General FAQ

During the Consultation which is a part of your treatment day visit, we will discuss your requirements, what you want to achieve and the result that will best suit you. We will take into consideration your lifestyle, image, skin tone, hair, and facial features. Then we will select a matching pigment or custom blend pigment colours to match your requirements during this design stage. The actual treatment itself involves gently implanting microscopic particles of pigment into layers of the skin with either a micro or nano needle (Scalp)or blade or shader ( eyebrows) or micro or nano needles ( eyebrows, eyeliners, lips, scalp, nipple & areolas, scars, beauty spots).  SMP treatments are packaged into 2 or 3 visits usually.

Anyone and everyone for different reasons, the most common ones being:

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Scalp Micro Pigmentation (SMP) also known as Hair Tattoo - brings back the lost confidence that hair loss or thinning hair could have caused. Allows for low maintenance of the treated areas where fibres or camouflage makeup is no longer required. 

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Medical Tattoo - restores the appearance of lost features or skin colour.

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Microblading & Permanent Makeup - saves precious time every morning, gives the face a ‘younger’ and healthier looking appearance and in contrast to traditional makeup, it stays on 24/7 without smudging or the need to reapply.

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Plasma Fibroblast - tightens the loose skin and creates much healthier appearance of the skin texture and colour. can also remove pigmentation marks from the skin. Removal of skin tags. Non - surgical eyelids lift.

Microneedling - reduces and often removes stretch marks, wrinkles/ fine lines, scars and pigmentation marks on the skin.

Yes, the healed result will look very natural. Please take a look at the portfolio images, where you can see that results can be tailored to whatever look, colour tone, or strength best suits you.

For SMP 5-9 days visual healing and 2 weeks for the lower layers skin. SMP sessions can be repeated after 2 weeks.

The healing process for other areas takes up to 12 days ( visible healing with scabbing) and 6 weeks of the actual under skin healing, therefore it’s important to remember that your Permanent Makeup or Microblading will look stronger and more dramatic for the first 6-12 days.

SMP can feel slightly irritating to start but many of my clients fall asleep during the treatment.

Permanent Cosmetics treatments are far gentler than you might think and topical anaesthetics are applied to the skin before, and during the procedure to assure you of the most comfortable experience possible. The specialist equipment I use is refined, quiet and gentle. Many clients have commented that the treatment is no more painful than having their eyebrows tweezed or plucked, and some have said that a “tingling” feeling was the most they felt. The procedures are much less invasive then traditional tattooing therefore the discomfort is not nearly as uncomfortable. Many clients stated that the threading actually hurts more than the eyebrows treatment. Eyeliners and lips are also pre numbed before procedure to assure most comfort.

This often varies from person to person due to different factors which can include skin type, products and cosmetics routine, diet, smoking, metabolism, genetics and environmental factors. Sun bed use and sun exposure also have a bearing on pigment retention, but this can be prevented with proper protection. Generally, darker colours remain in your skin for a little longer, whilst  lighter colours are often more vulnerable to the effects of factors such as the sun or swimming pools. Your body’s natural responses also breakdown the pigment particles. As a guide, it could be anything between 2-5 years for Scalp before a new treatment is required.

1 - 3 years for Permanent Makeup / Microblading and , although refresher colour boosts are recommended for maintenance between 9-12 months from the original treatment.

Once the colour starts to fade you will know that you are ready for your refresher colour boost. On average eyebrows and lips will start to fade sooner ( 9-12 months); eyeliners ( 1-2 years), SMP (2-5 years).

Treatment times vary depending on how advanced or detailed the required result is. Although some treatments may take as little as one hour, you should set aside about 2 hours to 3 hours for your appointment (including the consultation time on the day of your treatment). I will always confirm on your reservation email how much time will the treatment will approximately take.

Treated areas will look darker in colour immediately after the initial session and for the next 6-12 days, but it will lighten after that.

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The consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your treatment plan to determine how much of a change you are looking to make and the end result you are looking for. FREE Virtual and Video Consultations are available upon request made. Please contact via email to arrange. If you wish to attend a Consultation in person those are £25 for 30 minutes. 

A full assessment of your medical background will be made prior to the treatment over email pre - screening. While there are some occasions when people are not suitable for the treatment due to medical matters – this is fairly uncommon.

The treatments involve implanting pigment into the skin, so these are not highly invasive procedures; there are risks as well as benefits. As with any invasive procedures risks can include allergic reactions (we patch test in advance via post), infection or scarring ( when clients don't follow the aftercare provided). Any risks are minimised due to full adherence to all Health & Safety guidelines, highest quality training received as well as many years of experience. 

Everyone is different, but as a general rule the surface skin heals between 4-7 days after the treatment, and 10-14 days below the surface. After the initial 4 -7 days, the healing skin can begin to gently flake off and the treated area will lighten.

for Permanent makeup: For best possible results for you, it’s advised to attend the re-touch appointment (free of charge) to refine and perfect each treatment area. Many people will return to work the same day after a treatment, however, its advised not to drive after an eyeliner / lash enhancement, in case your eyes are a little swollen or watery immediately after the treatment. 

Aftercare instructions will be provided together with a special aftercare balm (where required). All you will need to do is follow our simple steps.

Not unless you choose to do so. You should be able to get straight back to work immediately after your treatment. Your return to work might be affected following the Lash Enhancement or Eyeliner treatment if your work requires you to drive immediately after treatment. Driving immediately after eye procedures is not advised; therefore you should make alternative travel arrangements.

It’s recommended not to apply any products that we discuss during the visit, traditional makeup, expose the skin to extreme heat, cold or moisture, or apply certain petroleum-based ointments immediately after your treatment.

For Scalp: not to wear tight head wear ( hats/ wigs etc) right after procedure as the skin needs to breathe and we must avoid risk of infection.

for Permanent Makeup: Also it’s advised not to drive immediately following eye procedures. The lip area will be sensitive and to avoid the risk of infection I wouldn’t recommend any food or drink, touching the area immediately post the procedure. I would advise not to “bite” on your food but rather to use a fork. I will also provide you with sterile straws for your drinks to avoid anything touching your lips.

These requirements are explained in full in your aftercare advice; you will receive a printed copy post treatment. 

No. It is required that you do not drink alcohol 48h before, or on the day of your treatment. This can affect pigment retention.

This depends on the treatment you are considering and it’s location. You will need to take advice from your therapist or surgeon. It is important to remember that some of these procedures can alter the shape of your lips and eyebrows. Please inform me if you are planning any.

Current guidelines from the National Blood Service require anyone with SMP or Permanent Cosmetics to wait for 4 months after their treatment before giving blood. 

If you have an MRI scan after having SMP or Permanent Cosmetics or a medical tattoo, you should inform the practitioner prior to the scan about your treatment, providing the details of when you had it and the location on the body. This will not prevent you from being able to have an MRI scan, but is information the practitioner will need to be aware of to adjust scan settings. I personally had a brain scan in 2018 and I had my eyebrows, eyes and lips tattooed now each year for the past 15 years. 

No problem. The procedures are done conservatively, respecting the natural lines and features of the scalp and face.

You must inform your laser technician that you has an SMP or Permanent Cosmetics prior to the treatment and they will act accordingly to accommodate for this. Laser hair removal can fade and change the shade of your pigment placement if conducted around the same area. 

Strong sun exposure will impact on the success of the result during the immediate healing phase. Its recommended that you avoid unprotected or heavy sun exposure on the treated ares for 2 weeks before your visit and 2 weeks after your visit and still be very careful 4-6 weeks between your final re-touch procedure and your holiday.

Yes! There are colours and dilutions to complement every skin tone, any look can be created completely naturally and the results are truly amazing.

The Government has recently amended the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by means of the Local Government Act, 2003 (Section 120), to give LAs new specific powers to regulate businesses providing semi-permanent skin-colouring (e.g. micropigmentation, semi-permanent makeup and temporary tattooing) and cosmetic piercing (body piercing and ear piercing). This change in the law came into force on the 1 April 2004. This extends the powers that local authorities already had in relation to tattooing, ear piercing, electrolysis and acupuncture. The Department of Health has published guidance about the change in the law: Local Government Act 2003: Regulation of cosmetic piercing and skin-colouring businesses – guidance on section `120 and Schedule 6. The document can be down loaded from The Department of Health website [2]. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_4076283Besides the premises for special treatment having to be licensed, the therapist who provides the treatment also has to be registered with the council.In accordance with Standard Condition 9(a) for special treatment licences issued under Part II of the London Local Authorities Act 1991, Any person working in an establishment licensed for the provision of special treatments must themselves be registered with the City Council for the provision of those treatments.A further useful publication by Salford Council entitled advise and safe practice can be downloaded from the Salford Council Website http://www.salford.gov.uk/micropigmentation.pdf

I perform SMP procedures and Microblading and Permanent Makeup procedures for people of all ethnicities and all walks of life, understanding that different skin types and skin colour accept colours differently. It’s important to select the appropriate colour or dilution and design which is critical to a successful outcome for each individual client. Please refer to the Portfolio page for examples.

I have been trained at the highest available level - Elite @ Nouveau Contour Academy, part of the Nouveau Beauty Group and I’m a holder of the Foundation, Experienced, Advanced and Elite Qualifications.

Advanced Scalp techniques with Appear Natural and Advenced 3D Areola Techniques with VMM ( Vicky Martin Method).

I am also Internationally Accredited Certified Permanent Cosmetics Professional - CPCP by Society of Permanent Cosmetics Professionals - SPCP. I am also a member of SPCP and Royal Society of Medicine. I continue to update and upgrade my personal knowledge, education and qualification by attending workshops and seminars. I also have First Aid training. Since early 2016 I became a Trainer and Educator at Nouveau Contour and KBPro Academies for all things Permanent Cosmetics related. 

SMP - Scalp Micropigmentation Treatment FAQ 

The scalp procedure can take from 2 to 6 hours depending on the amount of hair loss, size of the treated area and will require 2-3 sessions with a 2 week minimum gap between procedures. This will be discussed during your pre-screening and pre-treatment consultation.

Some people are more sensitive than others and it’s important that we together establish your comfort level but in general no, its not too uncomfortable.  

A majority of Scalp Micropigmentation treatments will require some maintenance. The effect should last between 2 and 5 years, thereafter a top up/ booster treatment is recommended to maintain the desired look of colour strength and texture appearance. Some people might need a small annual colour boost but majority should carry it well for approx 2-5 years before we need to do a bit of a texture and colour top up.

Yes it is. We can’t make your hair grow back through micropigmentation but we can simulate the look/impression of the hair on the affected areas, regardless of the length of your hair, short, long or none. Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis are known to cause hair loss across the entire body and can be devastating, seriously affecting your confidence and self-esteem.We can work together to recreate the impression of hair including a natural and realistic looking hairline. Androgenic Alopecia (male/female pattern baldness) and Alopecia Areata can cause thinning of the hair and patchy hair loss. The condition affects an estimated 6.5 million people as reported by the NHS. With SMP we can create an illusion of hair growth across the whole area and for the patches we can optically reduce the contrast between your natural hair and the skin.

There is common misconception that Scalp Micropigmentation is just for men. Women can also experience medical conditions such as alopecia and baldness as well as thinning hair due to past hair treatments follicles damage, hormonal changes, hair products, poor diet or pregnancy. Femininity is often associated with hair and it can be devastating when hair loss becomes visible. For a treatment price indication without consultation please feel free to send photos of the affected areas.

It is important that you make the right decision, feel comfortable about the procedure and understand how it works and what to expect. I offer FREE Virtual / Video Consultations via Zoom or Whatsapp, so please do feel free to get in touch to discuss. clinic in person consultations are £25 for 30 minutes.

You can expect an instant visible hair imitation result but never strong enough after 1st session. You will experience some redness and soreness of the area, which usually lasts a couple of days. Immediately after the procedure, the pigment dots will appear darker. Between the 5th and 10th day after the procedure the pigment may “disappear”, which is to be expected as the pigment will get obscured by new skin cells, which is a natural part of the healing process. That can last for two to four weeks before the pigment “reappears” to its true colour. Over subsequent sessions we will improve the definition and shape of your hairline and density. I aim to achieve a natural looking outcome that compliments your facial shape and features.

Before: no alcohol consumption for at least 48 hours prior to the treatment (this can affect pigment retention), no hair dyes at least 10 days prior to the treatment, no Botox or any other injectables at least 2 weeks prior to the treatment but you need to contact me to check. 

After: exercise is not recommended during the 5-7 days after treatment; no shaving of the scalp for 7 days; no washing of the scalp for 7 days. Avoid chlorinated swimming pools for 1 month. You’ll need to wear good sunscreen on sunny days to protect the pigment from fading as a part of your regular maintenance.

We will work together to design the best hairline shape for your features. You can also bring a picture of your hairline from the past. Special wax pencils will be used to draw the shape of the hairline on your skin.We will only go ahead with the treatment once we are both happy with the design.

For fully bald or partially bald clients, it is recommended to maintain a freshly-shaved or cropped look, so you might be required to shave every 2-3 days and you can do that yourself at home, saving a fortune on hairdresser/ barber visits. Letting your hair grow too much will give away the secret. You can start shaving your hair 7 days after the treatment date. For patients with thinning hair or patches, specific advice will be provided at the consultation but you should be able to keep your hair at the desired length. 

Yes, as it might affect the outcome and time scale/allowances of your Scalp Micropigmentation procedure. 

Eyebrows Treatment Specific FAQ

I am a promoter of very realistic and natural looking Permanent Cosmetics. For brows I can imitate natural brow hairs, whether you have any or not. Alternatively, if you desire a powder/ ombre or even a block brow style, that can also be achieved. I will work with you to achieve the perfect brow style for you.

No. It’s better to keep your own brows, I advise not to even tweeze them before you come in so we can review your natural shape. I always try and work with what you have there already and subtly integrate the design to suit your natural brow style.

Yes, but any waxing should be performed at least 48h before the treatment or even longer if possible.

Yes, but you should wait a minimum of fourteen days after having electrolysis before attending the brow Microblading or Permanent Makeup treatment and then 14 days after if its near the areas we are due to treat. 

You can if you wish, it can be useful to see what colour tones and shape you usually choose for your brows, but you don’t have to.

The idea is to work with whatever brow hairs you have. It’s often incorrectly assumed that brow hairs need to be shaved off for before the treatment. This is not the case! The only time brow hairs may need to be removed (twizzed) is if there is any unwanted growth which needs tidying up, either through tweezing or plucking.

The colour intensity will be significantly sharper and darker immediately after the treatment. This will subside and become lighter as the skin heals. This process can take up to 10 days.

You might do, depending on what’s there already, as you must remember that procedure does not affect the hair growth or colour of your own hair in any way. It only colours the skin under / between the hair.

Eyes Treatment Specific FAQ

Yes, you will need to remove eye makeup prior to any eye treatment. However, please wear your usual makeup for the appointment so I can see your style. 

You can but you don’t have to. If you wish a particular colour tone of eyeliner pencil to be replicated, please bring it with you to the treatment. This will help to custom blend an appropriate Permanent Cosmetics pigment.

It’s advised that any eyelash tinting or perming should be carried out at least a week before, or two weeks after the treatment.

This is not a problem; it’s actually a normal concern by first time clients but nothing to worry about.  

They may, but the swelling is relatively minimal and usually lasts for up to 12 to 24 hours after the treatment. Ice packs can be used to minimise this.

It’s possible that your eyes could be a little watery after the treatment. As you are advised not to drive yourself following any eye treatments, please arrange alternative travel arrangements. 

The colour intensity will be significantly sharper and darker immediately after the treatment. The look can be compared with an evening eyeliner look. This will subside and become lighter as the skin heals. This process can take up to 9 days.

It’s advised to wait until the treatment area has healed before applying makeup on the treated area, approx 7-9 days. If you have had an eye treatment new mascara is also recommended.

Lips Treatment Specific FAQ 

If you wish to achieve your favourite lipstick look, please bring it with you to the treatment. We will custom blend appropriate Permanent Cosmetics pigments for a similar result.

No, Permanent Cosmetics do not cause or create cold sores, however, if you carry the virus, it lays dormant in the body and can be aroused by the treatment.

If you have a history of cold sores (herpes simplex) it’s advised that you contact your General Practitioner to obtain the proper prescription medication to prevent such outbreaks, or obtain and use your regular medication from your local chemist. You should begin using the medication one week before and continue one week after your treatment. This will help to minimise an outbreak.

No. The lips must be fully healed in order for a Cosmetic Tattoo lip treatment to be performed.

Yes you can but a lip wax or bleaching treatment cannot be undertaken for at least 1 week prior to your Permanent Cosmetics lip treatment.

Topical numbing cream is used throughout the treatment, to minimise the discomfort but lips can be a little more sensitive than brows or eyes. This is due to the larger surface area and greater blood supply. 

You may experience swelling and redness immediately after the treatment for approx 48h. After this you may experience tenderness, flaking, dryness, swelling and redness for approximately 2-5 days after the treatment. If you are feeling less than 100% healthy it may take longer for your treatment to heal and symptoms may appear more prominent.

If you have had a lip treatment, you should avoid eating spicy and salty foods until the area has healed. You should also drink liquids through a straw and eat all foods with a fork to avoid any possible infection or discomfort.

Additional questions