What is permanent makeup?

Permanent makeup (also called PMU or cosmetic tattooing) is a technique where pigment is placed into the upper layers of the skin to enhance features like brows, eyeliner, and lips. Results look soft and natural — not like a traditional tattoo.

How long does it last?

Most PMU lasts 1–3 years depending on skin type, sun exposure, and skincare routine. A color refresh is recommended every 12–18 months to keep the color looking fresh.

Most clients rate the discomfort at a 2–3 out of 10. A topical numbing agent is applied before and during the procedure to keep you comfortable.

How long is an appointment?

Initial appointments run 2–3 hours to allow time for consultation, mapping, and the procedure itself. Touch-ups typically take 60–90 minutes.

How should I prep for my appointment?

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, blood thinners, and retinol for 24–48 hours before. Come with a clean face and any brow product you'd normally wear so we can match your ideal look.

What's aftercare like?

You'll get detailed aftercare instructions at your appointment. In short: keep the area clean, dry, and out of direct sun for the first week. Full healing takes 4–6 weeks.

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August 1, 2026 · 6 min read

What to expect at your first permanent makeup appointment

From consultation to healing, here's exactly what happens the day you get PMU — and the two weeks after.

If you're new to permanent makeup, the first appointment can feel like a big unknown. It doesn't need to. Here's exactly what happens from the moment you walk in to the moment your color settles, weeks later.

The consultation comes first. Before any pigment goes near your skin, we sit down and talk about what you want. Bring photos of brows or lips you love. Bring the brow product you use every day. We'll talk about your skin type, your lifestyle, and your history of any tattoos or allergic reactions. This is when we decide together whether PMU is a fit for you at all.

Then we map. For brows, mapping is where the actual shape gets designed on your face with a pencil — measuring from the bridge of your nose, from your natural arch, from your lash line. It takes 30 to 45 minutes, and it's the most important part of the appointment. Nothing gets tattooed until the mapping looks perfect from every angle in every light. If it doesn't look right on paper, it will not look right in your skin.

The actual pigment work takes 60 to 90 minutes for brows, 45 to 60 minutes for eyeliner, and 90 to 120 minutes for lips. Most clients describe the discomfort as a 2 or 3 out of 10 — closer to eyebrow waxing than to a regular tattoo. We use a topical numbing agent before and during the procedure.

You'll leave the studio with your brows/lips/eyes looking about 30 to 40 percent darker than the final result. This is normal. Color intensity always starts dark, then peels and softens over the first two weeks. Around day 7, everything looks patchy and uneven — this is also normal. Do not panic. Do not touch it. Do not book a touch-up at day 7.

By week 4, the color has settled into its true tone. Around week 6, we do a follow-up touch-up appointment (usually included) to perfect anything that healed lighter than expected. And that's it — you're done for a year or two, depending on your skin.

The whole process, from booking to fully healed, is about 8 weeks. Give yourself that runway. Don't book PMU two weeks before your wedding.

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