How to Prepare
A little preparation makes the appointment more comfortable and leaves your skin in good condition to work with.
In the 24 hours before your appointment
- do not drink alcohol
- do not sunbathe or use a tanning bed
- avoid strong sun exposure on the area we will be working on
- try not to book straight after being badly chilled, after an illness, or while you are feeling unwell
On the day, your skin should be calm — no sunburn, no marked irritation, no damage, no active inflammation.
Medication and antibiotics
If you are taking antibiotics, anticoagulants, retinoids, or any other medication, please tell me in advance.
Do not stop prescribed medication on your own
Never discontinue medication your doctor has prescribed in order to have this procedure. If you are on antibiotics for a current infection, the appointment may need to be moved until the course is finished and you have recovered.
The condition of your skin
Please tell me in advance if the area we will be working on has any of the following:
- irritation or damaged skin
- active breakouts
- inflammation
- cold sores
- recent sunburn
- recent aggressive cosmetic treatments
This matters not only for the result, but for the safety of the procedure.
Relative contraindications
The following do not automatically rule out permanent makeup, but they do need to be discussed before you book, because they affect either safety or how the skin heals:
- uncontrolled diabetes
- blood clotting disorders
- taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medication
- significant immunosuppression
- a tendency to keloid or marked hypertrophic scarring
- active skin conditions in the treatment area
- recent traumatic cosmetic or medical procedures in the treatment area — the interval needed depends on the specific procedure, so please ask me
- any condition or treatment that can significantly interfere with normal skin healing
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please discuss it with me before booking rather than booking online. We will decide together whether to go ahead now or wait.
This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether something applies to you, write to me before booking — that conversation costs nothing and it is always better to have it first.
Online preparation: send me photos beforehand
Please send your photos at least 24 hours before your appointment.
To assess the area properly I need:
- a photograph of your face straight on, in good natural light
- a close-up of the area we will be working on — brows or lips
- photographs with no filters and no retouching
- preferably no makeup on the treatment area
If you already have permanent makeup, please show it as clearly as you can.
Also tell me briefly:
- what result you would like
- what exactly you would like to correct
- whether you prefer a more natural or a more defined effect
- any preferences about shape or color
From the photographs I can assess the starting shape, the proportions, any visible asymmetry, the condition of the area, existing permanent makeup, and anything that needs to be taken into account. Sending them at least a day ahead gives me time to analyse your situation and prepare for your appointment.
This does not replace the assessment on the day
A preliminary look at photographs is not the same as diagnosing your skin in person immediately before the procedure. It lets me prepare — the full assessment still happens at the appointment.
Send your photos in advance
Send a photo of your face straight on in daylight, plus a close-up of the area we will work on, at least 24 hours before your appointment. It lets me study your shape and features and prepare your session before we meet.
Your photos go only to the artist and are never published without your written permission.
Cold sores and lip permanent makeup
Lip permanent makeup involves controlled micro-trauma to the skin and mucosa of the lips. If you have ever had cold sores — herpes simplex — on or around the lips, the procedure can trigger a recurrence. Mechanical stimulation of the lips and the area around the mouth is a known possible trigger.
Please tell me before your appointment if
- you have had cold sores in the past
- you get them regularly
- they tend to follow stress, illness, sun exposure, or dental or cosmetic procedures
- you get outbreaks several times a year
Talk to your doctor about antiviral prophylaxis
If you have a history of recurrent cold sores, consult your physician before the appointment. Your doctor may recommend starting an antiviral before the procedure and continuing it afterwards. The medication, the dose, the start date, and the duration are decided by your physician only — do not start prescription antivirals without medical direction.
Why this matters
If an outbreak develops after lip permanent makeup, it can disrupt normal healing in the treated area, and pigment may be retained less evenly where the blisters and subsequent damage were. Once everything has healed, that can leave:
- lighter areas
- gaps in the pigment
- uneven color
If you have never had cold sores
If you have never had cold sores or herpes symptoms on or around the lips, you should not take prescription antiviral medication just for permanent makeup. Preventive medication without a medical indication and a doctor’s direction is not recommended. If you are unsure, raise it with your doctor before the appointment.
If you have an active outbreak
Lip permanent makeup cannot be performed if you currently have:
- active cold sores or blisters
- crusting
- open lesions
- the tingling or burning that typically comes before an outbreak
- an area that has not fully healed after a recent outbreak
Tingling, burning, itching, or tenderness can precede visible blisters, so the procedure should not go ahead at that warning stage either. It must be postponed until the area has healed completely.
