Everything that happens after you leave the chair — the first 24 hours, the flaking week, and how the colour settles over the first month. Written by the artists at Dina's Hair Vogue in West Vancouver.
Permanent makeup is a two-part result: half is the artistry in the chair, half is how well you care for your skin in the four weeks that follow. Microblading, powder brows and lip blush all follow the same healing rhythm — the pigment sits in the upper dermis, the skin renews over it, and what you see on day one is not what you keep.
Below is the routine we give every client at Dina's Hair Vogue, plus the signs that are normal and the ones that are worth a phone call. If you are still deciding between techniques, read the microblading and powder brows pages first, or book a complimentary consultation with Nasim.
The First 24 Hours
Your brows or lips are an open, healing surface for the first day, so treat them like a fresh wound. Gently blot away any lymph with a clean tissue — do not rub, scrub, or apply pressure.
Avoid water, cleansers, makeup, and skincare on the treated area for a full 24 hours. Steam, sauna, hot yoga, swimming, and heavy sweating all soften the pigment before it has settled, so plan a quiet evening instead.
Days 2 to 7
Around day three the pigment begins to darken and tighten, and small flakes will appear. This is normal. Do not pick, peel, or scratch — lifting a flake early takes the colour with it and can leave a patchy result that no touch-up can fully correct.
Keep the area lightly moisturised with the aftercare balm we provide, using a thin layer morning and night. Wash with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, then pat dry with a clean towel.
Weeks 2 to 4
Once the flakes have cleared, the colour will look lighter than it did on day one — sometimes by as much as 30 to 40 percent. The skin is still renewing beneath the surface, and true pigment settles at around the four-week mark.
This is exactly why we book your perfecting session four to six weeks after the initial appointment. Wait for it before judging the result.
What To Avoid
Skip direct sun exposure on the treated area, retinols, AHAs, glycolic acid, and exfoliating acids. Avoid facials, waxing, and brow tinting over the brows, and hold off on lash lifts or extensions if your brows are the treated area.
Long term, daily sunscreen over healed permanent makeup is the single best thing you can do to keep the colour from fading. Sun exposure is the leading cause of premature touch-ups.
Mild redness, tenderness, and flaking are expected. Contact the salon if you notice spreading redness after day three, swelling that worsens rather than settles, a fever, or any sign of infection. If you have a history of cold sores, tell us before your appointment so we can plan accordingly — lip blush can trigger an outbreak in some clients.
Consultations at our Marine Drive studio are complimentary. We map your shape, match a pigment to your skin, and plan the healing timeline before anything is drawn.