Before and After Care FAQ's

There are some general things you should and should not do before your cosmetic tattoo appointment, this applies to your lips and brows. You should avoid any medications or supplements that can thin your blood (such as aspirin and fish oil) as they can affect the results of your treatment. Ideally you will avoid these for at least one week (minimum).

Avoid coffee prior to your appointment (on the day of the treatment).

Do not have any alcohol 48 hours prior to your procedure as this could cause excess bleeding.

Stay hydrated before and after your appointment, maintaining the recommended water intake of 8-10 glasses per day.

Pre care information for lip blush tattooing will be sent out separately when a booking is made.

I personally recommend creating a natural lip scrub that you can make and use at home in the days leading up to your lip blush appointment. It is really simple, you mix the following ingredients together to create a scrub and then rub it on your lips for 2-3 minutes a day to exfoliate your skin. When you apply the scrub, lightly rub it across your lips in a circular motion and then rinse with warm water. Lip scrub ingredients: 1 tablespoon of coconut oil 1 tablespoon of organic honey 2 tablespoons of brown, coarse sugar 1/2 tablespoon of lukewarm water Don't forget to follow the other "pre-treatment" advice to ensure you achieve the best results from your lip blush tattoo.

Here are some of the things you can do (and avoid) to ensure that your cosmetic tattooed lips or brows have the best chance of healing.

1. Avoid the sun and UV rays as exposure can cause the tattoo to fade. Once your treatment has healed you should be sure to look after the tattooed area with a regular sun protection routine, including a strong sunscreen when you are outdoors.

2. Avoid activities that will cause sweating for a few days after your procedure.

3. Do not use your own cleansers. I will provide an aftercare cleanse on the day of your procedure for brow tattooing for you to use, other than this, you should not apply cleansers, exfoliants or make-up to your face until the area has healed. The healing process can take up to 2 weeks.

4. Do not go swimming in the beach or pool, go in a spa, sauna or steam room while your cosmetic tattoo is healing.

5. Do not touch the area that has been tattooed. Avoid all direct contact. Do not pick, peel, scratch or itch the area until the healing phase is complete. Any forcibly removed skin can cause uneven colour or increase your risk of infection.

6. If you are planning a chemical peel, laser treatment or other medical procedure, please inform the technician that you have had a cosmetic tattoo. They must avoid the area.

7. If you have had a lip blush, sorry girls, but NO KISSING. Kissing increases your risk of infection.

8. Do not smoke for 72 hours after your procedure. Your lips have no glands. When we tattoo them, we create little punctures on the surface. Cigarette smoke can enter these little openings and discolour the pigment, or worse, cause an infection.

Immediately after lip blush you lips can be slightly swollen and tender. This is completely normal. You can ice your lips carefully after the procedure if you feel it is necessary and this will help reduce the swelling. Apply your lip aftercare balm regularly for 5 days. DO NOT let your lips dry out as this could cause extra scabbing and tenderness. If your lips begin to feel dry, apply the ointment provided to you with a clean cotton tip. Your lips may feel numb for a few hours after your procedure, just as you would after the dentist, avoid any hot or spicy foods to avoid burning your mouth. Drink plenty of water, but do so through a straw. Remember do not kiss anyone while your lips are healing as they are essentially an open wound and you want to avoid any bacteria entering your lips.

Avoid smoking for at least 72 hours after the procedure as it will affect the colour. Your lips have no glands. The tar will sit on top of your lips and discolour the pigment or may even cause an infection.

I will provide every client with an after-care cleanse and balm to take home and apply to the treated area after their appointment. For brows, apply a pea sized amount of the after-care cleanse and wash your brows gently with a small amount of lukewarm water. Rinse the treatment off and lightly pat your brows dry (do not be aggressive with this step). Once your brows are dry, apply a light layer of the after-care balm provided to you with a clean cotton tip. Do this morning and night for 7-10 days after the procedure.

If your brows feel overly dry or itchy, you can apply a light, thin layer of the after-care balm provided to you, through out the day. Always use a clean cotton tip to administer the balm and avoid direct contact with your hands.

I have made the personal choice not to tattoo anyone that is pregnant or breastfeeding and will not make any exceptions.

Botox or cosmetic fillers should be performed at least 3 weeks either side of your appointment (before or after).

NO. Please bring your favourite shades with you to your appointment so that we can have a reference for your desired shade, but please avoid wearing lipstick all together for the week leading up to your appointment as lipstick can actually dry out your lips.

Unfortunately, no. Please be very careful and avoid sun exposure in the week leading up to your appointment. We will not be able to tattoo irritated skin (this applies to brows and lips).

We are not able to tattoo over any active or healing cold sores.

If you are prone to cold sores, even if you have only had one and it was ten years ago, you MUST take a preventative. Please consult your doctor for treatment and begin the prescribed medication as directed by your physician. This is very important and should be taken very seriously.

Lip blush and the cold sore virus:

The lip blush procedure can NOT give you the cold sore virus. However once you have been exposed to the virus and had a cold sore at any point in your life, it remains dormant in your system and lives within your nerve cells. There are a variety of things that can trigger and activate the cold sore virus, from stress to nutrition. This is why some people may have only ever had one, some people may have 3 in a year and others have recurring cold sore outbreaks. The process of lip blush CAN trigger a cold sore virus to activate. This is because the needles from the tattoo machine penetrate the layers of the skin and this trauma to the skin has the potential to trigger the virus within the nerve cells of your lips. Cold sores are highly contagious and for both yours and our safety, we can not stress the importance of taking the necessary preventative steps to avoid a cold sore outbreak. Your doctor can help with the risks of preventing the virus from re-activating within your nervous system.