A common question I get as an Arizona-based permanent makeup artist is, “Is permanent makeup really permanent.” The truth is it’s pretty permanent… but it will fade over time, requiring touchups in the future if you choose to keep it up. I know it can be frustrating to wait when you want your work to look fresh, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t insist that you postpone your touch-up. Let’s talk about how to know when it’s time for your permanent cosmetics touch-up and take a look at photos of examples!

How often does permanent makeup need to be touched up?

It depends on the procedure, your skin type, and how well you adhere to after care instructions! This is more of an art than a science since everyone’s body is different, but here are common time frames I see within my client base:

Brows: I typically see my brow clients back every 18 months-3 years.  Clients with oilier skin will need to have a touch-up sooner than those whose skin is more on the dry side. 

Lips: Typically, you won’t come in for a touch up for roughly 3 years. 

Liner: Eyeliner is the longest lasting procedure & usually doesn’t need to be touched up for 5 years!  

How do I know when it’s time for a touch up?

The work should be 50-80% faded, and there are typically signs to look for to help you know it’s time. For example, with lips, the border is usually the first to fade out followed by the wetline. Brows will become lighter and likely patchier over time, but it really is best to wait until they’re 50% faded.  In the meantime, I recommend a brow pencil that is on the drier side to fill in any sparse areas and brush it through with a brow spoolie.

Why do I need to wait for a touch up?

I know it takes a lot of patience and it would be ideal if PMU looked the same forever & always.  However, that’s the difference between makeup & permanent cosmetics– layering up makeup too heavily is an easy fix.  Doing that with pigments and needles is a different story.

If we add too much pigment too soon & oversaturate the area, the work begins to look artificial and opaque. Lip blushing can sometimes be the exception in that you can touch up sooner in order to intensify the color. However, it can also look chalky if we do too much. The most important reason for waiting is to allow wiggle room for adjusting as we age. By keeping things light and airy (my preferred method), it can be changed in the future without needing a color correction. 

Prescott Arizona Permanent Makeup Artist

Hey, I’m Kelly, a permanent makeup and trainer serving Prescott, AZ and surrounding cities.  Are you ready to have the brows, lips, or eyeliner of your dreams? I’d love to meet with you!  You can take a look at my previous work here.  Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram & Pinterest! Are you ready to book a consultation?  Give me a call at 928-830-2306 or send me a message here.