Habiba MedNot happy with your lip tattoo: color too bright, an outline that goes past your lip line, an old lip liner that has turned too dark? First of all, make sure it's fully healed. After that, there are solutions. Here's how to tell if it's really a case of lip blush gone wrong, and what to do depending on your situation.
Key takeaways
- Don't judge before 1.5 to 2 months: the color changes a lot during healing.
- If a touch-up can fix it: touch it up. If not: laser.
- An old blue, gray or too-dark lip liner: laser, with a medical professional.
- A correction with white pigment: say no.
The two causes of lip blush gone wrong
A bad result is one you may come to regret over time, or right after healing, because it didn't respect what you mainly asked for. There are two main causes:
1. An unreasonable shape
Going past the natural lip line to gain volume. A tattoo changes color and shape, never volume.
2. A color that ages badly
A color that has gone dull or shifted. That's on the professional, not the client.
1. An unreasonable shape
Wanting to go past the natural lip line to gain volume, to get even wider lips. A lip tattoo affects the color and shape of your lips, never the volume (see lip blush vs lip filler).
2. A color that ages badly
After the drawing comes the color. A color that has aged badly, gone dull or shifted: here, the client can't be held responsible. She's not the one who has mastered color theory and chooses the pigments. The professional is.
Lip blush gone wrong, or still healing?
Right after the session, the color is brighter: that's normal. Around day 5, it seems to disappear: that's normal too. You see the final result after 1.5 to 2 months. Don't judge before then (see the lip blush healing process).
The most common fails
Correcting it: it depends on the starting result
- Correction is possible, but it depends on the original result.
- If a touch-up can fix it: we do a touch-up.
- If a touch-up isn't possible: you'll need laser sessions (tattoo removal).
Old lip liner turned blue, gray or too dark
No touch-up is possible: laser is the only way. Good news: laser removes these colors very well.
White pigment: always say no
Some artists offer to “hide” a lip liner with white pigment. Say no: white ages badly, and it doesn't come off with laser.
Laser lip tattoo removal
- Habiba strongly recommends having it done at a laser center, by a medical professional (doctor, nurse): the machines are certified.
- The number of sessions varies enormously: the more saturated with pigment your lips are, the more sessions you need.
- Laser only hurts without numbing. These professionals can prescribe a numbing cream to pick up at the pharmacy, and then it doesn't hurt.
- For the risks (scars, etc.): ask the tattoo removal center.
Colors laser doesn't pick up well
Some lighter or warmer colors, like orange, aren't picked up well by laser. In that case, a manual technique can be used.
Can the color shift?
When the artist manages colors well, there's no unwanted color shift. Shifts often come from poor color choices.
How to avoid a lip tattoo gone wrong
1!Be reasonable, as a client and as a professional
We have to stop believing in magic: thinking you can completely change nature with tattooing, with ink, just isn't possible. Any extreme change to the face is the job of cosmetic surgeons. A tattoo artist has no power over that, no matter where in the world she works. Tattooing enhances, it doesn't change. That's the first rule.
- Choose a specialized artist, who does almost nothing but permanent makeup, or very few other services (see lip blush cost and how to choose an artist). Low prices from beginners are a good thing: not everyone can afford a lip tattoo. If your budget is tight, don't hesitate to go to them, as long as you choose a natural shape and a natural color, nothing extravagant. Then there's no reason to be disappointed.
- Take care of your healing. The aftercare rules aren't there to annoy you: we all dream of having none, but they really are useful. Sun protection is essential. Follow your artist's instructions.
- Cold sores: don't take any chances. If you've ever had herpes or fever blisters, even once in your life, take an antiviral treatment. It would be a shame to damage the work or be in pain.
- Don't touch the result, and be patient. Wait for the final result, 1.5 to 2 months. And don't forget that touch-ups exist.
Frequently asked questions
Often, yes: with a touch-up if possible, otherwise with laser.
Yes, if a touch-up is possible.
It depends on the color: laser for dark, blue or gray colors; a manual technique for the ones laser doesn't pick up well.
Not an old blue or gray lip liner: you need laser first.
Yes, if it has turned blue, gray or too dark.
It varies enormously: the more pigment in the lips, the more sessions you need.
Yes, very well on dark, blue or gray colors. Have it done by a medical professional.
Only without numbing. At a laser center, the doctor can prescribe a numbing cream.
No, say no to that: white ages badly and doesn't come off with laser.
That's a question to ask the tattoo removal center, which knows the risks of its method.
Written by
Habiba Med
Permanent makeup artist since 2019 and trainer, I share what I see every day in my studio to help you make the right choices.
