Permanent Makeup faqs
Got questions about permanent makeup? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re wondering about the treatment process, healing time, or how to choose the right service, this page covers everything you need to know. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to get in touch – I’m happy to help!
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Kay AireyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent service in beautiful surroundingsPosted on Google
linda hargreavesI have had many different treatments with Carly and I am always 100%satisfiedPosted on Google
Tracy WatsonAmazing transformation. Carley is so customer focussed and passionate to supply and deliver best and natural results. Highly recommend Thank you 👍Posted on Google
Donna JacksonHad the colour boost on my brows done last week and Carly has done a fantastic job again. Carly takes the time to go through the options and gives great recommendations and advice.Posted on Google
Susan ShawAmazing PMU artist, wouldn't trust anyone else but Carly, she is an absolute wizard with brows, had mine done at a previous salon and wasn't happy, Carly soon sorted them out for me and I absolutely love them now. If you are thinking of PMU or microblading, look no further, contact Carly and let her weave her magic and guide you through the process, you definitely won't regret it 🖒😀Posted on Google
Trish FrettsomeCarly is fantastic, she really takes time and care to give you the best results for you. I was initially a little worried about having my eyebrows tattooed but the end results were fantastic and really gave me my confidence back ! Can highly recommend.Posted on Google
Alison KelsallI’d contemplated PMU for my brows for years before I found Carly on Instagram and decided to take the plunge. I am SO pleased I did. Carly is a true artist, and the loveliest person, and put me at ease from my first consultation and through both my brow appointments. My hairstroke brows look exactly how I hoped they would look - subtle and completely natural. People don’t believe they’re tattooed which is the perfect outcome for me. I can’t thank, or recommend, Carly enough - she is incredible.Posted on Google
poppy gardnerI cannot recommend Carly enough...I over plucked my brows back in the 90's when it was trendy to have a thin brow and they never grew back since. After 20 years of hating my brows and having no confidence without (badly) pencilled in brows I now have brows that I absolutely love thanks to Carly. She is so professional and so skilled, put me totally at ease right from my first conversation with her. For my first 'tattoo' to be on my face I was definitely nervous but she took away any worries and concerns with her calm and professional nature. Please don't hesitate about contacting Carly if you are considering permanent make up, it is the best thing I ever did and well worth the 2 and a half hour journey. She is just the best! I just wish I had gone to her years earlier!Posted on Google
Mrs RI’ve been thinking about having my brows done for a while and decided now was the right time. After a quick google search I found Carly. She had fantastic reviews so I knew I didn’t need to look any further. I had a lovely experience from start to finish. Carly was warm and friendly and made me feel at ease from the first consultation in her lovely salon, where she talked me through everything I needed to know. We decided to go for combination brows. Carly was fantastic and consulted me every step of the way, creating some lovely brows. We had a lovely chat throughout the process, providing a really nice experience. I would definitely recommend going to Carly and I’m very much looking forward to my colour boost appointment in a year or so. Thanks Carly, you’ve been fantastic! XPosted on Google
Samantha SpyveFantastic experience getting my eyebrows done with Carly. Excellent pre-appointment to go through everything. Talked through every step and really took the time to see what I wanted. Gave great advice based on my hair and skin colour and skin type. Delighted with the results. Update! I have been back for my top up session today (13 August). Carly looked carefully at how my brows had healed and advised how to make them even better. A slightly darker pigment was used. Over the moon with the results 💕
Frequently Asked Questions about permanent makeup
Find answers to commonly asked questions about my permanent make-up services.
Does Permanent Makeup hurt when its applied?
Everyone has a different level of sensitivity so topical anaesthetics are applied during the treatment to lessen any discomfort. Some clients may feel one brow more than the other. You will experience a slight noise and vibration / sensation throughout.
Some clients liken it to a sharp plucking of the brows and it feels a little scratchy but nothing unbearable and of course the results are more than worth it!
Music is usually played during the procedure and I will chat to you throughout to put you at ease.
Will my brows be swollen / what is the downtime like?
You should not be swollen unless you are extremely sensitive.
You might have slightly red skin around the eyebrows, but this usually lasts no more than a few hours.
They will feel slightly tender for a few hours.
How Long Does It Take?
The procedure takes roughly about 2.5 hours sometimes more, sometimes less. Please allow a good 3 hour window for your treatment.
The touch up (6 weeks later) takes around 1.5-2 hours.
Do you remove my natural eyebrows?
No. Every attempt is made to retain all natural hair and incorporate it into the design of the permanent eyebrows as the more natural hair present then the more natural they will look.
In some cases, where shaping of the natural brow is required a minimal amount of brow hairs may need to be removed to create the most flattering result.
What’s Involved In The Process?
Semi permanent brows are a 2 step treatment, consisting of an initial procedure and then a touch up around 6 weeks later.
After taking your before photo, I will draw the brow design in pencil so you will get an idea of the shape and style.(Please note that nobody’s face is totally symmetrical and you need to be realistic with your expectations.) There is no point in trying to make the eyebrows identical or matching a photo of your favourite celebrities eyebrows if your face shape Looks nothing like theirs.
Once we have agreed on a final shape (ultimately it is your decision- but I will always voice my opinion on what I think suits you aesthetically), I will shape your eyebrows then we will decide on the colour.
The first part (or the first pass as we call it) is done without anaesthetic so that I can get a feel for your skin in it’s natural state and can adapt my pressure to suit your skin, after the first pass a topical anaesthetic will be applied to numb the skin and you should barely feel anything during this part allowing you to relax into the treatment and let me work my magic!
Why do I need a touch up appointment?
In order to keep your eyebrow tattoo results looking fresh, we recommend a colour boost every 12-24 months.
The pigments are semi permanent and designed to fade out gradually over time, as they fade they tend to lose their warmth so during the colour boost treatment we implant more pigment and warm them back up to keep them looking fresh.
How often will I need a touch up appointment?
This will depend on your skin, medication and lifestyle & age & how well you look after your brows.
What is the aftercare like?
You are advised to keep the skin clean and dry, that means no swimming, heat, steam, sweating or otherwise getting the area wet. No tanning or prolonged sun exposure, no picking, peeling, scratching or rubbing the tattoo, this may result in a loss of colour and scarring.
You will be given aftercare products and a written aftercare leaflet at your treatment and it is imperative you follow these instructions to get the best results from your treatment.
You can read my aftercare guides here. Also, included in your initial treatment price is one retouch appointment.
What is the aftercare like?
You are advised to keep the skin clean and dry, that means no swimming, heat, steam, sweating or otherwise getting the area wet. No tanning or prolonged sun exposure, no picking, peeling, scratching or rubbing the tattoo, this may result in a loss of colour and scarring.
You will be given aftercare products and a written aftercare leaflet at your treatment and it is imperative you follow these instructions to get the best results from your treatment.
You can read my aftercare guides here. Also, included in your initial treatment price is one retouch appointment.
What will my brows look like after the treatment?
After any initial redness has subsided you can expect your brows to look darker for the first 5-7 days then you may experience some flakiness/dryness, the pigment may flake off in patches then they will look light etc the following week-possibly too light for the next week then from around week 3 you will see your true healed results from your first session. You can read more about this here.
There may be some areas that need working on more at the top up and that’s why we call that the “perfecting session”.
How long do permanent brows last?
This will vary from person to person and is dependent on lots of factors such as skin type, any medication, sun exposure, smoking, sweating. Plus how well you’ve looked after them, but generally without a colour boost, after just the 2 initial sessions they would last around 1-5 years in the skin, the more top ups you have, the longer they will last in the skin.
It is important to realise that to keep them looking fresh you will need to have regular colour boosts.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, I offer all new clients a free consultation before any treatments are booked. You can book your consultation here.
Where are you based?
I have a lovely home studio in the Newbold area of Chesterfield, Derbyshire. You can find me on the map here.
How can I book a consultation?
You can book an appointment by following this link, emailing info@carlysmithpmu.co.uk or calling or texting me at 07739 463 838
How and when do I pay for your services?
For all permanent make-up treatments, a £50 deposit is either payable at your consultation or once you have booked your first treatment appointment. The remaining balance is payable at your first treatment session.
For other treatments, such as LVL lash lift and tinting and waxing etc a 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. I also offer payment plans, please ask for more information on this.
Still have a question?
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always here for help and advice.
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