Permanent Makeup Precare

The condition of your skin on the day of your appointment has a big effect on how the color takes and on how comfortable the session feels for you. Please read the guide below and follow the parts that apply to you. If anything is unclear, reach out to NP Brows and we will be happy to help.

Things to Remember

In the days before your appointment:

• No caffeine or alcohol before your appointment

• No makeup when you arrive

• Avoid sun and tanning for 2 weeks before if you can

• No peels or any treatment that leaves the skin flaky, red or sensitive for 30 days before

• Tell NP Brows right away if you are pregnant, nursing, diabetic, or taking any medication

General Pre-Care

1. No caffeine, alcohol or certain medications before your appointment

• Caffeine is a stimulant that can reduce the effect of the numbing cream. Alcohol thins the blood, which leads to more bleeding and poorer color.

• Avoid blood-thinning pain relievers such as Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Midol, as well as Fish Oil and Vitamin E. These make it harder for blood to clot, and when you bleed more during the session the pigment gets pushed out and does not hold well. Plain paracetamol (Panadol/Tylenol) does not thin the blood and is usually fine if you need pain relief.

• Please consult your doctor before stopping any prescribed medication.

2. No makeup when you arrive

• You will be asked to remove your makeup and cleanse your face before we begin. During the treatment Ms. Nhung moves around your face a lot, so a clean face keeps things safe and helps prevent skin infection. It also lets Ms. Nhung see your true skin tone and choose the most suitable color for you.

3. Avoid sun and tanning for 2 weeks before if you can

• Sunburned or tanned skin means the skin is damaged. Working on damaged skin is more uncomfortable, and the color does not hold as well.

• If you cannot avoid the sun, try to wear a hat and sunscreen to protect your skin. It also helps to moisturize a little more so your skin stays healthy and ready for the treatment.

4. No peels or treatments that leave the skin flaky, red or sensitive for 30 days before

• After a peel or laser, the skin is very thin and sensitive and may be red, tight or swollen. Cosmetic tattooing during this time is not recommended, as the skin reacts more easily and does not hold color well.

• Stop using Retinol / Vitamin A and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) beforehand. These increase blood flow and skin sensitivity, which leads to more bleeding.

Retinol and AHAs are common in anti-aging serums, exfoliating toners and brightening creams. If you are not sure whether a product contains them, bring a photo of the label and we can check together.

5. Things to be aware of

You may not be a suitable candidate for cosmetic tattooing if any of the following apply to you:

• Pregnant or nursing. You can have the treatment once you have finished breastfeeding.

• Diabetes. Please get your doctor's approval before booking.

Please also let us know if you are prone to keloid scarring, are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, have a skin issue in the area to be treated, or take any medication that affects healing or blood clotting. These do not necessarily rule you out, but they help us advise you properly and keep you safe.

6. Medical and cosmetic procedures

• If you are considering or are in the middle of a facelift or eyelid surgery, have those done before your cosmetic tattooing. Doing them afterwards can change the shape of your brows, lips or eyeliner.

• During the treatment Ms. Nhung needs to rest her hands on your face and stretch the skin to place the pigment, so you should be fully healed from any previous procedure first. For some procedures such as a brow lift, the skin needs about 6 months to regain its elasticity before you can have cosmetic tattooing.

• Simply put, you should not have cosmetic tattooing while you are still recovering from another procedure. Skin that has healed and settled gives the most beautiful, even result.

Guidelines by Service

These are detailed notes for each service. Follow the General Pre-Care above, and add the notes for the service you are booking.

Brows

• Let your brow hair grow in as much as possible. Avoid trimming, waxing, threading, perming and tinting your brows for at least 1 week before your appointment.

• If the brow area has breakouts, a rash or a lot of irritation, let NP Brows know right away. You may need to reschedule until the skin settles, to ensure the best result.

• If you have a shape or color you love, bring photos to show Ms. Nhung.

Lips

• If you have ever had cold sores, contact your doctor for an antiviral prescription and take it for at least 3 days before and after your appointment to prevent an outbreak.

• Cold sores come from the very common Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1). Lip tattooing can trigger an outbreak even if you have never had one, so come prepared with antiviral medication.

• Gently exfoliate and moisturize your lips every day for 5 to 7 days before your appointment. A non-petroleum lip balm is a good choice for moisturizing.

Note: Soft, well-hydrated lips hold color far more evenly than dry, flaky lips. Just a few minutes of care each day in the week before makes a clear difference to the result once the lips have peeled.

• If you are considering lip filler, have your lips tattooed first and your filler done afterwards.

• If you have a color you love, bring reference photos or a lipstick you like.

Eyeliner

• Do not wear contact lenses before, during or right after your eyeliner treatment. Bring your glasses if you need them. After 3 to 5 days you can wear contact lenses again.

• You will need to remove lash extensions before the treatment begins. If you currently have extensions, let NP Brows know and the studio will remove them before applying the numbing cream.