Your Treatment Guide - Brows
Everything you need to know before your appointment, during the healing process, and beyond.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOLLOWING YOUR TREATMENT
Your brows will appear darker, sharper, and more defined immediately after your treatment.
This is completely normal.
As your skin heals, the colour will soften and fade by approximately 40–60%, revealing a more natural result.
Please trust the healing process and avoid judging the final outcome too early.
It is common for certain areas to heal lighter than others or appear slightly uneven during the initial healing phase. Every skin type heals differently, and pigment retention will vary from person to person.
YOUR TOUCH-UP APPOINTMENT
Your touch-up appointment, scheduled 10 weeks after your initial treatment, is an important part of the cosmetic tattooing process. During this appointment, your artist will refine any areas that require additional pigment and make any necessary adjustments to achieve the most balanced and beautiful healed result possible.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
As shown to you by your artist, please use the cotton rounds provided to you and apply a good pressure to your brows every hour until you run out of the cotton rounds.
This helps to squeeze out any excess lymph fluid and/or blood from beneath the skin, which will improve pigment retention during healing.
YOUR HEALING TIMELINE
DAYS 1–2
Your brows may become slightly darker than they appeared immediately after treatment.
This is a normal part of the healing process as a protective layer forms over the tattooed area.
DAYS 3–10
You may notice light flaking, dryness, or peeling.
Please allow any flaking skin to fall away naturally.
Do not pick, scratch, rub, or remove the flakes.
Removing them prematurely can affect colour retention and the final healed result.
During this stage, the colour may appear patchy, very light, or seem to disappear entirely. This is known as the ‘ghosting phase’ and is a completely normal part of healing as new layers of skin are forming.
The true healed colour can take up to 10 weeks to fully develop.
FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS, AVOID
• Excessive sweating
• Intense exercise
• Swimming pools, spas or saunas
• Face creams on the tattooed area
• Exfoliants or harsh skincare products
• Makeup directly on the brows
• Sleeping on your face
• Sunscreen directly on the brows
• Heavy cleaning or household projects that create dust or airborne debris, such as cleaning garages, sheds, or storage spaces. Your brows are healing and should be kept as clean and protected as possible during this time.
You may continue using skincare and makeup around the treated area.
FOR THE FIRST 4 WEEKS, AVOID
• Tints, dyes, henna or lamination products on the brows
• Facials, microdermabrasion, skin needling, chemical peels or laser treatments
• Direct sun exposure or tanning
Protecting Your Cosmetic Tattoo
Daily sun protection is one of the most important steps you can take to preserve your results. Prolonged UV exposure can cause cosmetic tattoo pigments to fade more quickly and may alter the colour over time.
If you are spending extended periods outdoors, we recommend applying a high-quality sunscreen to the treated area once fully healed.
Individuals who spend significant time in the sun, frequently tan, smoke, have oily skin or have compromised skin health may experience faster fading and may require more frequent maintenance appointments.
Future Treatments & Procedures
If you are planning to undergo any of the following treatments, please inform your technician that you have a cosmetic tattoo:
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• IPL treatments
• MRI scans
Certain procedures may affect the appearance and longevity of your cosmetic tattoo.
Skincare Products & Premature Fading
Products that increase skin cell turnover can cause cosmetic tattoo pigments to fade more rapidly.
Use caution when applying the following products near the treated area:
• Retin-A / Tretinoin
• Hydroquinone
• Retinol-based products
• Chemical exfoliants
• AHA, BHA, and fruit acids
• Brightening and pigmentation-correcting products
Regular use of exfoliating cleansers, facial scrubs, acne treatments, and active skincare ingredients around the tattooed area may contribute to premature fading by accelerating the natural exfoliation process of the skin.
Proper skincare and sun protection will help maximise the longevity of your cosmetic tattoo and keep your results looking beautiful for longer.
AFTERCARE OINTMENT
STARTING 72 HOURS AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
Apply the aftercare ointment provided by your artist.
✓ Use only a rice-sized amount.
✓ Apply a thin layer at least once daily. Re-apply only if your skin absorbs the initial layer.
✓ Dab gently onto the brows, do not rub from side to side.
✗ Do not rub the area
✗ Do not apply thick layers
If too much ointment is applied, gently blot away the excess with a clean paper towel.
Remember: less is more.
LONG-TERM CARE & MAINTENANCE
Your cosmetic tattoo can last anywhere from 1–4 years following your initial sessions, depending on a variety of individual factors.
To maintain the colour, shape, and overall appearance of your cosmetic tattoo, periodic colour refresh appointments will be required. Without maintenance, the pigment will gradually fade over time.
The longevity of your cosmetic tattoo is influenced by factors such as:
• Skin type
• Lifestyle and activity levels
• Sun exposure
• Pigment colour used
• Skincare products and treatments
• Individual healing and pigment retention
If you'd like to maintain your cosmetic tattoo, simply reach out when you notice the colour has faded enough that you're starting to fill your brows in more regularly again.
We can then assess your brows and let you know whether you're ready for a refresh appointment or if it's best to wait a little longer.
Remember, you only need a refresh when you actually need one. Refresh appointments should never be based solely on a timeframe, but rather on how much the tattoo has naturally faded. Every client fades differently, so maintenance should always be tailored to the individual, not the calendar.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the healing process, please contact us 0422 164 004, or reach out to us on our socials.