Permanent lip makeup – choosing the colour and healing

Permanent lip makeup can enhance the natural contour, even out the colour visually and give a fresher look. It is not the same as an opaque lipstick, and the final shade depends on the natural colour of your lips and how they heal.

How the right shade is chosen

The colour you want is discussed in relation to the natural tone of your lips, your skin's undertone and your everyday style. A colour from a photo or a lipstick cannot be transferred one to one, because the pigment is seen through your own tissue.

Usually a shade is chosen that will look harmonious after healing, even without makeup. With a very uneven or cool natural tone, the work may need to be done in stages, and it is not always wise to aim for the final colour straight away.

• Show us your favourite lipsticks.
• Assess the colour in daylight.
• Do not choose a shade that is too dark based only on how it looks right after the treatment.

Contour, shape and realistic expectations

The design can improve visual symmetry and define a faded contour, but it should not go significantly beyond the natural lip tissue. The skin around the lips takes pigment differently, and over-enlarging with colour can look unnatural.

Permanent makeup does not create physical volume. It can give a neater and fresher look, but it does not replace medical volume treatments.

• The shape is sketched in advance.
• Small asymmetries can be balanced visually.
• Going significantly beyond the natural contour is not good practice.

Stages of healing

In the first days the lips look brighter and may be swollen. Dryness and flaking follow, and the colour may temporarily become very light. Gradually the shade returns and softens.

Do not pick the flakes and do not use harsh exfoliants. Eating, drinks and hygiene should follow the instructions you were given to reduce irritation.

• Keep the area clean as instructed.
• In the early period, avoid very hot, spicy and very acidic foods if they irritate the area.
• Do not share lip products.
• Protect from the sun after full recovery.

Touch-up and maintenance

Lips can hold pigment unevenly because of their natural structure and movement. After full healing we assess whether anything needs to be added or whether the colour is even enough.

Over time the shade fades. Maintenance is planned according to how the lips actually look, not by layering too often.

• The touch-up is done only on a fully healed area.
• The final colour is softer than the initial one.
• Sun and your individual metabolism affect how long it lasts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose the exact colour of my lipstick?

It can be used as a guide, but the healed result depends on the natural tone of your lips and cannot be absolutely identical to makeup.

Do the lips look bigger?

A clearer contour can visually enhance them, but the treatment does not create real volume.

When can the final shade be seen?

After full recovery and once the colour has settled – not in the first days.

The most accurate recommendation is made after an individual consultation and an assessment of your skin, natural hairs, shape and desired result.

See the right treatment or book a consultation.

This article was prepared by Tsvety Bita and is for information only.