How Long Will My Permanent Makeup Last?

Permanent makeup is considered permanent because once implanted, the color cannot be washed off.  However, as with any tattoo, fading can and does occur as the top layers of the skin continually gets replaced. While this may be disappointing to some people, others may be more comfortable with this knowledge. Exactly how long depends on both external and internal factors around the individual. Regular unprotected exposure to UV light, using products that exfoliate or have the ability to lighten the skin or hair, prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals, smoking, extreme climate, having either excessively thick and dry or thick and oily skin, and pigment removal by the body via ducts in eyelash and eyebrow hair follicles may all be possible factors that contribute to fading your cosmetic tattoo.

Also to keep in mind, the darker and more saturated the color the longer it will resist fading. The lighter the color and saturation, the faster it will fade. Yellows, or blondes, tend to fade the most quickly because of its particular sensitivity to light. However, clients who have dark hair who request a “very light and natural-looking brow or eyeliner” should expect their work to fade more quickly even though a dark pigment color was used.

The reality is all color can fade and almost all permanent procedures like tattooing, plastic surgery, dental procedures, hair color, clothing, exterior paint, paintings, photographs, etc., fade over time and the length of that time depends on a host of various external and internal factors.

In summary, permanent makeup procedures will require maintenance to continually look fresh. On some clients’ skin the color hardly seems to fade or takes a long time before it fading starts to occur. On others, especially those with particular preferences, will want more frequent color refreshers. Especially as you become accustomed to having your new makeup 24/7, it’s not uncommon to want a color re-enhancement and even perhaps some additional augmentation or boost in thickness every few years or so.

Technicians who have been in the business a while will have a touch up policy for the original work that they performed. Typically the rate will be reduced for touch ups, which may range from 1 to 5 years or more.