How Semi-Permanent Eyeliner Aftercare Differs from Microblading Aftercare

While the techniques used for microblading and semi-permanent eyeliner tattoos are similar and yield similar results, there are some differences in the application and healing processes.
 
How Semi-Permanent Eyeliner Feels Different than Microblading
Before they start to dry out, it’s hard to remember that you’ve had your brows done. This is not the case with semi-permanent eyeliner. This makes it easier to remember to protect your newly tattooed lids. Eyelids aren’t usually painful after treatments, but the skin on your eyelids is much thinner and more sensitive than that on your eyebrows, and most clients experience a different sensation during the first few days of the semi-permanent eyeliner healing process. Since your eyelids will be a tiny bit puffy for a few days, it just feels like you’ve had a good cry.
 
How Semi-Permanent Eyeliner Looks Different than Microblading
As you can imagine, the pigment line created when adding semi-permanent eyeliner to your lid is going to be slightly thicker than the individual hair strokes used during the microblading process. 
 
How Semi-Permanent Eyeliner Aftercare Differs from Microblading Aftercare
The premise of semi-permanent eyeliner aftercare is the same as microblading aftercare: keep the skin moist for a few days to maximize pigment retention and then let it follow its natural healing process. During this process, the skin dries out before small thin scabs form and flake off, eventually revealing the fresh, pigmented skin underneath.
 
But because eyelid skin is so different from skin on the sites of most other semi-permanent makeup, eyeliner aftercare is a little different, too.
 
Here’s what you need to know to achieve ideal eyeliner tattoo healing:

• Keep your lash line moist for five days by applying a thin layer of aftercare ointment every few hours. (We will provide this.)
• Sleep on your back for seven to ten days.
• No eyelash extensions, eye makeup or skincare products for seven to ten days.
• Avoid direct shower spray on your eyelids for at least two weeks.
• Try to avoid heavy perspiration for the first week.
• No contact lenses for seven to ten days.

 
Keep Your Eyelids From Drying Out
Keeping your lash line moist for five days before the natural healing process takes its course will help maximize the pigment retention of your new eyeliner. Permanent makeup aftercare ointment should be applied every few hours. Tip: keep your aftercare ointment and a few Q-tips in a plastic bag in your purse. This way it’s always there when you need it.
 
Sleep On Your Back
It’s important to avoid contact between your pillow and your eyeliner tattoos, which can be very difficult for side and belly sleepers; however, it’s well worth the effort. The same tips for sleeping on your back after microblading will work after eyeliner tattoos, too.

Don’t Let Anything Touch Your Eyelids
The second healing stage begins around day five or six. It’s during this phase that you’ll have to be super careful to protect these semi-permanent tattoos, and eyeliner aftercare becomes easy to forget about. Scabbing and flaking are a natural part of the healing process, but when these tiny scabs come off too soon, they take pigment with them. The less your liner is disturbed as it heals, the better it will look in the end.
 
Until the flaking phase has passed, be wary of:

• Reflexively rubbing your eyes
• Pets who love giving kisses
• Eyeglasses and sunglasses
• Washing your face

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No Eye Makeup or Skincare Products
No creams, eye makeup or other skincare products until flaking has subsided. Again, the less you mess with them, the better your eyeliner will look in the end. Plus, chemicals in skincare products can have an exfoliating effect, and the worst thing for pigment retention is exfoliation.
 
Avoid Direct Shower Spray for Two Weeks
Of all the eyeliner tattoo aftercare instructions, this may be the most difficult to remember. We all have our own shower routines that we execute without noticing and rinsing our faces under the shower spray is often one of them. Unfortunately, fresh eyeliner tattoos are no match for running water. Continue to avoid direct spray for a few days after flaking has stopped. Gentle splashes of water are fine by this point, though.
 
Skip the Sweat for a Week
What do we do when we get sweat in our eyes? We very instinctively wipe them, either with our hands or a cloth. This would be bad news for the eyeliner healing process.
 
Be Patient
It’s true that the seven to ten days following your eyeliner appointment won’t be the most convenient. But just think of how fantastic it will be to step out of bed, look in the mirror and say, “I woke up like this!” Following these aftercare guidelines will help you do just that!
 
Click here to take a peek at our gallery of semi-permanent eyeliner before and after photos and contact us with any questions.