Permanent Makeup vs Tattoos

Permanent makeup concerns the face, focuses on the eyebrows, lips, and eyes. The main goal is to restore harmony and balance of the face. Procedures help to make them look more defined and attractive. The client’s motivation for seeking this treatment can vary. Some clients are looking to correct asymmetries, shape definition, or simply for the day-to-day convenience of looking put together.

What Is The Difference Between Permanent Makeup and Body Tattoos

People often think that tattoos are for life while permanent makeup is temporary because of the depth of pigmentation in the skin; the pigment being injected much more deeply for tattoos than permanent makeup. While inserting the pigment too deeply and aggressively in the dermis can cause color migration and hypertrophy in pigmented areas. The main difference is the type of pigment used.

What Is The Difference Between a Tattoo and a Permanent Makeup Device

Body tattoos machines are more powerful because it requires to push large needles into the skin. The equipment used for permanent makeup is designed with a great focus on style and precision. Since vibration could cause unacceptable technical results when used on the face, it is important to use the best quality device and needles.

For micro-pigmentation artist is using a handpiece that is dynamic but also silent with controlled pulsation, that is adjusted to their technique. Relatively small needles allow applying pigment very precisely. The key to top precision results is minimal noise and vibration. The professional controls and adjust the needle speed and power of the device. This is important for the best results and low epidermal trauma.

Tattoo guns are mechanical devices with rotary mechanism coils. This makes them more aggressive to the skin. They are heavier and more powerful since more needles are pushed into the skin at one time. It is more difficult to control it while tattooing the face, the facial skin is very delicate and sensitive, definitely requires light work. Permanent makeup machines are more gentle on the skin.

Chemical Parameters of the Pigments used in Permanent Makeup and Tattoo

The consistency and composition of tattoos and permanent makeup pigments are different. The pigments used in permanent makeup are predominantly non-resorbable, and partly similar to those used in tattooing. While tattooing inks, organic pigments are used because of their intense colors like carbon black.

Generally, in permanent makeup, iron oxide pigments are used because of their natural color shades. We have also many permanent makeup pigments on the market, which are based on organic pigments or mixed with organic and inorganic pigments. Pigments for permanent makeup are made of the functional principle or coloring agent (mix of mineral powders), binding agent, and solvent. The liquid excipient consists of glycerin, water, and isopropyl alcohol. Glycerin prevents the pigment from drying on the skin and helps penetrate it. The water helps the color to become more liquid and fluid. Isopropyl alcohol keeps it sterile during the procedure and works as a preservative.

The color and the size of the molecules could determine the pigment longevity in the skin. The size of the molecules determines the duration of the treatment results, but not their irreversibility. The skin contains macrophages that can swallow and digest all of the molecules present, through the lymph nodes, sweat, and urine.

It is recommended not to mix body tattoo pigments and permanent makeup pigments as well as different brands of permanent makeup pigments. It could cause unwanted reactions in the skin.

Body tattoo pigments:

• functional principle or coloring agent
• solvent

Permanent makeup pigments:

• functional principle or coloring agent
• solvent
• binding agent

Conclusion

While a few of the permanent makeup procedures might look similar to tattooing, specifically the eyeliner and the lip liner, that is where the similarities end. The tattoo artist uses needles that penetrate the skin much deeper than the cosmetic technician.

The permanent makeup is deposited right below the epidermis, the first layer of the skin. Whereas the tattoo is deposited deeper in the subcutaneous level.