Frequently Asked Questions:

Why on earth are all of your explanations so long and wordy?

• We strive to provide comprehensive information to help our clients, and anyone else seeking information,  to feel confident in making the decision that is right for them in regards to their permanent cosmetics. Our motto is "Education is Everything", but unfortunately, there is a lack of high quality information about permanent makeup available to the public. Beyond that, much of the information that is available contradicts between sources, and doesn't provide a comprehensive understanding of these differences. Some of the information available is biased by the source, and at it's worst, can be contaminated with myths or misunderstandings about permanent makeup. Our goal is to provide reliable information that can help to demystify the benefits, risks, and myths that surround permanent cosmetics. Because there are multiple application techniques for permanent makeup, we find it important to provide as much context as possible, especially in regards to differences between these techniques. Feel free to skim through our FAQs and blog posts as you please, and if you feel that something is missing, you are more than welcome to call or text us at (903)617-6862. We will happily answer any additional questions you have, and add them to our FAQs sheet. 

What exactly is permanent makeup?

• Permanent Makeup (PMU), also called Permanent Cosmetics or Cosmetic Tattooing, is a non-surgical procedure which is used to add pigment to the skin in order to enhance your appearance. There are many PMU services available, but by far the most common and least controversial are permanent eyebrows, eyeliner, and lips. These services tend to be the most achievable, longest lasting, and carry the least potential risk for complications later on, compared to more controversial services such as permanent eyeshadow, blush, or camouflage services. At Tyler Permanent Cosmetics, we believe safety and longevity are among  the most important factors for successful PMU application and long term client satisfaction. As such, we avoid controversial applications of permanent makeup, and offer only the applications that are tried and true, in order to provide the best long term outcomes for our clients. 

Is it the same as tattooing?

• By definition, all permanent cosmetics services are tattoos. In the State of Texas, all PMU technicians are legally required to work under a tattooing license, with the supervision of the Health Department, no matter what method they use to implant the pigment. With that being said, there are still many differences between traditional body tattooing and permanent makeup. Permanent makeup artists use highly specialized tools and techniques that have been specifically designed to be safe for use on the delicate tissues of the face. It is necessary for us to use highly specified training in tattooing techniques, makeup application, and color theory as it pertains to human pigmentation, which are unique to our industry. Traditional tattooing also requires highly specified training in order to work on the diverse tissues all over the body, as well as color theory and artistic applications which are unique to their industry. We often advise our clients that choosing a tattoo artist is sort of like choosing a doctor; you wouldn't go to a heart doctor for your brain, and you wouldn't go to a brain doctor for your heart. The respective scopes of practice are very different from one another, and they are not interchangeable. 

If PMU is a kind of tattoo, why do tattoos last so much longer than PMU?

• There are 2 primary causes for this: sun exposure, and color choices. All tattoos fade with time, body tattoos and cosmetic tattoos alike. The difference is that  most body tattoos are covered up by clothing and protected from the damaging rays of the sun. Your face, on the other hand, is exposed to the sun every day. Even just for the trip to the car and back, that sun exposure adds up over months and years, and ultimately that is what is responsible for the fading you experience as time passes. The other major difference is that the foundation of body tattooing is a black outline, which is going to fade very little and very slowly over time. Unfortunately, black is not always an option when it comes to permanent makeup. You'll find that permanent eyeliner fades more similarly to traditional tattooing because often times eyeliner is applied in black, but when it comes to more delicate services like brows, it simply isn't an option to use black. In order to create a natural look, we have to use softer colors that resemble the color of the client's hair, and colors that agree with their skin tone. These softer tones of brown and blonde are not as resistant to fading as a dense black pigment is.

Does it hurt?

• There is potential for discomfort during the application of permanent cosmetics, but we use  high quality topical anesthetics to keep our clients comfortable during the service. Most clients don't report pain at any time during the service, and those that do experience pain usually have short, brief discomfort, which we are able to manage quickly. As a general rule, we will have similar luck in numbing as your dentist does. Those who struggle to stay numb at the dentist may struggle during application of PMU, and those who have no issues at the dentist generally have no issues with permanent makeup. The good news is that PMU does not require injections, and we can apply topical numbing as needed to keep our clients comfortable. 

How do you ensure comfort during the service?

•  Our numbing procedures consist of two phases: the pre-numb, and the primary numb. The pre-numb is a topical anesthetic applied at the very beginning of the appointment. We let the topical pre-numb process while we go through the consultation portion of your appointment. Then, before we start applying permanent makeup, we apply the primary numbing. This primary anesthetic is used throughout the duration of your service, from start to finish. If a client reports pain at any time, we simply add more anesthetic and allow it to process before we continue working in that area. 

How long does it take to apply permanent makeup?

• The specific length of the appointment varies from person to person, but we generally allow 1.5-2 hours for eyebrow and eyeliner services, and 2-3 hours for lips. Occasionally, we require extra time in order to finish a service, but it is rare that the standard time allotment proves to be insufficient. In the event an appointment runs over its booked length, we will take our time and make sure that your service is completed to your satisfaction. We will never cut your service short or rush through in order to finish on time. We believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right, and we will happily take extra time to ensure that your makeup is applied just right.

How long does permanent makeup last?

• One thing to keep in mind is that both "Permanent" and "Semi Permanent" can both be misleading terms. On one hand, we call it Permanent Makeup because it doesn't wash off at night, and will generally last for years in between maintenance sessions.  On the other hand, "Semi Permanent" can also be misleading, because even though your permanent cosmetics will fade with time and require some maintenance, the pigments used will always remain in the skin. Even when the color has faded, the fading process is never complete. Your permanent cosmetics will (almost) never fade all the way away, rather they simply become less noticeable.  As a general rule of thumb eyebrows and lips will last 2-5 years before needing a color refresh, eyeliner will last 7-10 years between refreshes. The exact length of time is dependent upon several factors. The biggest factor is sun exposure. Cumulative UV build up over time is what bleaches the color out of your brows, and even if your only sun exposure is the time it takes to get to and from your car, it still adds up over time. You can reduce this effect by wearing sunscreen over your brows once they have healed. The next major factor is the tone of your skin and the color used on your brows. Darker colors will take longer to fade than darker colors, and darker skin types typically require the use of darker colors. Beyond that, darker skin types actually protect your permanent makeup from the sun, so those with more pigmented skin types will typically find that their Permanent Cosmetics last longer than those with less pigmented skin types. Please also keep in mind that these values represent our experience with our pigments and application techniques. Other technicians may provide different values for the lifespan of their services, so it's best not to apply one technicians lifespan estimate to another provider's service. 

How long is the healing process?

• Healing consists of two phases: superficial healing, when the outer layer of skin is repaired, and complete healing, which involves the deeper layers of skin. For eyebrows, superficial healing takes place within the first 7-14 days, and complete healing takes place within the first 4 weeks. For eyeliner, superficial healing takes place within the first 3-7 days, and 4 weeks for complete healing. For lips, you should allow 5-7 days for superficial healing, and 12 weeks for complete healing. 

Do I need to schedule down time for recovery?

• In most cases, no, but depending on your occupation, you may choose to take some time away from work or certain recreational activities. During the healing phase, you may experience dryness or itching around the area of application, but you should not experience pain, and your appearance won't keep you from working or socializing as usual. If your job consists of manual labor and sweating, or if you have a "dirty" job that would make it difficult to keep your skin clean, then you may choose to take some time for yourself to allow healing. While your skin is healing, you'll want to avoid water, sweating, excessive sun exposure, and physical irritation to the skin. Other than that, you're free to go about your daily life as usual. 

How will I look immediately after the appointment?

• This varies depending on the service. For lips, you can expect to be visibly swollen right after the procedure. This should go away over the first couple of days, but in the meantime the swelling will be noticeable. For eyeliner, you may appear slightly red or swollen around the eyes, but it is much subtler. Eyebrows generally don't encounter visible swelling at all.  Not everyone experiences swelling, but those that do will find that the swelling rarely persists into the second day post procedure.
•  During the first week, your color will appear darker and bolder than the finished outcome. This is a totally normal part of the healing process! Because we have broken the skin, it will ooze lymph, or white blood cells, during the first couple of days of healing. The lymph will naturally carry some of the pigment with it. This creates a little scab to protect the wound while it heals. Your scab wont appear red, like a scraped knee, but instead it will be the color of your makeup. Don't worry, though, these scabs flake off when the skin underneath has healed.  Since the scabbing is sits on top of your skin, it will appear darker than the healed version of your permanent makeup, which sits underneath a layer of skin. This gives permanent makeup a softer appearance than topical makeup, and it is also the reason your permanent makeup heals lighter than it looks the day it is applied. 

What if I want some adjustments after my permanent makeup heals?

• It is not overwhelmingly common for our clients to need a follow up, but about 20% of the time, clients will require some minor adjustments. We will provide you with a follow up window at the time of your initial service, and during that window of time, you can come in for a follow up visit and have adjustments if necessary. Sometimes you might feel that the makeup needs to be darker, especially if the makeup is exposed to water before it has finished the superficial healing phase. Other times, you might have a light spot that needs to be filled in, especially if you have dry skin, or if some of your flakes get pulled off too early in the healing process. Other times, you may feel that you want to add some thickness, or adjust shape. We will make any and all adjustments necessary at the time of your follow up. We also provide a detailed aftercare brochure to help you avoid an unnecessary follow up. One thing to keep in mind is that it is your body's job to rid itself of any foreign objects or substances, and it is our job to try and outsmart the body and encourage maximum pigment retention. Aftercare is the #1 most important factor in avoiding a follow up visit. It is our job to apply the permanent makeup, but when you leave,  it is up to you to follow the aftercare instructions in order to retain the pigment. We are available any time you need support during the healing, just in case you have further questions, or if you have a special circumstance or need additional guidance.

What if I want a different look later in life?

• Because Permanent Cosmetics are, well, permanent, we try to achieve a very natural look, and avoid any styles or trends which could later go out of style. This way, your look is never outdated, and we can always make minor adjustments along the way  to keep your makeup looking current. Because we take such a natural approach, we can almost always make adjustments to your makeup to keep you feeling like you. And, because permanent makeup is inside the skin, you are free to wear topical makeup as you please. Permanent makeup, as we say, is your "no makeup" makeup. It's what gives you a beautiful look on a lazy Saturday, or an afternoon at the pool. You can always add to it to give you your Friday Night look, or to enjoy any styles that are fashionable at the time. This is how you get the best of both worlds, and it's how we provide you with a beautiful "just rolled out of bed look" while still allowing you the freedom to wear your daily/evening makeup as you please.

Can permanent cosmetics be removed later in life?

• While it is possible to have a tattoo removed, it is a very long and arduous process. Removal is expensive, painful, and exhausting, and it can take a matter of months, and even after all of that, it is very rare to see 100% removal of a tattoo, you will almost always have some faint pigmentation left over when it is all said and done. We don't want you to ever have to worry about this, and so we are incredibly careful when applying permanent makeup. It is our belief that a modest, natural approach is the safest, because this ensures that you won't wind up with makeup that goes out of style, and the look will not be too dramatic as the years begin to pass. We prefer err to the side of lighter and more modest, because we can always add to it to adjust the shape or color, but once you have it, fading is a slow process. Just to be sure, we work together with our clients every step of the way to make sure we're on the same page. We test the colors and look at them together, and we map and pre draw everything before we do anything permanent. This way, we make any necessary adjustments before we start, so that there are no surprises at the end of the appointment. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is especially true when it comes to permanent makeup. If you have any specific concerns before your appointment, or if you already have permanent cosmetics that you're not happy with, we offer free consultations to discuss your concerns, and deliberate our plan of action before we start. In many cases, we can make corrections to existing PMU, instead of having to remove it. This is a process we embark on together, and we will discuss possible adjustments that can be made, pre draw the corrections, and consult with you before we commit to the process together. If you are in need of this service, please give us a call and we will do our best to find a solution for you.

If I have already had permanent makeup before, do I get a discount?

• If you have had permanent makeup applied by Tyler Permanent Cosmetics previously, then the fee for your color refresh is just $250. If you have had permanent makeup applied elsewhere, then the fee is regular price for any given service. It may seem like an easier job because you've already had it done before, but in reality, it is more complicated to touch up someone else's work than it is to start from scratch, and there are a few reasons for that. 
• Firstly, every technician's work is unique. Permanent makeup is as much art as it is science, and it is very difficult to match someone else's artistic style. This creates a very unique challenge for us, and requires extra time for us to pre-draw, match their work, and ensure that we are following their same artistic patterns in order to create a look that is cohesive. For hairstrokes, it is imperative to match the stroke pattern and put each tiny little hair exactly where the previous artist placed it, otherwise the strokes can heal patchy and require follow up work.
•  Secondly, each artist uses their own choice of pigment and application method, which changes the healed results in the skin. For example, if the previous artist used a manual handtool, there will likely be scar tissue that changes the ability of the skin to retain color. And, even though the pigments might be faded, they will remain in the skin permanently, and this, too, affects the ability of the skin to retain color. These things make healed results less easily predictable, and require careful consideration before we begin to make any changes or updates. 
•  Finally, and perhaps most considerable, we find that most people who are seeking a new artist usually have a reason for that, and often times, it is because they are not happy with the previous work. Making corrections is very technical, and requires extra time for consideration and application. Color correction, shape correction, and reapplication are all additional steps that make it more complicated to apply new cosmetics over the existing work. However, even though these services require more work, we do not upcharge for them. We understand that it can be devastating to have permanent cosmetics that you're not happy with, and so we cannot conscionably upcharge our clients in order to to rectify what has already been done.  

I have had permanent cosmetics before and I'm not happy with the result. What can you do for me?

• When it comes to corrections, every situation is different and needs to be assessed on a case by case basis. We include a consultation in every first time appointment, but if you would like a standalone consultation first, we offer these free of charge. During this consultation we will look at the work you have already had done, and discuss your goals. Then, we will work together to create a game plan for your permanent cosmetics. We will pre draw any necessary shape adjustments and look at colors together to determine what will suit your personal goals. We will make sure that our plan of action aligns with your goals and preferences before we begin making any changes.