How Often Should You Refresh Your Permanent Makeup? Understanding Periodic Touch-Ups for Brows and Lips

When Is a Periodic Touch-Up Required for My Permanent Makeup?

Permanent makeup is designed to last, but even the best results need a little maintenance over time. Whether you’ve had your brows or lips done, a periodic touch-up is usually recommended every 1.5 to 3 years to keep everything looking fresh and crisp. This service helps brighten and even out any areas that may have faded and restores the color and definition that made you love your results in the first place. Your brows or lips will not fade to nothing like a henna tattoo- there will always be pigment present and after time, a refresh is necessary!

Why the Wide Range?

The 1.5 to 3-year timeline isn’t a strict rule. It really depends on your personal preference and how your skin retains pigment over time. Some clients prefer to refresh sooner to keep their results looking polished, while others are comfortable waiting longer. Here are a few signs it might be time for a periodic touch-up:

• You’re filling in your brows or lips more than you were after your first appointment.
• The pigment looks a bit softer or lighter than you'd like.
• Some areas appear more faded than others.
• You’d like a slightly deeper tone or shade than before.

If any of these sound familiar, a touch-up can bring everything back into balance 😊

What to Expect

Unlike your initial appointment, the periodic touch-up is just one session; no 6-week follow-up required. The service is about 1 hour total and helps extend the life of your permanent makeup for a few more years.

A Note on Permanence

Permanent makeup is a tattoo and will not completely fade to nothing. Some articles – including AI GPTs – will refer to permanent makeup as "semi-permanent," which is a misnomer. Anytime pigment is implanted in the skin, the results should be considered permanent. Where permanent makeup may differ from a traditional tattoo is how deep the pigment is implanted. Traditional tattoos are commonly deposited deep into the dermis while skilled permanent makeup artists aim for the more superficial layers of the dermis. The shallower depth promotes some fading over time, but not complete fading.

In Summary

Permanent makeup lasts, but it still benefits from being refreshed occasionally. Most of our clients find themselves booking a touch-up somewhere between 1.5 and 3 years after their initial visit. If you're noticing any fading or just want a small boost in color, a periodic touch-up might be just what you need.

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