Permanent Makeup Pros and Cons

What is Permanent Makeup?

Permanent makeup is a broad term that is used to describe a variety of cosmetic procedures which implant pigment into the upper layers of the skin to create a refreshed, vibrant, natural and youthful look. Many women apply temporary cosmetics daily to achieve the same look that permanent cosmetics can provide effortlessly and which last for years. A variety of procedures fall into this category including brow services like microblading, lip blushing, scalp micropigmentation, and more.

Whether your goal is to enhance or restore, create balance and symmetry or even skin tone, permanent cosmetic procedures are here to stay and can increase confidence, simplify beauty routines, and emphasize and beautify your best features. The techniques used to create, for example, a stronger, bolder, and more even brow, a balanced lip shape with more saturated color, or a thicker, more even hair line, use a combination of hand tools and machine tools to apply specialized pigments which mimic or deepen your natural coloring. These techniques are similar to tattooing but are specialized for the face and head to create specific soft, natural, believable results which are ideally undetectable as anything but your own beauty.

Who should Consider Permanent Makeup?

If you’re one of the many people in Nashville weighing permanent makeup pros and cons you may be considering enhancing your natural look. Who wouldn’t want to be more attractive, more youthful, and snag a more vibrant look without spending extra time in front of a mirror?

You might also be weighing the benefits of permanent makeup if you suffer a condition that makes putting on makeup very difficult or causes hand tremors like Parkinson’s, arthritis, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Other issues like long covid, watering eyes, and cataracts can also complicate beauty routines and give you less than desirable results if you are struggling to see or keep your makeup in place every day. Permanent makeup solutions like microblading, lip blushing, and a variety of related medical aesthetic services that we offer can provide an ideal solution.

The Good

When you pick the right permanent makeup artist, the effects of cosmetics are subtle. You still look like you, but a better, more vibrant version of you when waking up everyday. Permanent cosmetics can refresh your look while reducing stress in your life.

It’s convenient. Permanent makeup saves a lot of time in your daily routine. The average woman spends almost an hour a day in a beauty routine to prepare for her day. Those who use makeup to camouflage skin issues spend even more time. What could they be doing instead? Imagine allocating more hours to your productivity, your family, reading, not rushing to work or simply relaxing without having to worry about how you look. The uses of a little (or a lot!) of extra time are as endless as your imagination. PMU procedures are perfect for busy parents, professionals, athletes, and older people – anyone tired of spending time in front of a mirror.
No more smudges. You won’t have to worry about leaving smudges and ruining your look for the day. No more accidentally wiping off makeup… fewer mirror checks! No more reapplication of lipstick or powder multiple times through the day. No more random flecks or lines or smudges after you touch your face. Most women don’t even realize how much energy they’re spending throughout any given day cleaning up and maintaining a certain look with temporary makeup. We consistently hear how much freer permanent makeup makes our clients feel.
It enhances your natural beauty. Permanent makeup is available in a variety of colors, densities, and styles, so you and your artists will customize a treatment plan for your look that matches your vision. If you’ve been creating a look for years with temporary daily makeup routines, permanent makeup can mimic or enhance the look you want without daily upkeep and maintenance. Many clients will bring pictures of themselves with their makeup done. They also may just come in with their makeup fully applied to show their artist their real life preferences. Then the artist consults with the client to show how permanent makeup procedures can make it easier to wear that look effortlessly, day and night.
It saves money. Money spent on cosmetics can multiply over time. According to a recent study, the average woman spends about $313 per month on her appearance. This adds up to $3,756 per year or more than $225,360 over the course of a lifetime! By contrast, on average, men spend a little less than $244 annually or $17,568 throughout their lifetime. When you look at the lifetime costs of women’s beauty routines, you could have paid for 4 years of college tuition at an Ivy League school like Harvard or Yale. Staggering numbers like this can put the one-off higher investment in permanent makeup procedures into perspective because these investments last.
It can alleviate allergic reactions. Cosmetics come with a variety of chemicals and materials used and without extensive and time-consuming research, you don’t really know what’s in them at first glance. Allergic reactions to makeup is a very common occurrence. You don’t have to worry about that with permanent makeup.
It increases confidence. What else could happen when you look good? People tend to take notice and you can enjoy your increased confidence level. No more hiding imperfections on your face. Cosmetic procedures like permanent microblading and lip blushing can increase self-confidence, particularly for those who wish to hide scars or create eyebrows where theirs have deteriorated due to age or health conditions. Pale lips can be refreshed and rejuvenated to look Permanent makeup in these situations lean more towards the pros than the cons.

The Bad

Amongst the many things to consider when researching permanent makeup services, you may want to consider the more challenging aspects of undergoing these procedures. Properly performed permanent makeup procedures are considered very safe, but as with any medical procedure, they are not completely without risk because they involve light trauma in order to implant pigments into the skin with a blade or a needle. It’s important to be aware of and weigh these risks to make an informed decision about your health and welfare prior to your procedure. We do our best to outline the most common questions about these potential challenges here:

It’s permanent. If you’re a person who likes to frequently change their look, then microblading, lip blushing, and other permanent cosmetic procedures may not be for you. You should have a history of wearing this look with temporary makeup and be absolutely certain that you love it since permanent makeup stays with you. But don’t let that scare you. You should simply take some time to carefully consider your lifestyle and preferences when making this decision.
It can pose some safety concerns. Although the likelihood of an adverse reaction is small, like all tattoos, permanent makeup there is a chance of unexpected allergies and reactions when pigment is applied. We here at Van Cleave Aesthetics use the highest quality tools, pigments, and materials, and we utilize proper sterilization methods and maintain up-to-date health certifications to lessen that risk.
It can be painful. Since we are talking about tattoos, permanent makeup is somewhat similar, though working areas are generally smaller and unlike with body tattoos, we use anesthetics both before and during all procedures to provide a comfortable patient experience. Some people say they feel pressure only during our services!
It can be expensive. Although permanent cosmetics are obviously not as cheap as your typical drugstore makeup, the cost of permanent cosmetics can be comparable and can save money in the long run. If you are a designer makeup consumer, you won’t believe how much money you will save. Add up all your spending and see for yourself! Your investment in yourself with permanent cosmetics is a great investment.
It can fade. Although it’s called permanent makeup, it really isn’t permanent. Like most tattoos, you would need a repeat procedure to darken the lines years from now. Like all tattoos, it can fade more or less quickly depending on your care, your lifestyle, your skin type, and your activity levels.
Sanitation. As with any medical procedure that breaks the skin barrier or interacts with blood, infection is a risk, however in facilities where procedures that are carried out according to proper sanitation and hygiene protocols, this risk is minimal. In any clinic, aesthetic studio, medical office, or medspa you are considering, you should be able to ask about safety procedures, observe sanitation practices, and see one-time use needles for your procedure being opened in front of you. At Van Cleave Aesthetics, we exceed industry standards for proper safety protocols which includes never reusing blood-contact materials from one patient to the next.

Having realistic expectations is a huge determinant in your satisfaction level with your permanent cosmetics. We will make you aware of what to expect during, immediately after, and in the days or weeks post-procedure. For instance, colors and shapes can change during the healing process. There will be times when your skin is healing that it may look as though your body has wholly or partially swallowed your pigments! This can be scary to some clients if they are not aware of the healing cycle in advance. Likewise, the pigment can appear darker or off color initially but will soften, lighten, and color correct later on. Every healing period varies from person to person. If you ever have questions about what is happening, we have information that can put your mind at ease! Please reach out and ask all the questions you have about your procedure and healing process.

The Verdict

Contacting an aesthetic studio in Nashville, Tennessee, is an important step in making the decision to undergo a permanent makeup procedure. You want to observe the communications of the staff and patients and ask about the cleanliness procedures of the facility. If possible, you should ask to meet virtually or in person with the aesthetic artist who will be performing the procedure.
Be sure to ask about aftercare procedures. Good aesthetic studios and medspas usually cater to every concern of their patients. If you feel confident that your concerns were taken seriously, satisfied with the answers you’ve received, and comfortable with your rapport with the aesthetician, you have found the right place for your procedure.

When you are ready to explore we offer a free consultation service. Click the link to book a call with us. We are happy to discuss your eligibility for your next service and the scope of procedures we offer to help you meet your beauty goals.

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