Who should not get permanent makeup?

Florida law requires you to be at least 18 years old to get permanent makeup.  16 with parental consent, but we only do 18 and older.

Women who are pregnant or currently nursing should not receive permanent makeup.

During pregnancy, the immune system is naturally suppressed and the body prioritizes the developing baby. This increases the chance of infection at the treatment site. Hormonal fluctuations can also cause unpredictable pigment retention or migration, and some of the products used (numbing agents, pigments, or aftercare ingredients) could theoretically enter the bloodstream.

While nursing, there is a small risk that substances used during the procedure could pass into breast milk. In addition, healing can be slower and less predictable. Most reputable artists and clinics require clients to wait until pregnancy and breastfeeding are fully complete.

The procedure involves prolonged focus, mild discomfort, and sometimes bright lighting or the sensation of vibration from the device. These factors can trigger a seizure in people with epilepsy

Any procedure that creates stress on the body (even mild stress) or carries an infection risk is generally avoided. An infection near the heart or interference with a medical device is a serious concern.

Autoimmune diseases can cause the body to overreact to the trauma of tattooing. This may lead to delayed healing, excessive inflammation, pigment rejection, or a flare-up of the underlying condition.

People who have received organ transplants are usually on long-term immunosuppressant medication. A suppressed immune system dramatically raises the risk of infection and poor wound healing—both of which are serious after a permanent makeup procedure.

These conditions mean the skin barrier is already compromised. Tattooing inflamed or damaged skin increases the chance of infection, scarring, uneven pigment, and prolonged irritation or flare-ups.

Permanent makeup pigments contain various metal oxides and colorants. An allergy can cause severe swelling, itching, blistering, or permanent discoloration of the skin. A patch test is sometimes offered, but known allergies are a strong reason to avoid the procedure.

If your skin forms raised, thickened scars (keloids) after injuries or piercings, the trauma of permanent makeup can trigger the same response. The result can be permanent raised scars in the brows, lips, or eyeliner area.

Accutane thins the skin and impairs its ability to heal normally. Tattooing skin that has been affected by Accutane carries a high risk of scarring and poor pigment retention. Clients should wait at least 6–12 months after finishing the medication before considering permanent makeup.

High or unstable blood sugar impairs circulation and the body’s ability to fight infection and heal wounds. Even well-controlled diabetes can increase the chance of delayed healing or infection after permanent makeup.

Medications that thin the blood (including prescription anticoagulants and sometimes high-dose aspirin or certain supplements) increase bleeding during the procedure. Excess bleeding makes it harder for the pigment to stay in the skin, leads to more bruising, raises infection risk, and often results in faster fading.  Some clients stop taking blood thinners a few days before doing a procedure to improve their pigment retention.   You should check with your doctor first. 

Chemotherapy suppresses the immune system and slows healing. The risk of infection and complications is significantly higher until the body has recovered and blood counts have normalized.. 

Thyroid imbalances affect hormones, metabolism, and skin health. This can lead to unpredictable pigment retention, faster fading, or changes in how the skin heals.

Procedures around the eyes (such as eyeliner) can temporarily increase pressure or cause irritation. Clients with glaucoma need medical approval to ensure the treatment will not interfere with their eye health or medication.

These are the most common ingredients in topical numbing creams used during permanent makeup. Without effective numbing, the procedure can be quite uncomfortable. An allergic reaction to the numbing agent itself can also be serious

Excess oil production can push pigment out of the skin during healing, resulting in significantly lighter or patchier results than expected. Multiple touch-ups may still not achieve the desired density.

Any trauma to the lip area—including permanent lip blush—can trigger an outbreak. An active cold sore during or after the procedure can interfere with healing and pigment retention. Antiviral medication should be taking a few days before doing a lip procedure.

Some skin types respond to injury by producing excess melanin, leaving dark spots or uneven color. Permanent makeup is a controlled injury, so the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is higher in these clients.

Chronically sun-damaged skin often has compromised collagen and uneven texture. Pigment may not take evenly, and healing can be less predictable.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster). The trauma and stress of a permanent makeup procedure can potentially reactivate the virus, leading to a new outbreak. In addition, skin that has recently had shingles may not heal normally. It is recommended to wait several months after the skin has fully recovered before considering treatment.

If you recently received Botox (or similar neurotoxins such as Dysport or Xeomin), you should wait before getting permanent makeup.  Wait 2-4 weeks after Botox so the product has fully settled.

Why waiting is important - Botox works by temporarily relaxing the facial muscles. In the first 10–14 days after injection, the muscles gradually relax and the position of the brows (or the skin around the eyes and forehead) can shift slightly — sometimes lifting, sometimes dropping a little. Permanent makeup, especially brow work, requires precise mapping based on your facial structure, resting expression, and natural muscle movement. If the procedure is done while the Botox is still settling:

• The brow shape that looks perfect on the day of the appointment may no longer sit correctly once the Botox reaches its full effect.
• The design can end up looking uneven or less natural once the muscles stabilize.
• There is also a small theoretical risk that the trauma of the tattooing process could cause the Botox to migrate slightly if it has not yet fully bound to the muscle.

Waiting the full settling period lets your artist see your face in its more stable, post-Botox state so the permanent makeup can be designed accurately around it.

Preferred order.  Many artists prefer that permanent makeup be done first (while your muscles are in their natural state), followed by Botox after the skin has healed. However, if you have already had Botox, simply allowing the 2-week (or longer) wait is the standard and safe approach.

If you just had a facial, you should wait before getting permanent makeup.  Wait at least 2 weeks after a facial. For more aggressive treatments (deep extractions, chemical peels, dermaplaning, hydrofacials, or any facial that includes strong exfoliation or acids), many prefer waiting 3–4 weeks or longer so the skin fully recovers.

Why waiting is important - Facials—especially those that include extractions, steaming, scrubbing, acids, or mechanical exfoliation—temporarily disrupt the skin barrier. They can leave the skin:

• More sensitive and reactive
• Mildly inflamed or irritated
• Temporarily thinner or more permeable

Permanent makeup involves creating controlled micro-injuries to implant pigment. Performing it on skin that is still recovering from a facial raises the risk of:

• Increased irritation, redness, or swelling during and after the procedure
• Higher chance of infection
• Unpredictable pigment retention (the color may not take as evenly or may fade faster)
• Longer or more uncomfortable healing

Calm, stable, healthy skin gives the best chance of smooth healing and good long-term results. Waiting allows any residual sensitivity or barrier disruption from the facial to resolve.

Gentle vs aggressive facials

• A light, hydrating facial with no extractions or acids may only need a shorter buffer (closer to 1–2 weeks).
• Anything involving extractions, peels, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, or strong active ingredients needs the full 2–4 week wait.

After permanent makeup, avoid facials (especially aggressive ones) for at least 4 weeks so the pigment can fully settle without interference.

If you just had your brows threaded (or waxed/tweezed), you should wait before getting permanent makeup.  Avoid threading 1-2 weeks before the appointment so the skin and hair pattern fully settle.

Why the wait is important - Threading removes hair from the root and can leave the skin temporarily red, sensitive, or slightly irritated, with open follicles. Performing permanent makeup on skin that is still recovering from threading increases the chance of:

• Extra irritation or discomfort during the procedure
• Higher risk of infection
• Less predictable pigment placement and healing

More importantly, your artist needs to see your natural brow hair growth pattern and shape. Threading removes hairs and can temporarily alter the outline of the brows. Working with freshly threaded brows makes it harder to create a design that matches your natural structure once the hairs start growing back.

After permanent makeup - Once you have had permanent makeup, wait until the area is fully healed (usually 4–6 weeks) before threading again. Even then, only thread stray hairs outside the pigmented area. Threading directly over the tattooed strokes can pull out pigment and damage the results.

Tip: Arrive at your permanent makeup appointment with as much natural brow hair as possible. Your artist can clean up any stray hairs during the mapping process if needed.