Question 1

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR PERMANENT MAKEUP PROCEDURES

Accepted Answer

- YOU CANNOT BE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING.
- YOU MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 18.

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, PERMANENT MAKEUP TREATMENTS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED:

- HEMOPHILIA (BLEEDING DISORDER)
- EPILEPSY (CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR)
- VIRAL INFECTIONS/DISEASES
- DIABETES (CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR)
- ACTIVELY UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY (CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR)
- HAVE A PACEMAKER/MAJOR HEART CONDITION
- PRONE TO KELOIDS
- ACTIVE PSORIASIS/ECZEMA ON/AROUND TREATMENT AREA
- ACCUTANE (MUST WAIT 6 MONTHS)
- ACTIVELY SICK (COLD/FLU)

Question 2

PRE-CARE FOR BROWS

Accepted Answer

AVOID USING RETINOL, HARSH ACIDS, AND EYEBROW GROWTH SERUMS FOR THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT

AVOID CHEMICAL PEELS AND LASER TREATMENTS ONE MONTH BEFORE AND FOLLOWING YOUR BROW SESSION

AVOID BROW LAMINATION AND TINTING FOR ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT

NO BOTOX ON OR AROUND THE BROW AREA FOR FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT

NO ANTIBIOTICS/ANTIVIRAL/STEROIDS FOR TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT

NO BLOOD THINNERS 24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
(INCLUDING IBUPROFEN, ASPIRIN, VITAMIN E, FISH OIL)

NO ALCOHOL FOR 24 HOURS LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT

LIMIT CAFFEINE INTAKE FOR 24 HOURS LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT

Question 3

AFTER-CARE FOR BROWS

Accepted Answer

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BROWS! PLEASE REVIEW AND FOLLOW THE BELOW INSTRUCTIONS TO ENSURE BEST HEALED RESULTS.

Note: Immediately after leaving the studio, your brows may feel tender and appear darker than anticipated. Slight sensation of stinging, swelling, and itchiness is normal and will subside in the next few hours. Please ensure your hands, glasses, hair, pillow case, and anything that may possibly touch the freshly tattooed area is clean/free of bacteria.

BROW AFTERCARE STEPS:

DAY OF PROCEDURE:
In one hour after leaving the studio, gently wipe the brows with the antiseptic wipe and apply a thin layer of ointment. Before going to bed, complete the aftercare regimen steps as outlined below. This will help prevent lymph buildup and potential scabbing.

THE NEXT 2-14 DAYS:
1) Use lukewarm/cool water to dampen brows.
2) Shake provided soap and use 1-2 pumps to lightly cleanse the brows.
3) Rinse and pat brows dry with a clean paper towel. If necessary, air them out to ensure they are completely dry.
4) Apply a sheer layer of provided ointment. Do not over apply as this will suffocate the skin and delay healing. Never apply ointment on damp brows.
5) Repeat steps 1-4 daily, morning & night. Discontinue the regimen once the skin is fully healed (takes approx. 1.5 to 2 weeks).

WHAT TO EXPECT:

- Brows may initially appear slightly bolder/darker/slightly swollen and irritated.
- Flakiness of the brow skin is completely normal and you may notice it around day 4. Flakes will appear thin/transparent and will hold some pigment. During this stage, the brows may appear patchy.
- The flaky stage should subside around 7-10 days. Post flaking, the brows will appear 15-30% softer (sometimes more) than when they were freshly tattooed.
- It is crucial to let the skin fully heal and let any dry skin fall off naturally. Never pick at your brows as this can lead to scarring and pigment loss.
- Full healing takes around 4-6 weeks. As your skin heals, the pigment can initially appear more faded, but in the next few weeks, the color is expected to resurface and "bloom"/darken slightly.
- Imperfect healing is absolutely normal and expected. Any areas that may have retained less pigment will be addressed in the next session. If you haven't already, please reach out to book your initial touch-up appointment!

THINGS TO AVOID:

- Do not itch/pick at your brows while they are actively healing.
- Avoid facials/botox/laser and related treatments for 4 weeks.
- Avoid heavy sweating and strenuous activity for 1 week.
- Avoid direct sun exposure & tanning while they are healing. If needed, wear a hat/sunglasses as you cannot apply spf while the brows are actively healing.
- Avoid long/hot showers while the brows are actively healing; try to limit showers as too much exposure to steam can affect healing.
- Avoid swimming pools/oceans/water activity for 2 weeks.
- Do not apply topical makeup (including sunscreen) on or around the tattoo area during the active healing phase.
- Do not leave the brow tattoo damp. Whenever they get wet from cleansing/shower, immediately and thoroughly dry the area.

LONG-TERM CARE GUIDE:

- One of the best things you can do to maintain your brows is to protect the brows with sunscreen on a daily basis (once they are fully healed). Consistent SPF use will aid in color protection and retention.
- Do your best to avoid active skincare ingredients from coming in contact with your brows. Regular exposure can negatively impact the color and retention.
- Always let your esthetician/laser tech know of any permanent makeup procedures you've gotten done. Services such as microneedling, chemical peels, laser treatments can lead to premature fading.

Question 4

PRE-CARE FOR LIPS

Accepted Answer

NO BOTOX/FILLERS/INJECTIONS IN OR AROUND LIPS FOR 4 WEEKS PRIOR TO & AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT

LIGHTLY EXFOLIATE YOUR LIPS EVERY NIGHT FOR 1 WEEK
(AFTER SHOWERING OR WASHING YOUR FACE, YOU CAN USE USE A HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB AND/OR A DAMP WASHCLOTH TO SLOUGH OFF DEAD SKIN CELLS. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN SCRUB BY COMBINING EQUAL PARTS OF SUGAR + HONEY + OLIVE/COCONUT OIL)

KEEP LIPS MOISTURIZED WITH HEALING BALM/LIP MASK FOR 1 WEEK

NO ALCOHOL AND BLOOD THINNERS FOR 48 HOURS PRIOR
(THIS INCLUDES VITAMIN E, FISH OIL, IBUPROFEN, ASPIRIN)

LIMIT CAFFEINE INTAKE FOR 24 HOURS LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT
 
STAY HYDRATED AND DRINK LOTS OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, LEADING UP TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF COLD SORES, WE ADVISE YOU TO OBTAIN A ANTIVIRAL MEDICATION FROM YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER. PERMANENT MAKEUP PROCEDURES DO NOT CAUSE COLD SORES/THE COLD SORE VIRUS; HOWEVER, IF YOU CARRY THE VIRUS, IT REMAINS DORMANT IN YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM AND CAN BE TRIGGERED BY THE TREATMENT PROCESS. IF NOT PREVENTED, AN OUTBREAK MAY OCCUR DURING THE HEALING PHASE. IF YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY GOTTEN A COLD SORE, NO MATTER HOW LONG AGO THAT WAS, PLEASE TAKE THE PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO ENSURE OPTIMAL HEALING. FOR ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS, WE SUGGEST THE "SANDWICH METHOD"; BEGIN THE MEDICATION 3-4 DAYS LEADING UP TO THE APPOINTMENT AND CONTINUE TO TAKE FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER THE PROCEDURE.

Question 5

AFTER-CARE FOR LIPS

Accepted Answer

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEWLY BLUSHED LIPS! PLEASE REVIEW AND FOLLOW THE BELOW INSTRUCTIONS TO ENSURE BEST HEALED RESULTS.

Note: Following your procedure, your lips will feel a bit sore and the color will look a bit intense. There may be some swelling and minor bruising (will subside within 1-2 days). Please ensure your hands and anything that may possibly touch the freshly tattooed area is clean/free of bacteria.

LIP AFTERCARE STEPS:

DAY OF PROCEDURE:
After 1 hour following the treatment, wipe the lips with the provided antiseptic wipe and apply a thin layer of A&D ointment to keep the area clean, lymph-free and moisturized. Repeat this step every few hours and after eating. It's vital that you do not let any lymph fluid sit on the skin as this will form scabs over your tattoo. Clean and moisturize often on Day 1.
Before going to bed, wash the area with the provided antibacterial soap, pat dry thoroughly and apply ointment.

If your lips feel tender and swollen, you can place an ice pack/bag of peas/etc. over the area for as long as desired. Make sure to wrap the item in a clean plastic wrap, paper towel or ziploc bag prior to use.

THE NEXT 2-7 DAYS:
1) Cleanse with antibacterial soap and apply a thin layer of A&D ointment every morning and night.
2) Throughout the day, continue to apply the ointment as needed to keep the lips moisturized.
3) After each meal, gently rinse and clean your lips with water. Dry with a clean paper towel and reapply the ointment.

Around day 3, you may start to notice flaking on your lips. Please do not pick, scratch or bite off the dry patches- let the skin heal and exfoliate naturally. Picking the flakes off prematurely can cause scarring, loss of pigment, and may lead to an infection.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

- Lips will appear bolder and brighter in color for the first few days; swelling and soreness will vary for each client.
- The lip skin will begin to feel drier and start to flake off around days 3-4 (should subside around days 6-7).
- Once the flaking phase (aka, external healing) is completed, the lips may appear light and potentially uneven in color.
Note: Your skin is still internally healing at this stage and the color will "bloom" during the healing weeks ahead.
- Lip Blush healing can take up to 8-10 weeks.
- Lip Neutralization healing can take up to 10-12 weeks.

For Lip Neutralization, clients with naturally high melanin may experience a temporary darkening of the lips during the healing process. This is a normal, temporary response to trauma caused from the tattoo session. Starting around weeks 6-7, the neutralization work will begin to surface. The color will continue to settle and "bloom" in the coming weeks.

THINGS TO AVOID:

- Avoid picking the lips.
- Avoid applying a thick layer of ointment as this will suffocate the skin and delay healing.
- Avoid overly spicy/oily/salty foods for the first 2 days.
- Only drink with a straw until the flaky phase is complete.
- Avoid taking big bites while eating until the flaky phase is complete.
- Avoid excessive sweating/steam/swimming/hot tubs.
- Avoid leaving the lip tattoo damp after cleansing/showering/drinking.
- Avoid kissing and smoking.
- Avoid lip makeup products until fully healed (provided ointment only).
- Avoid excessive sun exposure/tanning for 1 week.
- Avoid facials, chemical peels, waxing & lip injections for 1 week.
- Avoid applying harsh skincare ingredients on/around the lips for 2 weeks.

LONG-TERM CARE GUIDE:

- One of the best things you can do to maintain your lip tattoo is to protect it with sunscreen on a daily basis (once they are fully healed). Consistent SPF use will aid in color protection and retention.
- Do your best to avoid active skincare ingredients from coming in contact with your lips. Regular exposure can negatively impact the color and retention.
- Always let your esthetician/laser tech know of any permanent makeup procedures you've gotten done. Services such as microneedling, chemical peels, laser treatments can lead to premature fading.

THE BROWRISTA

PREP + CARE GUIDE