Just Got Permanent Makeup? Here’s What Not to Do Next

admin December 8, 2025

There’s this small moment after a permanent makeup session where everything feels exciting. Your brows look sharp, your lips have color, or your liner finally matches your face without all the morning drama. But right after that excitement comes the next phase… the part no one warns you about enough.

You look in the mirror and think, “Okay, this is new… and I like it.” And then the doubt shows up. What if I mess this up? What if I touch it by mistake? What if something goes wrong?

The real magic happens after the appointment, not during it. How you care for your skin in the next few days decides how clean and soft your healed results will look.

This blog walks you through them one by one. Nothing fancy. No complicated terms. Just clear steps you can follow even if you’re half-asleep scrolling your phone (it happens).

Let’s start.

Why Aftercare Matters More Than You Expect

Regular makeup is not even a bit like Permanent makeup. Permanent makeup is a type of cosmetic tattoo. Like any other tattoo, this one also needs time to calm down, heal, and settle. Your artist did her job during the permanent makeup procedure, but the final look depends a lot on how you treat your skin afterward.

A small thing like rubbing your brows or skipping the aftercare cream can change how your healed results look. And you definitely don’t want patchy spots in a few weeks or faded color way too soon.

So, here’s what you should not do after your appointment.

Mistake 1: Touching the Area Constantly

It sounds small, right? But touching freshly done permanent makeup is one of the most common mistakes.

Your skin is open and sensitive after the PMU session. Hence, dirt and gems can result in irritation, bumps, or delayed healing. And if you think your hands are clean, they carry germs. One more point, touching the area can shift the pigment before it sets.

If it itches, give it a soft tap on the skin around it. Not the area itself. And keep your hands away as much as possible.

Mistake 2: Getting the Area Wet Too Early

Water and healing tattooed skin do not get along well in the first few days. Not washing your face is not an option, obviously, but you must avoid soaking the area.

No swimming, no long steamy showers, no sauna trips. Even workouts can be a problem because sweat also counts as moisture.

Your pigment needs to settle. Let it.

Mistake 3: Picking or Peeling the Flakes

At some point, the area might look dry or flaky. You might feel like peeling it the way you peel dried glue from your hands (we’ve all done that). But this is one thing you must not do.

Picking removes pigment before it’s ready. And the healed look won’t be even.

Let the skin shed naturally.

Mistake 4: Using Harsh Products on the Area

Some people go home and continue their normal skincare routine. But freshly treated skin does not want acids, scrubs, or anything strong.

Skip:

exfoliators
strong cleansers
retinol
scrubs
oils
makeup removers

Use only what your artist tells you. That’s it. Nothing extra.

Mistake 5: Putting Makeup Over Fresh Permanent Makeup

It feels strange to avoid makeup on your face after the session. But your skin needs time. Makeup can block pores and slow down healing.

Plus, rubbing makeup off at night is even worse. It can pull off pigment and irritate the skin.

Let your permanent makeup eyebrows, lips, or liner breathe. You want your healed results to look good, not smudged or faded, before the first week even ends.

Mistake 6: Heavy Sun Exposure

The sun is one of the fastest ways to fade pigment. Freshly done permanent makeup is even more sensitive to it.

If you step outside, stay in the shade or use a hat. Once the area heals, you can start using sunscreen. But wait until it’s safe to apply anything.

Small detail, big difference.

Mistake 7: Skipping the Aftercare Your Artist Gives You

Every artist has a slightly different approach. Some give ointment. Some give aftercare kits. Some ask you to dry heal.

Follow their method.

Not what you saw on a TikTok video.
Not what your friend said worked for them.
Not what a random blog claimed.

Your artist knows the pigment they used and the technique. And if you’re getting permanent makeup in Sarasota, FL, or any other place with humidity, heat, or sweat, your artist will guide you based on the climate, too.

Aftercare is personal. Stick to your professional steps.

Mistake 8: Comparing Your Healing to “Perfect” Photos

Permanent makeup before and after photos online are usually taken after healing. Your fresh photos and your healing phase will not look like that.

You might see:

uneven tones
small flakes
light patches
mild redness

All of this is normal. Your skin is not a machine. Healing takes time. Give it the space to do what it needs to do.

Mistake 9: Expecting Zero Fading After the First Session

Permanent makeup is meant to look soft and natural. That means fading is normal. Most people need a touch-up to perfect the final look.

Don’t panic if the color looks lighter after a few weeks. It’s part of the process.

Mistake 10: Overlooking How Your Daily Habits Change the Results

This part is simple. Things like sweating a lot, sleeping with your face in your pillow, or spending hours outside can affect your healed look.

It doesn’t mean you can’t do these things again. You just need to be extra careful during the healing phase. Give your brows or lips a little extra love.

What You Should Do Instead

Let’s balance the list with easy things you can do. Keep this one section simple:

Follow your artist’s aftercare steps
Keep the area clean and dry
Avoid heavy activity for a few days
Sleep on your back if possible
Let the skin peel on its own
Be patient with the healing
Nothing complicated. Just calm steps.
A Quick Note About Brows, Lips, and Liner

Even though these areas are all part of permanent makeup, they heal differently. Brows usually flake more. Lips may swell a bit. The liner can feel tight.

Your artist will guide you based on the exact service. Each kind of service requires a different kind of care. So always listen to the instructions given for your specific treatment.

Wrap This Up – Without Any Hassle

No long brow routines. No smudged eyeliner halfway through the day. No fading lip color every time you sip coffee. Hence, permanent makeup is meant to make your life easier.

But the final look comes from both sides – the artist’s skill and your aftercare.

So once your artist is done with their job, it’s your time to take good care and achieve a good result. And if you ever feel unsure, reach out to your artist. Trained professionals from Lash Boutique in the field can guide you far better than a random tip online.