead without any kind of eye make-up)! So, yeah, it was expensive (~US$700 for both above and below my eyes), but soooo worth it! If mine starts fading, I'll start saving!
I personally wouldn't bother with lipcolour, but then I rarely wear lipstick, either. I mean, if I rub my lips, they turn red by themselves.
Anja

[summer-time]

I am constantly getting compliments about my permanent eyeliner (by people who are WAY more into make-up than me, I just had this done because I look dead without any kind of eye make-up)! So, yeah, it was expensive (~US$700 for both above and below my eyes), but soooo worth it! If mine starts fading, I'll start saving!
I personally wouldn't bother with lipcolour, but then I rarely wear lipstick, either. I mean, if I rub my lips, they turn red by themselves.
Anja



Wow, a good endorsement :)

Normally all I hear are bad experiences. I guess my concern would be they either wouldn't do it correctly or it just wouldn't come out right. :notsure:

I'm glad it went well for you. :happy:

[Alizarin Fionn]

I would love to have my eyebrows, eyeline and lips done. I have tattoos already so it is not the pain factor. It is the skill factor that has stopped me from having it done. I have not yet seen anyone locally who's work I am prepared to have on my face and so close to my eyes! If only my tattoo artist was not touring the world for the last 3 years. Him I trust!

[Phantasmagoria]

I work with a woman who had her eyebrows done, and they look phenomenal. I'm not really ready to do eyebrows, though. I can't decide on what shape I like for my face :purplex:
I know that one has to be very careful when choosing the artist. This isn't something one would do bargain-hunting for. There are many artists in my area, so I'm likely to find a good one.
I look forward to the day when I can get up and not look like I'm dead because I don't have any lipcolor on!
Must start saving!

[eiyela]

Hey, would you take some before and after pictures for us when you do it? It would be really awesome to see.:innocent:

[Phantasmagoria]

Sure will! Just gotta save the money to get it done... LOL

[Delenn]

If I had the money I would get eyeliner done. My old boss (she's now retired) and I always talked about going together, she emailed me not too long ago to tell me finally went to get it done and that it was worth every penny. I haven't seen it, but I trust her endorsement.

[Ursula]

Makeup fashions change, but permanent makeup will be locking you into today's fashions.

This could be very bad, in the long run. Think about someone wearing 1980s style makeup today. What looked good then looks clownish now. The same will be true 20 years from now for today's makeup styles.

[Morticia]

I understand what Ursula is saying about trends. But, both my mom and I have very sparse eyelashes. On our lower lids, there are no lashes at all. She had permanent eyeliner done a couple of years back, just very thin lines of black close to her lashline. I was angry when she got it done since she just went to Houston's Chinatown and didn't check any credentials. Luckily, it all went without any mishap. It looks great on her. It doesn't break any trend since it just looks like it would if she had lower lashes. (DH and both kids always look like they have eyeliner on since they have beautiful dark eyelashes)

[Suzie]

I had the same thought as Ursula. If you only went with something very basic it would probably work. I'd just be really afraid of getting stuck with an outdated look. :boggle:

[TheBlondeApple]

Well, I just got plain old black (anthrazit? maybe) and just following the curve of my eye, no purple, no egyptian lines or anything, so it's really basic and not "fashionable". It won't look out of place if I go anywhere without wearing make-up, either, only helps me look not-dead when doing so.
I can still use liquid eye-liner if I want to go for a more dramatic look, but that's like once a month and the permanent make-up I have is suitable for daily exposure :whoohoo:
Anja

[moonchiald]

This is actually illegal where I live.

[sofia9283]

Going by what some of you ladies say I'm missing out by not getting the makeup done. The one thing I think I need done is my eyelashes, I would want them thicker and fuller. This is off-topic but I've been putting jojoba oil on them to help them grow and it's been working. For the longest time my eyes would itch and I would rub my eyes and it would feel so good but I would be rubbing my eyelashes off. The jojoba oil has stopped the itching! Back to the topic at hand, the other thing I would want done is the eyeliner, nothing heavy I want it to look natural but I do want my eyes to pop more. I don't need the any work done around my lips, they are kinda on the full side and the one thing that had nice natural pink color. If I get the money together I am dying to have eyelashes put on!!!

[Phantasmagoria]

I don't think a natural lip color would ever go out of style. Nor a brow style, as long as it suits a persons face.
I think after I get the lip color done I'd go for eyeliner, although I'm a little paranoid about the pain :boggle: Top first, then bottom (perhaps. I might leave my lower lids alone.)

[Swampy]

I'd love to get my eyebrows done. They're dark, but the outer half is naturally sparse. People think I overplucked but they're just not there - a curse to every woman in my family.

I'm sick of drawing them in every morning and occasionally messing up, but I'm concerned about 'the sag'. When the skin around my eyes will start to droop a bit, will I regret not being able to draw them at a slightly higher location (having only 3 hairs gives a lot of leeway). But on the other hand, most people don't have this option and they seem to do just fine. What do you think?

In any case, I'll probably try Rogaine before doing anything drastic, although I fear that works more on overplucked areas, am I right?

[myrrh78]

I would love to have eyeliner done like theBlondeApple, but wow I would have to trust the artist!

I think that's all I would want to have done.

[aisling]

I'd love to get my eyebrows done. They're dark, but the outer half is naturally sparse. People think I overplucked but they're just not there - a curse to every woman in my family.

I'm sick of drawing them in every morning and occasionally messing up, but I'm concerned about 'the sag'. When the skin around my eyes will start to droop a bit, will I regret not being able to draw them at a slightly higher location (having only 3 hairs gives a lot of leeway). But on the other hand, most people don't have this option and they seem to do just fine. What do you think?

In any case, I'll probably try Rogaine before doing anything drastic, although I fear that works more on overplucked areas, am I right?

Often cosmetic tattoos are not as permanent as other tattoos, at least here they're done in a slightly different way, not as "deep", and I've understod they fade with time. Then there wouldn't be a problem with your eyebrows. I don't know if this apply for the US.

My general thoughts about this topic is that any kind of permanent make up should be done with thought and very neutral, not following the latest fashion trends. Lipliner in a colour that matches your own lips is a very good idea for a person with uneven liplines and a thin, permanent eyeliner like The Blonde Apple is describing definitely is tempting. I've seen the change the lipliner can do, if you don't know this person has had it done, you'd never know it, her lips look very good and natural, much better than before.

[Stephanie]

If you can find an artist with an outstanding portfolio, by all means, go for it. If it weren't so, well...permanent :lol: I'd go for eyeliner first, brows second.

Please do take pics if you get this done! I'd love to see them! :)

[SunCat]

I know someone who had their eyeliner and brows done and it actually looks pretty good. It it not something I would consider doing for myself though.

Please post pictures if you have it done.

[Valorie]

I have such light eyebrows I get sick of coloring them and drawing them in. The idea of this really appealed to me until I saw sooo many mess-ups. Especially with the eyebrows and eyeliner. It can be very drastic and once it is there, it is there for good in some cases. I had a lady who would come to me for help just to cover up how her eyebrows had been done...and it had been years. She said she had been waiting for them to fade and they did but to a really hideous color. They extended so far past her natural eyebrow line on the outside AND on the inside. She could not afford lazer to remove it I guess.
Just be so sure that the person doing it is very very skilled. Look at their work and see it in person if you can. This is permanent after all! It is a big decision that way so whoever it is I would think they should not be offended that you want to make sure you will want to live with the results.
An acquaintance/ ex coworker of mine opened up her own salon and wanted me to come and do permanent makeup. I thought about it but refused. The certification time if I remember was about a weekend long or something(at least I was told something ultra ridicuous like that) and if people can get licensed that easliy just be real careful.
Personally, I have seen it look natural on about 2 people that have come to me and I have seen alot of this.
I'm sure there are good people out there but it's definately worth the time invested to make sure they are the best!
Best of luck to you:)

[Zoey]

Sounds like some of you have received beautiful, natural results. This is something that I had pondered years ago. But then after becoming a nurse, and seeing the results of skin tatoos on people and the aging process, it discouraged me from pursuing both permanent cosmetics and skin tatoos. Why? Well, the aging process not only thins out the skin but there is also the sagging and the wrinkles to consider. And I tell ya, sometimes you don't anticipate the sagging and what it can and will do to your skin and anything that you've put permanently on your skin. Not a pretty sight. I do understand that permanent cosmetics are not as dramatic as skin tatoos, but I've seen enough already to discourage me from having it done.

[Meezer]

I haven't read through this thread, but I did want to share my thoughts on perm. make-up. At one point in my life I went through an esthetician program. My instructor had her eybrows and eyeliner done. From afar, her results were okay. Up close, the tattooing was so obvious and well, it just looked fake. I don't know if she just didn't have an experienced tech. or what. We then came to the portion of the class where we had to service clients-- facials, etc. I had a few clients with perm. make-up. Honestly, not one of them had the type of results that would make me want to commit to perm. make-up.

Just think long and hard about how styles/colors change, etc... and look into having a tech. who does perm. make-up on a daily basis (not just someone who dabbles in a client or two per month). Good luck with your decision.

[LemonEater]

:whoohoo:
Well i've always had lips that are a bit bland in colour, but a lovely shape. So for me getting a permanent lip colour is perfect. And its actually NOT exactly permanent, it would last around 3 years. So I will decide after getting it done, whether I would want to redo it in a few years. I just hate the self concious feeling of not having lip stick or lip gloss on, cause I look very pale and colourless.

So I think I will go for a natural pink colour, and I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm aiming for a look that is like I'm not wearing anything on my lips but it's just naturally a bright vivid colour.

Btw I've seen some people with gorgeous permanent makeup, that just accents their natural beauty... but many disasters too, especially with the eyeliner, and then the brows. So I'd be careful about it, but I think that if you really want to give it a try, and you've thoroughly researched it, you should!

How nice will it be to be able to eat, and not have to reapply anything? Aswell as mornings, I may not even be grumpy during them anymore lol!
:eureka:

[LadyofShalott]

I have been debating this is my mind too. My aunt has it done and it looks great. She has eyeliner and her lips done. I would love to have permanent eyeliner done- just to enchance my lashes a bit. I am 20 and in college so the idea of already having makeup on in the morning is pretty appealing. Seems like it would save a person a lot of time. I am nervous about getting it of course, because I like the "natural look". But a little bit of eyeliner always enhances that. . .hmm

[Phantasmagoria]

LemonEater, I want the lipcolor for the same reason - my natural color is bland. Great way to put it! I like to think my lips have a nice shape already, but I lack definition in the corners.

[Angellen]

I, too, have a rather bland natural lip color. I wear some color every time I leave the house, and sometimes just for fun at home. ;) I have very full lips, but the absence of color detracts from it. I've definitely considered permanent or semipermanent solutions to the problem....

[atlantaz3]

Ouch - I can't even begin to imagine needles close to my eyes.

[manderly]

My mom had her eyebrows done (with my prodding) about 3-4 years ago. They've just started to fade a bit, they could use a touch up.

My mom had to draw in her eyebrows, they stopped halfway and just never grew. They look great on her, you don't look at her and see "fake eyebrows", though with the fade they are starting to bother me a bit.

I have seen women with obscenely tattood on eyebrows that look absolutely ridiculous! So just remember to go natural.

[squiggyflop]

Ouch - I can't even begin to imagine needles close to my eyes.

i want to get brown eyeliner when im a bit older and i asked my primary care doctor and she said that most of the decent places have nerve blockers or you can even be put to sleep...