Permanent Makeup

Permanent Makeup Before and After: An Honest Review, Pros and Cons

Habiba Med, permanent makeup trainerHabiba MedPublished on 7 min read

Not sure whether to take the plunge? Here are real permanent makeup before and after results: right after the session, healed, and years later. Brows, lips and freckles, on blondes, brunettes, fair and dark skin, young and mature lips: proof that it's made for everyone.

Key takeaways

  • Well-done permanent makeup gives a natural result that looks like you.
  • You see the real result once it's healed: the color always softens.
  • It fades gently over time, and a touch-up brings it back to life.
  • Blondes, brunettes, fair or dark skin, women and men, at any age: it's made for everyone.

The verdict in a nutshell

It's right for you if

  • You put makeup on the same area every day
  • An area makes you self-conscious: sparse brows, pale lips…
  • You want a natural look as soon as you wake up
  • You want to save time every morning

What you get out of it

  • A polished face, even without makeup
  • A result that holds up to water and workouts
  • Years of peace of mind
  • More self-confidence
Dark blonde client right after powder brows
Right afterDark blonde client right after powder brows
Natural lip blush right after the session
Right afterNatural lip blush right after the session
A size S freckle tattoo, right after being done by hand
Right afterA size S freckle tattoo, right after being done by hand
Beautiful results right after tattooing: brows, lips, and freckles on the cheeks.

What it does for you, area by area

AreaWhat it does for you
BrowsA structured face when you wake up, brows that hold up to water and workouts, a shape that follows your face
LipsColor, a crisp outline, and the impression of fuller lips thanks to the contrast
FrecklesA healthy glow, like a light touch of sun, all year round

Right after, then healed

Right after the session, the result is always darker. During healing, the color softens and becomes natural: that's the real result, 1 to 2 months later (see the PMU healing process).

Brown-haired client right after powder brows
Right afterBrown-haired client right after powder brows
Brown-haired client, healed powder brows 18 months later
HealedBrown-haired client, healed powder brows 18 months later
The same lips right after the session
Right afterThe same lips right after the session
The same lips, healed ombré lips
HealedThe same lips, healed ombré lips
Right after, then healed: brows, then lips. The color always softens.

Eyebrow tattoo before and after: blondes, brown-haired women and brunettes

Blonde client, natural brows before powder brows
BeforeBlonde client, natural brows before powder brows
Blonde client right after powder brows
Right afterBlonde client right after powder brows
Blonde client, healed powder brows 18 months later
HealedBlonde client, healed powder brows 18 months later
Brown-haired client, natural brows before powder brows
BeforeBrown-haired client, natural brows before powder brows
Brown-haired client right after powder brows
Right afterBrown-haired client right after powder brows
Brown-haired client, healed powder brows 18 months later
HealedBrown-haired client, healed powder brows 18 months later
Brunette client, natural brows before powder brows
BeforeBrunette client, natural brows before powder brows
Brunette client right after powder brows
Right afterBrunette client right after powder brows
Brunette client, healed powder brows 18 months later
HealedBrunette client, healed powder brows 18 months later
A blonde, a brown-haired client and a brunette: before, right after, then healed 18 months later.
Powder brows before and after on ash blonde hair
Before / afterPowder brows before and after on ash blonde hair
Powder brows before and after on dark brown hair
Before / afterPowder brows before and after on dark brown hair
Before and after on ash blonde hair, then on dark brown hair: the color is adapted to each client.

More examples: tattooed eyebrows before and after and eyebrow tattoo shapes and colors for your hair.

Lip tattoo before and after, even on mature lips

Thin, very pale lips, without lip blush
BeforeThin, very pale lips, without lip blush
The same lips with a fully healed lip blush
HealedThe same lips with a fully healed lip blush
Thin, very pale lips, then the same lips with a healed lip blush.
Full face before, then after a natural full lip color
A full face before, then after a natural full lip color.
Natural mature lips, before
BeforeNatural mature lips, before
Right after: gentle technique, slight swelling
Right afterRight after: gentle technique, slight swelling
Mature lip before full lip color
BeforeMature lip before full lip color
The same lip right after: gentle technique, slight swelling
Right afterThe same lip right after: gentle technique, slight swelling
Mature lips: before, then right after. A gentle technique, at any age.
Healed mature lip, cherry red shade
Mature lipHealed mature lip, cherry red shade
Dark lips: before, then healed
Before / healedDark lips: before, then healed
A mature lip healed in cherry red, and dark lips neutralized, then healed.

More examples: lip blush before and after.

Freckle tattoo before and after

Client 1, before: a face with no freckles
BeforeClient 1, before: a face with no freckles
Client 1, after: her healed freckle tattoo
After, healedClient 1, after: her healed freckle tattoo
Client 2, before: a face with no freckles
BeforeClient 2, before: a face with no freckles
Client 2, after: her freckles healed 1 month later
Healed, 1 monthClient 2, after: her freckles healed 1 month later
Two clients, before and after: healed freckles, soft and natural.

More examples: healed tattoo freckles, before and after.

Made for everyone

Fair or dark skin, at 25 or at 80, woman or man: with the right technique and the right color, permanent makeup adapts to everyone.

Client with Black skin and no brow tails, before powder brows
BeforeClient with Black skin and no brow tails, before powder brows
The same client, powder brows 2 years later
HealedThe same client, powder brows 2 years later
Client over 80 with white, almost nonexistent brows, before powder brows
BeforeClient over 80 with white, almost nonexistent brows, before powder brows
Client over 80 after powder brows
AfterClient over 80 after powder brows
Male client before powder brows
BeforeMale client before powder brows
Male client after powder brows, well-defined shape
AfterMale client after powder brows, well-defined shape
A client with Black skin, before and 2 years later; a client over 80, before and after; a man, before and after.

See also permanent makeup on dark skin, permanent makeup for older women and oily skin and permanent makeup for men.

And years later

Permanent makeup done with a light touch fades gently, without changing color. You can refresh it with a touch-up, or let it fade and adapt it as your face changes (see how long permanent makeup lasts).

The same healed powder brows 3 years later, with no color shift
HealedThe same healed powder brows 3 years later, with no color shift
After the maintenance touch-up, 3 years later
Touch-upAfter the maintenance touch-up, 3 years later
Powder brows healed 3 years later, with no color shift, then after the maintenance touch-up.
Healed freckles, 1 to 2 years later: almost gone, with no color shift
1 to 2 yearsHealed freckles, 1 to 2 years later: almost gone, with no color shift
Another client, 1 to 2 years later: the freckles have almost disappeared
1 to 2 yearsAnother client, 1 to 2 years later: the freckles have almost disappeared
Freckles 1 to 2 years later: they faded gently, with no color shift.

Client reviews

The best reviews are the ones that show a healed result, in natural light, several weeks after the session.

Selfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Client reviewSelfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Selfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Client reviewSelfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Selfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Client reviewSelfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Selfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Client reviewSelfie of a happy client with her healed lips
Selfies sent by clients once their lips had healed.
  • Healed photos, not just right after.
  • Natural light, no filter.
  • Results on skin and ages like yours.
  • Results 1 or 2 years later: they show how the result ages.

A natural style that lasts

Trends change fast; your permanent makeup stays for several years. A natural style that follows your face always ages well. And for an event, you can always wear makeup over it.

What if you don't like a result?

After powder brows: the shape is improved
An old brow tattoo, reworked with powder brows: the shape is improved.

There are solutions to correct old permanent makeup. Everything is explained in bad permanent makeup, and area by area in badly tattooed eyebrows, lip blush gone wrong and freckle tattoos gone wrong.

The checklist to help you decide

  1. I know which area I want, and why.
  2. I've checked the contraindications to make sure permanent makeup is safe for me.
  3. I've seen healed results from my artist.
  4. I understand the budget and the touch-up (see permanent makeup cost).
  5. I can avoid the sun for 1 month.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you want to save time and get a natural effect, with an artist who shows beautiful healed results.

Yes: the color is chosen based on your hair and skin, for a natural result on blondes as well as brunettes.

Yes, with a gentle technique. Full lip color works really well on mature lips.

Because the color softens during healing. You see the real result 1 to 2 months later.

It gets lighter gradually. Applied with a light touch, it fades without changing color.

Yes, once it's healed.

Habiba Med, permanent makeup trainer

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.

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