I’ve had a few inquires about semi permanent makeup recently, and was intrigued by a concept that I hadn’t read about before. My first thought was that even what is known as permanent makeup is in fact actually semi-permanent. This is because the results usually start to fade around 5 years and touch ups are needed to keep the color fresh. Some people do have long lasting results that can be seen 15 or more years after the initial application, but this isn’t the norm.
It turns out, the end point a permanent makeup artist shoots for during the application process can be altered to turn permanent makeup into semi-permanent makeup. Basically when I perform a permanent makeup application, my goal is to pack as much pigment deep enough in the skin so that as the skin naturally turns over or sheds, the pigment stays under the skin for as long as possible. The average end result should last between 3 and 10 years depending on how well the patient takes care of their new tattoo. To make the results less permanent, fewer passes are made during the application leaving less pigment implanted in the skin. Also, the treatment can be done more superficially than traditional permanent makeup. The color choice should be lighter with semi permanent makeup because darker colors tend to be more opaque even after the treatment area is healed. The end result should last 3 months to 3 years. Although three years in still a significant amount of time, it seems that for some people, semi-permanent feels like less of a commitment.
It is still important to be conservative when deciding on the color and design of your semi-permanent makeup. Even a few months can seem like a long time if the application is too heavy or too dark. I recommend brows to be a soft color that follows your natural brow line, and not a trendy style. For natural eyeliner, it is best to stick with a lash enhancement which is done just in the lash line. You can always add to permanent or semi permanent makeup with traditional cosmetics for a more dramatic look, but a cat eye might get old as the years go by.
Licensed Aesthetician – Ology Spa Avon / Ology Spa Carmel
