Pigment dossier

What enters the skin, area by area

Each pigment line is reviewed during your consultation before a patch test is booked. The wear ranges below are observed in practice, not guarantees, and every entry depends on how the aftercare is followed.

Pigment type Area Patch test Expected wear Aftercare dependency
Hybrid brow pigment Eyebrows Required 12–18 months High. Cleansing oils and exfoliating acids speed up fading.
Mineral brow pigment (iron oxide base) Eyebrows Required 18–24 months Moderate. Sun exposure and retinol use shift the tone.
Lip blush pigment Lips Required 18–30 months Very high. Lip products, sun and dryness affect retention.
Lip neutralizer (warm modifier) Lips Required 8–12 months Very high. Often needs a second session before colour work.
Eyeliner pigment (carbon black) Lash line Required 24–36 months Moderate. Makeup removers and lash treatments influence fading.
Camouflage pigment Scar and stretch-mark areas Required, extended 12–24 months High. Scar tissue takes pigment unevenly and needs review.

Safety policy

Patch tests and contraindications

A patch test places a small amount of the exact pigment and diluent planned for your procedure on a discreet area, reviewed after 48 hours. It does not guarantee against every reaction, but it identifies most sensitivities before a treatment area is involved.

How the test is run

  1. Booked separately. The test is scheduled at least 48 hours before the procedure date, never on the same day.
  2. Same formulation. The practitioner records pigment code, batch and diluent ratio in your file so the test matches the procedure.
  3. Reviewed in person. Redness, swelling, itching or blistering within 48 hours postpones the procedure. The mixture is not simply adjusted.
  4. Recorded. The result and the pigment details are signed and kept in your dossier.

Do not proceed if

  • you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or within six months of chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
  • you have active eczema, psoriasis or infection at the treatment site;
  • you take isotretinoin, or have taken it in the last 12 months;
  • you have a known allergy to pigments, lidocaine or epinephrine;
  • you have keloid scarring tendencies or a bleeding disorder;
  • you are under 18, including with parental consent.

If any item above applies, the consultation ends without a procedure. The reason is explained in person and noted in your file.

Aftercare

Day by day through healing

Written aftercare is issued and explained in person before you leave the studio. Use this checklist as a take-home reference. Where your practitioner's written notes differ from this page, follow the written notes.

  1. Day 1–2Keep the area dry apart from the cleansing routine. Slight swelling, tenderness and a deeper colour than the healed result are expected at this stage.
  2. Day 3–5Cleanse gently with the recommended product, pat dry with a clean tissue, then apply a thin layer of aftercare balm twice a day.
  3. Day 6–10Flaking and light scabbing begin. Do not pick, scratch or exfoliate the area; let flakes lift on their own.
  4. Day 11–14Colour may look lighter or patchy while the skin settles. Continue the balm and avoid saunas, pools and direct sun on the treated area.
  5. Week 3–4Surface healing is usually complete. Pigment continues to settle, so the final tone is judged at review rather than now.
  6. Week 4–8Touch-up review window. Your practitioner assesses pigment retention and colour balance before any further work is scheduled.

Touch-up Review

The review happens at four to six weeks, once the colour has settled

The review appointment is booked for four to six weeks after the procedure, not earlier. By that point the surface pigment has finished shedding and the healed tone underneath is stable enough to judge. Reviewing sooner tends to produce decisions that get reversed a fortnight later.

What the review covers

  • Colour evenness across the brow body or the lip line.
  • Retention at the tails and edges, where skin is thinner.
  • Any asymmetry that only became visible after swelling resolved.
  • Whether a correction, a soft top-up, or no further work is the right outcome.

The decision and its date are recorded in your file, so a later practitioner can read what was done and why.

Factors that affect fading

Fading is expected. Permanent makeup is a semi-permanent cosmetic tattoo, and pigment retention varies by person rather than by brand or technique alone.

  • Skin type and oil production on the treated area.
  • How closely the written aftercare was followed in the first ten days.
  • Sun exposure and daily use of sun protection over the pigment.
  • Saunas, swimming pools, and skincare containing retinoids or acids.
  • Pigment shade: soft warm tones and cool correctives read differently over time.

Aftercare remains part of the result. Follow the aftercare checklist between the procedure and the review, and raise any reaction noted during the patch test.