Habiba MedYour permanent makeup looks really dark, then seems to disappear? Don't worry, that's normal. Here are the stages of the PMU healing process, what changes for brows, lips and freckles, and how to tell what's normal from what isn't.
Key takeaways
- Right after: a color much darker than the final result.
- After a few days, the skin flakes and the result seems to almost disappear: that's normal.
- The color then comes back and settles within 1 to 2 months.
- Never judge a result before healing is complete.
The 4 stages of the PMU healing process
| Stage | What you see |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 The first few days | The color is very dark; the area may be a little red or swollen for a few hours. |
| Stage 2 A few days later | The skin flakes or forms small scabs. It may itch. Don't touch it. |
| Stage 3 When the scabs fall off | The result looks very light, sometimes almost invisible. That's normal. |
| Stage 4 The following weeks | The color comes back and settles: that's the final result. |
Eyebrow tattoo healing
Days 0 to 3: dark, crisp brows. Days 4 to 10: the skin flakes and the scabs fall off on their own. Around 7 to 10 days: very light. Then the color comes back within 2 to 3 weeks (eyebrow tattoo healing, day by day).
Lip tattoo healing
Days 1 to 2: swelling in the first few hours, then the color darkens. Days 3 to 5: the lips peel. Around day 5: the color seems to have disappeared. After 1.5 to 2 months: the final result (the lip blush healing process).
Freckle tattoo healing
Freckles usually lighten by 30 to 50% compared with the first few days. You see the final color after 1 month (the freckle tattoo healing process).
Differences by area
| Area | Flaking | Very light around | Final result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brows | Days 4 to 10 | 7 to 10 days | About 1 month |
| Lips | Days 3 to 5 | Day 5 | 1.5 to 2 months |
| Freckles | Days 1 to 4 | Days 5 to 8 | 1 month |
Swelling, redness, itching: what's normal
Normal
- Slight swelling for a few hours
- Slight redness
- Itching
- Flaking skin
- A very light result toward the end of the first week
Keep an eye on
- Redness or swelling that gets worse after 3 days
- Pain that doesn't go away
- Pus, heat, fever
See a doctor if
You have pus, a lot of heat, fever, or redness that gets worse after a few days. Don't worry: it's very rare.
Lips and cold sores
Tattooing can trigger a cold sore in people who are prone to them. That's why there's a preventive treatment to take before the session, prescribed by your doctor.
What helps healing, and what gets in the way
What helps
Following your artist's instructions, keeping the area clean, letting the scabs fall off on their own.
What gets in the way
Water, steam, sweat, sun, scratching or picking the scabs.
All the instructions: permanent makeup aftercare.
The touch-up
About 1 month later (1.5 to 2 months for lips), once the result is stable, the touch-up corrects small lighter areas and intensifies if needed. It's part of the protocol.
Summary
| What it means | |
|---|---|
| 😊 Very dark at first | Normal: the color will soften |
| 😊 Very light around days 5 to 10 | Normal: the color will come back |
| 🤔 A little uneven | Wait until healing is over; the touch-up will fix it |
| 😟 Pus, fever, heat | See a doctor |
Frequently asked questions
About 1 month for brows and freckles, 1.5 to 2 months for lips.
Yes: the color comes back in the following weeks.
Some of the pigment comes out during healing: the color always softens.
Don't scratch. If your skin is very dry, ask your artist whether you can apply a tiny amount of petroleum jelly.
About 1 month after the session, 1.5 to 2 months for lips.
If there's pus, a lot of heat, fever or redness that gets worse after a few days: see a doctor.
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.
