PMU Prep & Aftercare
Small Details Make a BIG Difference
What to do Before & After your Permanent Makeup Procedure
I’ve been performing permanent make-up now for almost 20 years. In this time I’ve completed over 15,000 procedures while experimenting with numerous techniques to help my clients get better results. I have literally tried EVERYTHING.
What I’ve found is that the right pre-care and aftercare can truly make a massive difference in results. Knowing just how important prep and aftercare are, I’ve researched and experimented with many techniques and combinations. I’ve done dry techniques, wet techniques, washing, no washing, I’ve tried various products, creams, ointments… you name it, I’ve tested it.
To help you get the best results possible from your PMU procedure I’ve outlined my lessons learned and provided a formula that will help to ensure you get the best results possible.
The Prep:
If you’ve ever hired a professional painter they will tell you that “it’s all in the prep”. Professional painters know that they get the best results when they spend extra time sanding, filling holes, making sure edges are smooth and applying the right primer. Well, permanent makeup is very similar. You will get much better results when you properly prep. It all starts with a good canvas! The procedure area must be healthy, strong, non-sensitive and non-irritated. Here’s how to get your skin ready for the procedure.
- Do not pick/tweeze/wax/perform electrolysis one week before the procedure
- Do not tan two weeks prior or have sunburned face/skin
- Do not have any type of facial 2 weeks prior to treatment
- Do not work out the day of the procedure.
- Do not have botox 3 weeks prior
- Do not take Fish Oil or Vitamin E one week prior (natural blood thinners)
- Do not wax or tint your eyebrows 3 days before the procedure.
In order to avoid excessive bleeding and poor colour deposit:
- Do not drink alcohol 24 - 48 hours before your tattoo
- Do not consume coffee or any caffeine before your procedure
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Do not take an aspirin or ibuprofen for pain relief (this thins the blood)
Now that you know what NOT to do, it’s time to share my secret recipe for amazing PMU results! I love a good acronym so here’s one to help you out, just think of A - W - M which stands for Absorb, Wash, Moisturize!
The day of the treatment: Absorb
Gently blot the area with a clean tissue to absorb excess lymph fluid. Do this every 5 minutes for the full day until oozing has stopped. Removing this fluid prevents hardening of the lymph.
Days 1-7: Wash
Wash daily to remove bacteria and dead skin. (Don't worry...THIS DOES NOT REMOVE THE PIGMENT!)
Gently wash your procedure area each morning and night with water and an antibacterial soap like Dial Soap, Cetaphil or Neutrogena. With a very light touch, use your fingertips to gently cleanse the affected area. Rub the area in a smooth motion for 10 seconds and rinse with water ensuring that all soap is rinsed away. To dry, gently pat with a clean tissue. DO NOT use any cleansing products containing acids (glycolic, lactic, or AHA), or any exfoliants.
Days 1-7: Moisturize
Apply a rice grain amount of Tina Davies Aftercare ointment with a cotton swab and spread it across the treated area. Be sure not to over-apply as this will suffocate your skin and delay healing. The ointment should be barely noticeable on the skin. Never put the ointment on a wet or damp tattoo.
✨ DID YOU KNOW? Tina Davies Aftercare can be used anywhere on the body including eyebrows, eyes, lips, areola, scar tissue, etc. The directions for use are the exact same for all skin types.
You've got to protect your art! Prevent infection and accelerate healing with this soothing antimicrobial formula.
AWM should have you covered, but here are some extra tips to help with a smooth and easy recovery:
Important Reminders
- Use a fresh pillowcase
- Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away. Picking can cause scarring or loss of colour
- No facials, botox, chemical treatments or microdermabrasion for 4 weeks
- Avoid hot, sweaty exercise for one week
- Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 4 weeks after the procedure. Wear a hat when outdoors.
- Avoid heavy sweating and long hot showers for the first 10 days.
- Avoid sleeping on your face for the first 10 days
- Avoid swimming, lakes, hot tubs for the first 10 days
- Avoid topical makeup including sunscreen on the area
- DO NOT rub, pick or scratch the treated area.
Remember, with the proper prep and aftercare routine you will have much better results with your microblading procedure. Don’t forget your new favourite acronym: AWM - Absorb, Wash, Moisturize!
Important note about showering:
Limit your showers to 5 minutes so you do not create too much steam. Keep your face/procedure area out of the water while you wash your body, then, at the end of your shower, wash your hair. Your face, or procedure area, should only be getting wet at the very last end of the shower. Avoid excessive rinsing and hot water on the treated area.
👉🏻 For more tips and helpful videos please visit my site at www.tinadavies.com or my YouTube Channel
10 comments
As an apprentice changing careers into PMU and tattooing, these blogs are very insightful and handy. I appreciate this greatly; thank you!
Following your instructions are a must for perfect healing and lack of pigment loss. I used a damp cotton round to take off ooze from the day of procedure until oozing stopped. Very important to get that off before it crusts and takes off pigment. Washing 2x a day. Following shower procedure to limit time getting them wet.
Very interesting to read you
Good luck to you
I just got mine done 6 days ago. I have lightly washed them with warm water every day. I have showered and I actually used bactroban ointment twice a day keeping them moist and supple. I included a vitamin C tablet as its a healer and hair, skin and nails vitamin in my diet. They barely scabbed. Day 5 the old skin just wiped off gently. And day 6 all scabs have all but gone. They are pretty much healed already. And looking great. Not even sure I’ll need a touch up. Can’t wait to see them at the 6 week mark.
There are two sides to microblading and the healing process. One side says absolutely no water and the other says to wash them. The advice I was given was to wash them with Cetaphil starting on day 2, with light fingertip circular motion for ten seconds then Pat dry. The reason for washing being that oil from the skin should be removed, or push out the color. I was then instructed to put a very small amount of ointment on each brow with a q tip so my skin wouldn’t overproduce to moisturize the area. This is what this article suggests. I followed these instructions and my brows healed perfectly. To me it makes no sense to never wash your eyebrows, especially if you have oily or normal skin. I took showers and just did my eyebrow washing in the shower and patted them dry with t.p. after. They look great. Hope this eases some water concerns.
I followed Tina’s after care exactly and my eyebrows healed amazingly!!! I washed twice a day from day 1 and I used a very thin layer of Lubriderm twice a day. I showered from day 1. My daughter did my eyebrows and I was the trial subject on following this method. They healed so good I’m not sure I want a touch up!!
Hi everyone I have had my brows microbladed and shaded and I love them. I was told by my esthetician that they healed really well. All I did was follow her directions to a T. I didn’t get them wet for 7 days. Once a day I applied a very thin layer of Aquaphor. They should look glossy, but the layer needs to be thin. I usually apply the Aquaphor with a q-tip and go over it with a dry q-tip to ensure I do not apply too thick. On the 8th day I showered like normal and washed my brows with foaming antibacterial soap. When I showered during the first seven days I wore a shower cap pulled over my brows and washed my body. When I washed my hair, I took a bath and did my best not to wet my face. I patted my face dry afterwards. I did apply makeup after a week I just avoided my brows. I cleansed my face with micellar water and then applied toner with a cotton pad then used a moisturizer everywhere except my brows.
A touch up after 4-6 weeks is definitely required to get the full effect. After that, touch ups should be done every 6 months to a year. Oily skin will make your tattoo pigment fade faster.
I hope this helps!
I am on day 7 of micro blading Looks like nothing was done and I was told not to wet for 3 days and keep Vaseline on constantly What do you suggest
Yes I was told to keep my eyebrows as dry as possible for 2 weeks but this says to wash every day. She did give me some type of natural ointment to apply throughout the day.
I am on day 3 of the procedure and was told not to get my eyebrows set for 14 days!! Your recommendation is to easy lightly which I would love to do. Also my eyebrows are so dark and are slightly above my growling that it looks absolutely freaky!
O
Thank you
