Understanding the essential do’s and don’ts of permanent makeup helps ensure a safe procedure, smooth healing, and beautiful long-lasting results.
Proper preparation and aftercare are essential for achieving safe, successful, and long-lasting permanent makeup results. Understanding the do’s and don’ts before and after your appointment will help protect your skin, support healthy healing, and ensure your PMU artist can perform your treatment safely and effectively.
Please review the guidelines below carefully before booking or attending your appointment.
Do take the time to schedule a consultation with your PMU artist. They will explain the process, answer your questions, and help determine a brow shape that best suits your facial features.
Do read all pre- and post-care instructions and contraindications before your appointment. Proper preparation is essential, and failure to follow instructions may result in refusal of service for your safety.
Do inform your artist of all medications or medical conditions. Certain medications affect blood, skin integrity, and healing.
Do allow up to 4 weeks for full healing after your treatment—no dirt, sweat, moisture, or picking scabs during this period.
Do not lie or withhold information from your artist about your health or lifestyle. Honesty ensures safe, successful results.
Don’t take blood thinners.
Don’t take anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Aspirin, or Excedrin.
Don’t take oil-based supplements including fish oil, vitamin E, or primrose oil.
Don’t take magnesium.
Don’t consume alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine—they interfere with pigment retention and healing.
Don’t take over-the-counter herbal supplements without consulting your PMU artist.
Don’t use acidic or active skincare products (retinol, AHA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, mineral oils).
Don’t get PMU if you have any of the following: diabetes, pregnancy, active cancer (ok when in remission), keloid scarring (requires test spot), vitiligo, open wounds, excessive oily skin, or if you cannot avoid sweating/wetting the area during healing.
Don’t get PMU if you are currently on Accutane, antibiotics, or iron supplements.
Losing color after a PMU procedure is normal during the skin’s healing process.
Brows may appear dark at first, then lighten or look patchy as new skin forms over the pigment.
The “ghosting stage” often occurs when pigment looks faint but gradually returns over several weeks.
Infection or allergic reactions can interrupt healing and push pigment out.
Incorrect pigment depth or color selection may affect retention.
Oily skin, poor aftercare, or picking scabs can lead to fading or patchy results.
Yes. Brows can fade or lighten temporarily and often reappear as the skin heals. Touch-ups every 12–18 months help maintain shape and color.
Micro-pigmentation may fade quickly due to:
Infection
Allergic reactions
Poor aftercare
Wrong color or shallow strokes
Using the wrong skincare products
Excess oil production
Commonly known as the ghosting stage, brows may appear extremely light after scabs fall off.
This is normal and pigment typically resurfaces within a few weeks.
Be patient—pigment usually returns as healing completes.
Continue following aftercare instructions.
Schedule a touch-up after 6 weeks if needed.
Contact your doctor if you experience swelling, redness, or severe itching, as these may indicate infection.
Rare, but possible due to:
Strokes placed too shallow
Scarring or keloid response
Not following aftercare
Using skincare that disrupts pigment (retinol, acids)
In these cases, another session may be required once the skin has fully healed.
Do NOT expose brows to the sun.
Do NOT sweat excessively for 10 days.
Do NOT run direct water on brows.
Do NOT use Vaseline on brows.
Do NOT use makeup, creams, or exfoliants on brows for 10 days.
Do NOT enter saunas, pools, steam rooms.
Do NOT get facials, massages, or skin treatments.
Do NOT tan or use tanning beds.
Do NOT use retinol, AHA, glycolic acid, or other exfoliants.
Do NOT use laser light therapy near brows.
Do NOT pick or peel scabs.
Sun exposure can alter pigment, so SPF is essential.
Sweat can fade pigment prematurely.
Touch-ups are needed to perfect the brows and maintain longevity.
Most clients require touch-ups every 9–24 months.
Use SPF 50 to protect your brows from fading.
Avoid exfoliants and retinol near the brow area.
Avoid laser treatments on or around brows.
Expect natural fading over time—this is normal.
Hairstroke brows typically last 1–3 years depending on skin type and lifestyle.
A CandiBrows artist will take the time to ensure you are comfortable and fully informed before any service begins. We walk you through the process, discuss your goals, and map or outline the treatment area for your approval so you are part of each design decision. Our approach is always conservative at the first appointment, as most clients will refine or deepen their results at the perfection touch-up.
During the first 3–5 days, treated areas may appear darker due to normal, superficial scabbing. This can be surprising, but it is temporary. As the skin heals, color softens by 20–40% and may look uneven or patchy — this is completely normal and exactly why the touch-up is essential. At your follow-up appointment, any faded, uneven, or missing areas are perfected to complete your final result. Throughout the procedure, our artists use a gentle technique and ongoing numbing to keep you as comfortable as possible.
Appointment confirmations are sent 48 hours in advance. Because cosmetic tattooing requires time and precision, please arrive promptly. Clients who are more than 15 minutes late will need to be rescheduled and may incur a no-show fee.
Visit us at our studio in the heart of Old Town Clovis, CA.
