There is no question that permanent makeup is basically a cosmetic tattoo, but it is a separate specialty within the field of tattooing using different equipment and colorants. Most importantly, specialized training with unique standards is required in order to properly perform this service. While those who pursue training in permanent makeup run the gamut from doctors to manicurists, there is no one particular education background that guarantees superior results for the client except that permanent makeup should at least be the most regularly performed procedure of the person who is doing the work.
Ever notice how all the well-regarded tattoo artists tend to specialize in their own signature styles? If certain regular makeup artists cannot even deliver subtle facial corrections using natural-looking makeup, what makes you think any tattoo parlor artist can?Labels: Permanent makeup
  Both permanent and conventional makeup can look great or good enough with room - sometimes lots of room - for improvement. Skilled makeup artists are in great demand for the way they can improve a person's appearance with conventional makeup (albeit with the fanciest, highest quality products and applicators), but the average person is unlikely to have the same skill and/or time to attend to beauty ritual of applying makeup everyday and throughout the day as it wears off (with the exception of my grandmother, but she was quite a piece of work).
Well-executed permanent makeup can achieve the same results as regular makeup or better, especially since even the most meticulously applied makeup eventually comes off one way or another.Labels: Permanent makeup
Generally around 35 years of age, the lips will begin to flatten and thin out, the corners droop, and the lip lines begin to form. As lips lose their fullness it makes the mouth look smaller, giving an aging effect to the face. Lips also lose their smoothness and become less plump due to a breakdown in collagen and the loss of subcutaneous fat within the lips. Furthermore, the collagen breakdown causes our lips to lose elasticity, making fine lines and deeper wrinkles more evident on and around the lips. Also noticeable is the reduction in the lips' bright redness.
Numerous injectable fillers have entered the market over the last five years giving women a number of options for fuller, younger-looking lips. Not all are created equally, however, as some fillers carry a higher risk of complication depending upon where they are injected, which can lead to unsatisfactory results such as visible lumps and clumping. Since some fillers can last between one and two years, any associated complications can last for several months. The gold standard for augmenting the lip is hyaluronic acid fillers, which last three to six months. Hyaluronic acids carry a reduced risk because of their short-term results. Collagen can be used, but due to collagen's high cost, hyaluronic acids are considered superior.
Cosmetic lip tattoos enhance the lips with more natural-looking results for a much longer period of time and without the same risk of complications. Unlike injectable fillers, lip tattoos can also create a superior vermillion border and enhance the lips' natural color, restoring an alluring vitality to the face. Such procedures are not just for women who want to have the lips of a heralded celebrity, but simply to turn back the hands of time.
Of course, lip tattoos can also be done as the finishing touch after lip plumping injections to better complete the desired enhancement.Labels: Permanent makeup
  Fake-looking, drawn-on brows detract from the appeal of even the most perfectly symmetrical and otherwise universally admired faces. (Pamela Anderson is one that comes to mind.) A good tattooed eyebrow should look three-dimensional, just like real ones. It can be particularly tricky to execute well when there is very little or no hair present, but as seen here, they make of one of the best face-enhancing procedures available with no downtime.Labels: Permanent makeup
  Properly applied permanent eyeliner should never require "updating" to keep up with any fashion trends, only perhaps additional color as it slowly fades over the years. Its combined eyelash-thickening effect and indelible staying power can never be duplicated by topical cosmetics. Indeed this has become one of the most widely accepted cosmetic tattooing procedures throughout the United States, Europe and much of Asia.Labels: Permanent makeup
An eye-opening (sorry about the pun) Beauty Investigation article featured in the December 2007 issue of Elle magazine. The author reports who's getting into permanent makeup in NYC.
Elle-December-2007.pdfLabels: Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup is a convenient solution for people who want to appear optimally at their best, but feel self-conscious about sparse eyebrows or eyelashes, or lips that are too thin, asymmetrical, or naturally lacking in color. It's also ideal for those who have allergies or are irritated by conventional cosmetics, have a physical limitation that makes applying makeup difficult, or are physically active or perspire heavily, and it has the added benefit of saving daily application time.Labels: Permanent makeup
  Sure, but just like for women, it depends on the individual needs of the person. Typically men can benefit with a subtle enhancement of the eyebrows to give more definition to their eyes and face. A brow procedure is more practical than say, tinting or coloring the brows, especially if there aren't a lot of hairs to color. The definition from a brow tattoo is also much longer lasting - a few years as opposed to several weeks for tinting.Labels: Permanent makeup
Permanent cosmetic makeup helps replenish what time has taken away, but is not intended to replace cosmetics completely especially if you tend to wear heavy-looking makeup. Because the color is placed "in" your skin and not "on" your skin, the result is a more natural, softer look. When you're getting ready for a special occasion, you can still apply as much additional makeup as you wish.Labels: Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup is long-lasting. But just like any other tattoo, cosmetic tattoos (particularly eyebrows in muted or golden browns) will soften and slowly fade over time. Especially as you become accustomed to having your new makeup, it's not uncommon to want more and desire a color touch-up every few years. Exactly how long depends on the individual. Unprotected exposure to UV light, certain medications, smoking, dry climate, excessively dry skin, and anything meant to exfoliate or have the ability to lighten your skin or hair can all prematurely fade your cosmetic tattoo. Taking good care of your skin will greatly prolong the life of your tattoos.Labels: Permanent makeup
* You must be at least 18 years of age.
* You must not have a sunburn or use a tanning bed prior to and after any procedures.
* You must be off Retin-A or other retinoids at least 2 weeks prior to all procedures if they cause your skin to be sensitive. Clients must be off Accutane for at least 6 months to one year prior to all procedures.
* Check with your physician if you have any medical issues that will require prior approval, such as diabetes, hepatitis, heart problems, or have had precancerous skin lesions, eczema or psoriasis.
* Avoid any alcohol 48 hours prior to all procedures as well as any other strong stimulants.
* Try to avoid taking the following prior to all procedures unless medically needed: niacin, vitamin E, gingko biloba, St. John's Wort, and evening primrose oil.
* Anyone with a history of cold sores or fever blisters requesting a lip color procedure are advised to contact their doctor for anti-viral medication to minimize the occurrence of an outbreak. If you have any condition that requires you to take antibiotics prior to going to the dentist, please also consult your doctor about doing the same prior to all tattoo procedures. Lysine supplements can also be helpful in both preventing and minimizing outbreaks.
* Do not take any aspirin or Ibuprofen before or immediately after the procedure as it may promote bleeding. Tylenol or other non-aspirin pain relievers may be taken 1 hour prior.Labels: Permanent makeup
Permanent cosmetic makeup is the art and science of implanting the ideal color for you in the right place so your face can look better naturally. The color is placed into the dermis, or inner layer of the skin. Because the epidermis - the skin's outermost layer - is always shedding and renewing itself, you are actually seeing the color through a thin veil of skin. Immediately after your procedure, the color will appear darker than the final result because it is in both the epidermis and dermis. The color in the top layer will flake off during the healing process.Labels: Permanent makeup
The latest topical anesthetics developed especially for permanent makeup used before and during the procedure assures you of the most comfortable experience possible. The manual method, such as is used with SofTap, is actually the least painful of all tattoo procedures and is relatively short in duration. It is common to hear that there was not as much pain as was expected. Depending on the individual and the area, an anesthetic is not even necessary in some cases.Labels: Permanent makeup
Permanent makeup is a process that usually takes on average two or three applications to complete. A good permanent makeup artist will always add more color or thickness, if needed, on a follow up appointment within 4 to 6 weeks, which ensures perfection and longevity. Prospective clients are first led through a thorough consultation to determine if they are a good candidate. Once the desired color and shape is obtained in a run-through with the removable pigments, the area gets marked and cleansed, and a topical anesthetic is applied for your comfort. The pigment is then precisely deposited at approximately .08mm below the surface. The gravity of the pigment particles then brings it lower into the dermis, making it permanent without unnecessarily traumatizing the deeper layers of the skin. This also means a shorter application time since the color goes in quicker and with longer staying power. Depending on the area and how much work is needed, a typical procedure itself takes only about 20 to 30 minutes. A complimentary makeup consultation will give you a good idea of what your desired procedure will look like on you. With SofTap pigments, there is no worry that it will change color after it has been implanted into the skin.Labels: Permanent makeup
Aside from the color looking about 40% darker than the intended (and final) result, work activities can be resumed immediately as long as they will not adversely affect the healing process. This intensity lightens as the procedure "settles" over 2 to 3 weeks. Detailed aftercare instructions will be provided and discussed. Typically our clients experience very little swelling or long-lasting irritation of the surrounding skin. You may look like you've had a good cry in the day or two following an eyeliner procedure. Lips, because of their vascularity, can expect to be swollen for about 24 hours after a procedure. All color will continue to oxidize (begin to turn darker and darker) for the next 3 to 4 days. After excess pigment flakes off on its own, the remaining pigment softens into the color that was first implanted into the skin. Fading or loss of pigment is expected and is a normal part of the process. There should be pigment under the skin where the excess pigment has flaked off. If there is no pigment there, then a touch up will be required. Recovery periods are different for each individual and each procedure.Labels: Permanent makeup
Micropigmentation is defined by the American Academy of Micropigmentation as a procedure in which minute, metabolically inert pigment granules are placed mechanically or manually below the epidermis for the purpose of cosmetic and/or corrective enhancement. Essentially, it is just another term for permanent makeup, permanent cosmetics, or cosmetic tattooing.Labels: Permanent makeup
The oldest method of tattooing, dating back to the ice age, remains the superior method for achieving the most natural look. Today's methods for applying permanent makeup are the traditional coil machine, rotary machine and manual technique that's similar to a gentle etching motion. SofTap is a patented manual method with an impeccable safety record. The sterile handpieces are opened from their sealed packaging only at the time of the procedure, and all accessories that come into contact with the client are disposed of after a single use. Also unlike traditional tattoo machines, the benefits of the hand method are less trauma to the skin, fast healing, and soft, natural-looking results. Our free consultation will demonstrate for you the difference in the procedure of this method of permanent makeup.Labels: Permanent makeup
Most permanent makeup today is done with iron oxide pigments. In July 2004, the FDA issued an alert reporting that a number of individuals had experienced adverse reactions to the pigments from one particular manufacturer. No adverse reactions have ever been reported using SofTap's own patented iron oxide pigments since launching in 1988. These are nontoxic to skin tissue, non-irritating and long-lasting. The chances of developing an allergic reaction to them are very remote. If there is any concern over allergy to the pigment, a patch test is available. Anyone can develop an allergy to anything at anytime. In fact, people with allergies or chemical sensitivities may opt for permanent cosmetics because they replace the daily application of makeup that can become irritating.Labels: Permanent makeup
  The choice of color in a cosmetic tattoo should harmonize with the skin tone and the skin's undertones above all else. This ensures a flattering color regardless of what you decide to do with your hair.Labels: Permanent makeup
While it would be preferable to undergo any kind of surgical lifting before facial tattooing especially if significant alteration is expected, properly placed permanent makeup will maintain their position with respect to the brows, eyes and lips.
Injectible fillers used to increase lip volume, for example, typically should not affect tattoo position either and could be performed before or after tattooing.
Ablative resurfacing (removal of the epidermis and portions of the dermis by dermabrasion, carbon dioxide or Er:YAG laser, or chemical peeling agents) causes significant inflammation which will decrease a tattoo's color intensity, if not allow much of the pigment to eliminate through the abraded surface of the skin. While non-ablative laser resurfacing (creating a dermal injury while leaving the epidermis intact) has not been reported to cause problems with cosmetic tattoos, vigorous treatment can result in inflammation lasting hours or days and might theoretically lead to some pigment removal. Q-switched lasers (alexandrite, ruby, or Nd:YAG) are well known to cause permanent pigment darkening reactions in titanium and iron oxides commonly used in tattoo pigments. Therefore it is exceedingly important to inform the physician using a Q-switched laser the existence of any cosmetic tattoos. Laser hair removal, which employs alexandrite, diode, and Nd:YAG lasers, deposits light over a longer pulse duration than their Q-switched counterparts and is not known to cause tattoo pigment darkening. Still, significant inflammation can occur and the multiple treatments required for successful laser hair removal might lighten cosmetic tattoos. Finally, topical photodynamic therapy using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and intense pulsed light (IPL) or pulsed dye laser can cause prolonged inflammation in the skin and therefore lead to significant removal of tattoo pigment.Labels: Permanent makeup
An eyeliner tattoo is possible if you have eyelash extensions. You would just need to wait at least 72 hours after getting the extensions before the eyeliner tattoo, or having the eyeliner tattoo at least one week before getting a touch up on the lash extensions.Labels: Permanent makeup
Although cosmetic tattoos are considered permanent, these procedures do have flexibility in altering color and shape to some extent. Please request a consultation to see how you can look with a corrective procedure.Labels: Permanent makeup
MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to see internal organs and soft tissue without the use of x-rays. Both safe and painless, MRI has no known side effects. MRI combines the knowledge of a computer with safe magnetic and radio waves to create extremely detailed images of areas of your body. The strong magnetic field created by the MRI machine is used to prepare the body to emit radio signals.
Wearers or permanent cosmetics and tattoos can have MRIs done safely and effectively with no ill side effects or diagnostic problems. It is important that the client inform the physician they have permanent makeup so that proper precautions, if deemed necessary, may be taken.
Click here for more detailed information:
MRI Info
MRI SafetyLabels: Permanent makeup
A touch-up is a color re-enhancement. Getting a tattoo done is a process and at least one follow-up evaluation should be scheduled to determine whether a touch-up is necessary. Ideally it is recommended that a follow-up appointment be made in 4 to 6 weeks for any touch-ups to the brows and eyelids and 8 weeks for the lips so that the color has had a chance to fully soften. Color should not be adjusted until it has had a chance to fully soften; a premature touch-up can result in inaccurate color. A touch-up is not always necessary, but should you desire one anytime after a year from the date of the original procedure you will only be charged a nominal fee for the lifetime of your cosmetic tattoo.Labels: Permanent makeup
Would you like to see if this might be right for you? Call or email Jeannie and you will get a prompt, personal response!Labels: Permanent makeup
Shaping and coloring the brow is an art form, and can make a dramatic difference in the shape your eye or even making your whole face and demeanor look more youthful. Some techniques to shape the brow include tweezing, waxing or threading to remove unwanted hair. Once you have the basic shape, you can use a little color to fill in gaps, or just make the brow appear a bit more full.
Start with combing the hairs upward and trim any long hairs. Then comb downward, and trim any remaining long hairs. To determine where the brows should begin, look at where the inner corner of the eye begins and use that as a guide.
If your eyes are close-set, make the space between the brows a little wider. If your eyes are wide-set, keep the brows a little closer together. To determine where the highest point of the arch should be, hold a straight edge from the edge of your nostril on a diagonal past the outer edge of the eye's iris and on to the eyebrow. To determine where the brow should end, hold the straight edge from the edge of your nostril on a diagonal past the outer corner of the eye and on to the eyebrow. Aim for a smoothly arched brow that tapers at the outer ends. If you makeup is needed, use an eyebrow pencil or brow powder in a color that is a shade lighter than your natural brow hair. For a natural look, use short, light strokes instead of a single, solid line.Labels: eyebrows
Removing strays successfully to prevent ingrown hair requires a good tweezer (a small, simple square tipped pair is all you need) and proper technique. Just grasp the hair with your dominant hand by placely the tweezers squarely on the skin surface. Then pull firmly but gently in order to remove the hair with the bulb intact.
Aggressively yanking hairs can damage the follicle so that it's no longer in alignment with the direction of hair growth. This is how permanently ingrown hairs are created, and sometimes either a painful cyst or nodule forms each time a new hair tries to push out of the follicle.Labels: eyebrows
Abrupt, excessive hair loss (which is different from gradual genetic hair thinning) on any part of the body is usually attributed to any of the following causes:
* Physical Illness: Including high fevers, severe infections, chronic illness, crash diets with inadequate protein, anemia, under- or over-active thyroid, major surgery or other illnesses.
* Severe Emotional Stress: Including telogen effluvium (when hair follicles are pushed prematurely into the resting state, usually the result of a shock or stressful event), alopecia areata (generally thought of as an organ-specific autoimmune disease that is nevertheless associated with multiple etiologies), and female pattern hair loss (although like with men, genetics and hormones play a deciding role, increasingly stressful lives are likely to contribute to this type of hair loss). In many cases, there can be a two or three month delay after the stressful event before the onset of the hair loss.
* Hormones: Again, there can be a three month delay following a hormonal status change, such as from childbirth, oral contraceptives, menopause or peri-menopause, and hormone supplementation.
* Oral Medications: Include retinoids, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen), and others.
* External Trauma: Usually any existing abnormalities in the hair shaft formation is made worse by over manipulation of the hair. Chemical processes (e.g., harsh salon hair dyes) in particular, damage the whole hair shaft and can cause abrupt hair loss. A condition called trichotillomania (an impulse control disorder that compels sufferers to pull out their own hair) affects people of all ages and nearly 2.5 million people in the US alone. In some cases the hair loss may be permanent especially if the condition affects the eyebrows or eyelashes.
Normal daily hair loss from the scalp is about 100 hairs. This figure can go up to 200 if the hair is groomed infrequently as shampooing and brushing also dislodges any loose or broken hairs.Labels: Hair Loss
Although it's possible for certain cosmetics to be contaminated with bacteria, this is unlikely to occur with any cosmetics manufactured by a large company and that are purchased and used within a year of their manufacture. These cosmetics usually contain preservatives that will not support bacterial growth. (Signs of bacterial growth include product separation and/or if it smells "off.") For preservative-free cosmetics, loose powders are a good option. Because powders contain no water, they cannot support bacterial growth. Mineral makeup is an especially good option because of its indefinite shelf life and is widely available in powder foundations, blush, and eye shadow. Brushes can only harbor bacteria if it is wet. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you regularly wash your brushes with a mild shampoo and allow them to dry. Other types of make up that should pose no problem are those that are self-renewed, such as pencils and crayons that can be sharpened to reveal new cosmetic.Labels: Skin Care
In order for vitamins to benefit the skin such as in decreasing the effects of photoaging, stimulating fibroblasts and new collagen, and providing antioxidant activity, they must be delivered to the site of action in sufficient doses. Oral supplements deliver nutrients through the bloodstream and gastrointestinal system, which limits its delivery to the skin. In fact, only about 1 percent of oral vitamin ingestion will actually reach the skin. Excess water-soluble vitamins are excreted while fat-soluble ones such as vitamin A get stored in the liver. With vitamin C for example, by the time enough is ingested to reach therapeutic levels for the skin, the body has excreted much of the vitamin. Since the skin is itself an organ capable of absorption, topically applied vitamins will deliver the molecules directly to where it's expected to do its job while also protecting the other organs from hepatoxicity.Labels: Skin Care
Hives are caused by the release of histamine from certain cells that lie along the blood vessels in the skin, which then causes blood plasma to leak out and form the pale red swellings that you experience. Histamine is a chemical that's essentially triggered by an allergic reaction, so the best treatment is to find and remove the cause. (Antihistamines, applying cool compresses, and soaking in colloidal oatmeal baths may provide relief in the meantime.)
Sometimes it's impossible to determine why you get hives, but some of the most common culprits are usually from stress, certain foods, drugs, or infections. Other causes can be insect bites, internal disease, pressure, vibration, cold, sunlight, and exercise.
The most common food that cause hives are nuts, chocolate, fish, tomatoes, eggs, fresh berries, and milk. Fresh, uncooked foods are also more likely than cooked, as well as food additives and preservatives, in causing hives.
Almost any prescription or non-prescription medication or over-the-counter item such as vitamins, eye and ear drops and vaginal douches, can be a potential cause for hives.Labels: Skin Care
Dark eye circles are a concern as it can make a person look tired, sad or unhealthy. This common condition can come from one or more of the following factors:
* Hyperpigmentation (giving off a brown-tinged discoloration) due to increased melanin production. This one is the easiest to remedy and prevent with the use of a broad spectrum sunscreen and UV-blocking sunglasses.
* Pronounced superficial blood vessels (giving off a bluish or purplish discoloration) showing through the thin skin around the eyes.
* Undereye fat deposits that inflate the lower lid, causing dark shadows.
A wide variety of underlying issues often make this particular cosmetic concern resistant to treatment. They can be from medical problems such as kidney, liver, heart, thyroid, or hereditary blood disorders; vitamin K deficiency; Addison's disease; or circulatory problems that cause excess fluid retention. Environmental culprits include allergies, asthma or eczema that could cause persistent itching and rubbing. Lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, smoking, excessive alcohol, caffeine, or salt intake should also be taken into effect.Labels: Skin Care
Aim for half your weight in ounces. (E.g., If you weigh 130 pounds, you should be drinking 65 ounces of water.) But better still, sip water gradually throughout the day instead of all at once after feeling dehydrated (dry lips are a good indicator of the body's dehydration), make sure that the water is filtered and at room temperature. Ice water is stressful on organs such as the kidneys and spleen and impairs digestion. Other good sources of water intake include herbal tea, broth, juice, and fresh fruit and vegetables. When considering water intake in regard to your skin's appearance, keep in mind that this alone is unlikely to have any noticeable effect unless you're also paying attention to key internal and topical nutrients that hydrate the skin and encourage healthy cell turnover, repair cell walls, and build connective tissue.javascript:void(0)Labels: Skin Care
If there's no problem and you're happy with what you're using then there's no reason to switch. However, if you notice an unwanted change in your skin's condition, then you may want to consider making an adjustment to your regimen. There are various factors that may be responsible for the unwanted change such as climate, aging, illness or medications. Consult with a skin health professional to help you adjust your regimen if you are unsure about what to use.Labels: Skin Care
|
