What to Know Before Getting Permanent Makeup
Have you just booked yourself your first permanent makeup appointment? Well, first I want to congratulate you and invite you to do a little dance party! Your life is about to get a whole lot easier, and I am thrilled you have chosen me to be your brow artist! I have complied a list of some key things you will want to know as you prepare for your brow transformation.
Skin Preparation: Getting your brows ready
As your appointment approaches it is important that your brow skin is completely healed. The skin needs to be clear, free from pimples, dermatitis, or sunburn. Additionally, you need to avoid any blood thinning medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. as well as fish oil supplements for a few days before your appointment. Please do not get your brows waxed within a week of your appointment.
Day Of: What you can wear and expect
On the day of, you can wear makeup if you’d like. We will consult about your makeup routine, lifestyle, and skin type to determine which technique is best for you. Keep in mind, your skin always has the final say. Not every technique is well suited for every skin type. I will work with you to give you brows that will look subtle and last, regardless of which technique you selected upon booking.
Makeup After Your Appointment: Protecting your fresh brows
If you wear makeup, you can wear your normal face makeup after getting your brows done. But you need to be careful to not get makeup on your brows. This could contaminate the healing tattoo, and will not look good. Simply avoid the brow area with all cosmetics. You can also gently wipe your brows with a q-tip and micellar water to remove any cosmetic residue.
Healing Expectations: Understanding pigment changes
Fresh pigment will always appear darker at first than it will heal to be. I like my clients to remember the phrase, “Too dark, too light, just right.” Remembering this helps you ride the wave of normal healing that occurs the first few weeks. Brow pigment generally heals 25 percent lighter after 4 weeks of healing. This isn’t to say that you will look scary or like an angry bird with your fresh brows, you will not. However, depending on what you’re used to, fresh brows can look a little dramatic on a bare face.
Aftercare Kit: How to protect your results
At your appointment you will receive an aftercare kit with supplies and instructions. It is very important that you read and understand the instructions. Neglected aftercare can result in nearly a complete loss of pigment. Following the brow tattooing procedure you will need to avoid direct sun exposure and excessive sweating for one week. You will also be given washing instructions and an ointment to keep on them. Following the prescribed aftercare routine prevents scabbing, allowing your brows to look better and retain the most pigment.
Long Term Maintenance: Touch ups and longevity
Once you have the best brows of your life, you will want to keep them looking great. It’s important to note that infrequent brow touch ups are an expected part of this journey. Most women will need a touch up around 6 months, and then about every 2 to 4 years after that. There should be noticeable fading and a need for the touch up. I will not touch up your brows if they do not need it, because that will cause heavy, blocky eyebrows.
A warm message from your brow artist
As always, it’s a joy to be your permanent makeup artist! Thank you for the opportunity to simplify your beauty routine, I hope that it enriches your life away from the mirror. You are all so beautiful! Stay tuned for part two, highlighting the things to know AFTER getting permanent makeup done. Until then, I can’t wait to see you at your appointment.
Much Love, Brandell
If you are ready for your brow transformation, you can explore booking your appointment or read part two of this series to learn exactly what happens after your permanent makeup procedure..
Brandell Carl
Guided Beauty Permanent Makeup | Liberty Missouri
About the Author:
Brandell Carl
Guided Beauty was created from a desire to help women feel more at home in their bodies. After working as a self taught makeup artist during nursing school, Brandell discovered a deeper calling in permanent makeup. What began as a leap of faith in 2019 has grown into a studio where women come to feel seen, supported, and beautifully themselves.
With a background in nursing and years of experience in cosmetic tattooing, Brandell blends technical skill with a gentle, heart centered approach. Her work is rooted in the belief that beauty should feel natural, intentional, and aligned with who you are.
Guided Beauty is more than a studio. It is a sanctuary where women can slow down, reconnect, and walk away with renewed confidence.
Who Brandell Is Today
Brandell is a permanent makeup artist who believes in soft, natural beauty that supports a woman’s everyday life. She is known for her calm presence, meticulous technique, and the way she makes clients feel safe, understood, and genuinely cared for. Her studio reflects her values: warmth, intention, artistry, and a deep respect for each woman’s unique features.
Brandell’s Philosophy
Beauty should never feel heavy or overwhelming. It should feel like coming home to yourself. Brandell’s work is guided by this belief, and every brow, lip, or liner she creates is designed to enhance what is already there, not replace it.
A Space Built for Women
Guided Beauty continues to grow as a place where women can pause, breathe, and reconnect with their confidence. Brandell’s mission is simple: to help women feel beautifully themselves, both in the mirror and in their everyday lives.