What is permanent make-up?
How quickly permanent make-up fades depends on the circumstances and how someone treats it. The following points have an effect on how long the PMU stays:
All these factors determine whether the permanent make-up stays for a long time or not. Especially during the first 2 weeks of the healing process, it depends strongly on how you treat it. This is decisive for the rest of the years.
oily skin
doing a lot of peels or not
scrub on the skin
pigment colour of the PMU
placed too deep or not
Permanent make-up is also referred to by the abbreviation PMU. Officially it is not permanent because the pigment is placed in the first skin layer, and therefore does not stay in endlessly as with a tattoo (in the 3rd skin layer). Permanent make-up therefore fades after a number of years. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of permanent make-up in this blog.
Risks of permanent make-up
For example, after placing permanent make-up you get scabs. These scabs are formed because the skin has been opened during the treatment, and needs to be closed to ‘restore’ the skin again. You then get scab formation. These scabs fall off again after a few days, and then you see the healed skin with the pigment colour underneath.
A chance of risk from permanent make-up is mainly present in the healing phase of the treatment. This phase consists of the first day through to the fourteenth day after placing the permanent make-up.
When you book a permanent make-up treatment, you often get a consultation beforehand. During this consultation, in addition to your own wishes, we also discuss whether there are any conditions or risk factors. Based on this information, a specialist can determine whether or not permanent make-up can be placed.
Permanent make-up may not be placed if there is:
All of the points above mean that there is a high chance of risk during the healing of the placed permanent make-up.
dye allergy
chronic skin disease
contact allergy
immune disease
cardiovascular abnormalities
younger than 16
Permanent make-up is regarded as tattooing, even though it is not applied in the same skin layer. It remains a pigment that is not naturally a substance belonging to the body. This means that the body tries to remove the pigment from the skin by means of a natural reaction. The pigment is applied with a small needle that enters the skin very superficially and leaves pigment pixels behind.
Different types of permanent make-up
There are different types of permanent make-up treatments. In addition, these are further differentiated by technique.
For example, you have permanent make-up that is applied with a needle, such as:
And you also have permanent make-up that is applied by means of a blade; this is used for the microblading technique and with this you can create:
ombré powder brows
faux freckles
lip blushing
hairstrokes eyebrows
hairstrokes eyebrows
feather hairstrokes eyebrows
Applying permanent make-up
All GGD-approved specialists who place permanent make-up know that all ink and pigment substances must meet strict requirements. That is also checked by the Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority).
The place where the permanent make-up is applied is disinfected with an approved disinfectant with an RVG number. The skin is also shaved if necessary; this is done with a disposable blade.
All steps must be carried out as hygienically as possible. After all, a thin needle is used, which opens the skin and lets pigment flow in. This is also referred to as a wound.
All products come from sterile packaging and may not be touched with bare hands. The ink must likewise be sterile. The ink used for you personally is put in a small ink cup and may only be used during your treatment.
The specialist will wear gloves with the approved GGD numbers. In addition, all disposable materials are thrown away immediately after the treatment.
Afterwards, of course, the tattooed area must be cared for in the right way. Both by the specialist and by yourself during the healing process.
Advantages and disadvantages of permanent make-up
The advantages and disadvantages of permanent make-up can be weighed against each other.
Advantages of permanent make-up:
saves time in the morning
always beautiful eyebrows / eyeliner / lips
swimming / sauna / exercising with beautiful eyebrows / eyeliner / lips
mild treatment in terms of pain (normally)
looks well-groomed
often stays for 3-4 years or even longer
makes lips look fuller
buying less make-up
make-up taste can change after a while
removal takes quite a long time and costs a lot of money
lightened colour only visible after 5 years
Permanent make-up treatments should be carried out virtually painlessly. Have you undergone a painful treatment? Then this can mean that the specialist has not treated in the correct way. Treating too deep causes a grey and dull undertone that only comes to the surface after a while. Permanent make-up is really meant to be placed in the first skin layer; working too deep gives a very painful feeling.
Rules for permanent make-up
Of course, there are rules in place for being able to place permanent make-up and for being able to receive a treatment. For example, you must be over 16 years old, you cannot be pregnant during a treatment, and the person who places the permanent make-up must have a certificate from a course and be GGD-approved. The GGD approval for permanent make-up is easy to find on the website of the RIVM. Here you can search by the name of the salon whether the salon is approved at all. If not, we strongly advise you against going to the chosen salon and having a permanent make-up treatment there. You can incur a lot of damage such as: scars, infections, incorrect placement, placement too deep, unhygienic work, etc.