How To Correct Tattooed Eyebrows
One of the most frustrating things about the eyebrows tattoo is the right color matching the pigment at first. Eyebrows color corrections are a huge part of Permanent Makeup Artist practice. Although not every microblading studio provides this service. If you have old permanent makeup or microbladed eyebrows, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
There are so many aspects of proper micropigmentation that it could be difficult to understand how pigment heals in the skin. First of all, to neutralize the unwanted color, we need to understand why the color has changed over time.
Many new clients are wondering how to correct or refresh discolored eyebrows with permanent makeup or microblading. The biggest problem occurs when we deal with very old pigmentation many times very saturated tattooed eyebrows done many years ago with black pigment that has lots of carbon black.
Back in the day, the whole tattooing process looked different, Artists were using dark pigments and worked more aggressively, depositing the pigment into a deeper layer of the skin. Sometimes to the color correct artists were using camouflage - lighter flesh skin tone pigment. This is a big mistake! This type of covering of old permanent makeup looks bad after years and closes the possibility of laser removal.
Before the color correction, we also need to consider shape correction. It is good to create a pre-drawing to see if we can improve the brows design without former removal.
Nowadays, we have better access to knowledge and understanding of how pigment behaves in human skin. Manufacturers are continually working on finding the perfect pigment formula that is safe and color stable in the skin. Artists are focusing on new gentle techniques for the most natural results with less trauma to the skin.
Old Permanent Makeup and Microblading Coverup
From the Permanent Makeup Artist's point of view, it is essential to have good long-term coverup results, with less trauma to the skin, many clients expect immediate results. Eyebrow correction is a process and doesn't happen overnight. It is important to explain and advise what's best for a client, every case is different. We need to find out as much as possible about the client to prepare a treatment plan.
In many cases, those corrections are challenging, because it involves many unknowns like:
- brand and composition of the pigments line used by the previous practitioner
- color or mix of colors used
- fading
- clients skin's natural pigmentation
- length of time since the most recent application
- number of previous procedures
- structure of the skin
There are many factors that might cause a color shift, like the melanin in the skin and skin undertone, climate, and lifestyle.
Additional factors behind eyebrows discoloration:
- Medications
- Health
- Client's ethnicity
- Skin condition
- Skin-care products and treatments
- Sun exposure
Microblading Color Correction
In some cases, previous deep pigmentation might cause scarring, especially with the manual microblading technique done by an inexperienced microblader. In this case, it is harder to implement evenly new pigment to perform color correction of the eyebrows.
Because of this, there is no guaranty of a specific result. It is hard to determine how many pigment removal or color correction sessions the client needs. The good news is that we can usually improve the appearance by proper color and shape correction.
We Don't Always Perform Color Correction
We do not always perform procedures to cover old permanent makeup or microblading. Especially when the client is looking for a more natural outcome and the pigmented area is oversaturated and poorly shaped, we recommend starting with the removal of old permanent makeup or microblading.
Once an old tattoo fades at least about 50% we can consider color correction. It is important to have realistic expectations and make sure the client knows about all the possibilities.
Color Theory In Permanent Makeup
Correcting prior work is very common in permanent makeup. Understanding color theory is necessary for corrections.
Color theory is both the science and art of using color. We can classify colors according to their temperature into warm and cool colors. Warm colors are the colors of sun and fire like yellow, red, and orange, while cool colors are the color of the sky, ice, and water, like green and blue.
The color wheel is a visual aid that helps understand color theory. Neutralizing colors are found as opposed to each other. Knowing the base of the color is very important when attempting permanent color correction. We need to understand the base of pigment color as well as the client's skin undertone.
How To Correct Red Eyebrows Tattoo
To cover red, pinkish eyebrows it is necessary to choose Olive Corrector for eyebrows neutralization. In this case, green is the complementary color.
How To Correct Blue/Grey Eyebrows
If the old eyebrows tattoo is blue/grey, orange is the complementary color. We use the Orange Corrector to offset the old tattoo.
If the old tattoo is very cool and ashy, the target color should contain a warm undertone. Sometimes clients might need two sessions to get satisfying results.
Conclusion
I know first-hand that discolored eyebrows can be a headache. But it doesn't have to be.
Best of all, we can color correct eyebrows if we don't need to completely change the shape and pigment is not oversaturated.
Color correction works but can be complicated, it takes more time and costs than making new permanent eyebrows.
Every eyebrows correction needs a comprehensive action plan based on the individual case. Sometimes it will be a combination of removal and color correction. This requires the client's patience and dedication.
Color corrected eyebrows might need more touch-up sessions to maintain good results.