Habiba MedAre your lips dull, dark or two-toned, and would you like a healthy glow without looking made up? A lip tattoo for men is more and more in demand, for a natural, discreet result. Here's why, and how it works.
Key takeaways
- Demand from men is growing fast, especially to neutralize dull lips.
- The goal: a healthy glow, with no made-up look.
- Beards and mustaches aren't a problem, and neither is shaving.
- Right after the session, your lips are very pigmented: plan for 3 to 5 quiet days.
- The result lasts 3 to 4 years on average.
Why men get their lips tattooed
Demand from men has gone up a lot. Many want to neutralize dull lips, for a “fresh” look, a healthy glow, without anything that looks overdone. Habiba is happy to see men taking care of their lips.
Demand is very strong in countries with very mixed populations, like Brazil, and it's reaching Europe too.
Why lips get darker: two causes
1. Melanin
The skin's natural pigment. The more your skin produces, the darker or more two-toned your lips can be.
2. Lifestyle
Especially smoking: over the years, and with heavy smoking, it darkens the lips.
Over the years, or with heavy smoking, many men feel the need to get back lighter lips. They realize that dark lips can make the face look harsh. They want more neutral lips again, and it really, really suits them.
Two different requests
Neutralize the most common
- Lighten dark lips
- Even out two tones
- A result nobody notices
Add color for men who wear makeup
- A subtle pinkish effect
- Or slightly red
- Lips that look alive
Neutralization lightens and evens out dark or dull lips: all the details in our guide to lip neutralization for dark lips.
The second photo shows a woman's lips, but this result with a pink and peach base looks extremely good on men: it's a color Habiba recommends.
The session
- The same steps as for a woman: consultation, drawing, choosing the color, an appointment of about 3 hours.
- It doesn't hurt: a scratching feeling, then warmth.
- Beards and mustaches aren't a problem at all. The only thing that can get in the way during the session is a piercing.
- A lip tattoo doesn't affect shaving in any way.
An important tip for men considering lip neutralization
You need to be aware of this: right after the session, your lips will be very pigmented, as if you were wearing makeup. The color then softens as it heals, but for the first few days, it shows.
If you're not used to wearing makeup, plan ahead for the 3 to 5 days after your appointment: schedule days off or vacation, especially if you're not comfortable being seen like that at work. Another option: if you're allowed to wear a mask all day at work, problem solved. A woman, or a man who regularly wears makeup, will be much less bothered.
Artists are used to it
PMU artists already know about this, and they often give you a mask to wear when you leave right after the appointment. Don't worry about swelling either: about 70% goes down 2 hours after the session, the rest over the course of the day. It's very quick.
Aftercare instructions: a quick reminder
For aftercare and healing, it's exactly the same as for everyone else:
- 💧 Moisturize with Vaseline from a jar, in a thin layer all day long. Never use a stick to moisturize.
- 🚿 Don't get your lips wet for 5 days, except when brushing your teeth. Drink through a straw.
- 🏋️ No sports, swimming pool, sauna or steam room for 10 days.
- ☀️ No sun for 1 month, then protect your lips with an SPF 50 stick (it protects from the sun, it doesn't moisturize).
All the details in our lip blush aftercare guide.
How long does a men's lip tattoo last?
3 to 4 years on average. Smoking doesn't fade the color, but it darkens the lips over the years.
Precautions
- Cold sores (herpes): never during an outbreak, and a preventive treatment discussed with your doctor if you get them often.
- Keloids on the face: not recommended.
- Ongoing medical treatment: ask for medical advice.
Keloid image source: drjonathanhaddad.com
Frequently asked questions
Yes, and demand is growing fast.
No, when the goal is neutralization: the aim is a healthy glow, with no made-up look.
Yes, that's lip neutralization.
The color mainly depends on your starting lips and the result you want: subtle for most men, more colorful for those who wear makeup.
Yes, a lip tattoo doesn't affect shaving in any way.
Yes, for the first few days your lips are very pigmented, as if you were wearing makeup. Plan 3 to 5 days off, or a mask if you can wear one at work.
Two causes: the skin's natural melanin, and lifestyle, especially smoking.
3 to 4 years on average.
It doesn't fade the color, but it darkens the lips over the years.
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.
