Permanent Makeup
FAQ

Permanent makeup is a cosmetic tattoo that enhances your natural brows by implanting pigment into the skin to create shape, fullness, and definition that lasts.

Unlike traditional body tattoos, permanent makeup is done more superficially and uses pigments specifically designed for the face. The goal is soft, natural-looking results — not harsh or overly dark brows.

I offer four brow techniques:

• Microblading – created using a handheld tool to mimic fine hair strokes

• Nano Brows – machine-created hair strokes for a natural, fluffy look

• Powder Brows – soft shading for a filled-in, makeup-style finish

• Combo Brows – a blend of hair strokes and shading for added depth and dimension

Every set of brows is fully customized to your face shape, bone structure, and comfort level. Your brows are carefully mapped and approved by you before any pigment is implanted.

The result is low-maintenance, long-lasting brows that still look like you — just more defined and polished.

Choosing the right brow style depends on your skin type, lifestyle, and the look you want. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Microblading

Microblading uses a manual handheld tool with a small blade to create fine, hair-like strokes in the skin. It can look very natural, but because it uses a blade, it may not be ideal for oily, textured, or mature skin. Results can sometimes heal softer or blur over time depending on skin type.

Nano Brows

Nano brows create the same soft, hair-like strokes — but they are done using a machine with a single ultra-fine needle, not a blade. This allows for more precision, less trauma to the skin, and better longevity on most skin types.

If clients are confused between the two, here’s the simple difference:

• Microblading = manual blade

• Nano = machine needle

Both create hair strokes, but nano is generally more versatile and suitable for more skin types.

Powder Brows

Powder brows use a machine to create soft shading throughout the brow, similar to the look of brow powder or pencil. This style is great for oily or mature skin and gives a more defined, makeup-inspired finish.

Combo Brows

Combo brows blend hair strokes (microblading or nano) at the front with soft shading through the body and tail. This gives the most dimension and works well for clients who want both natural texture and added fullness.

If you’re unsure which style is right for you, I will assess your skin and recommend the technique that will heal and age the best.

Pain is one of the most common concerns — and completely understandable.

I use a professional, medical-grade topical anesthetic called Ultra Duration, which contains:

• 5% Lidocaine – a fast-acting numbing agent that blocks nerve signals in the skin

• 2% Tetracaine – a longer-lasting anesthetic that keeps the area comfortable as we work

• 0.02% Epinephrine – helps constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling and bleeding while also helping the numbing last longer

I don’t just numb once at the beginning. I continuously reapply numbing after every pass through the brows from start to finish. As we go, you actually become more numb — not less — so your comfort increases throughout the appointment.

Most clients describe the sensation as light pressure or gentle scratching rather than true pain. It’s very tolerable, and many clients are relaxed enough to fall asleep.

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, but in over 10 years of performing permanent makeup, I have never had a client who wasn’t able to comfortably get through their appointment.

Your comfort is always a priority from the moment you sit down.

Permanent makeup is long-lasting — but it is not truly permanent.

On average, most clients return every 1–2 years for a color refresh to keep their brows looking crisp and defined. Over time, the pigment will naturally fade and soften.

It’s important to understand that results vary significantly from person to person. Every client’s skin is different, and your skin type plays a major role in how your brows heal, hold pigment, and fade over time.

Factors that can cause brows to fade more quickly include:

• Oily or very porous skin

• Frequent sun exposure

• Regular exercise and heavy sweating

• Facials and chemical peels

• Exfoliating products or retinol use

• Hormonal changes

• Overall lifestyle and skincare routine

Some clients hold pigment beautifully for years, while others may notice softening sooner. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline.

The 6-week touch-up after your initial appointment is essential for perfecting and locking in your results. After that, most clients maintain their brows with a refresh appointment every 12–24 months to keep them looking their best.

Healing is a normal and expected part of permanent makeup — and understanding the process helps prevent unnecessary stress.

Immediately after your appointment, your brows will look darker, bolder, and more defined than the final result. This is normal. As they heal, they will shrink slightly in size, soften in intensity, and cool down in tone. The color typically lightens by about 30–40% as your skin regenerates.

Most clients appear fully healed on the surface in about 7–10 days. That means the skin itself is closed and no longer tender. However, it can take up to 4 weeks for the pigment to fully settle and reappear in the skin. Around week 2, some clients experience a temporary “ghosting” phase where the brows look lighter before the color resurfaces.

You will leave your appointment with a full aftercare kit, which includes:

• A gentle cleanser

• A healing balm specifically formulated for permanent makeup

• Detailed written instructions

During the first 24 hours, you’ll cleanse and moisturize more frequently. After that, cleansing and moisturizing continues twice daily until fully healed.

During the 7–10 day healing period, it’s important to avoid:

• Excessive sun exposure

• Heavy sweating or intense workouts

• Swimming

• Picking, scratching, or rubbing the area

• Friction or pressure on the brows (including pressing into your pillow at night or lying face down on a massage table)

Because your brows will appear bold at first, you’ll want to be mindful of scheduling around special events, vacations, or professional photography.

Healing is a process — and when aftercare is followed properly, your brows will settle beautifully.

Permanent makeup is safe for most people, but there are situations where treatment must be postponed to protect your safety and ensure the best healed results.

You may not be a good candidate if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Have taken Accutane within the last 6–12 months

• Are on blood thinners

• Have uncontrolled diabetes

• Have a history of keloid scarring

• Have active skin infections, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis in the brow area

• Have compromised, extremely thin, fragile, or inflamed skin in the treatment area

If you have undergone chemotherapy within the last year, medical clearance from your doctor is required before booking. The immune system and skin need adequate time to recover, and healing can be unpredictable.

It is also important that you do not come to your appointment with a tan or active sunburn. When the skin is recently tanned, I cannot accurately see your natural undertones. This can affect pigment selection and may cause brows to heal too cool or fade gray.

There must be at least two weeks between sun exposure that causes a tan or sunburn and your appointment.

Your safety and healed results always come first. A full health history is reviewed prior to treatment to ensure you are an appropriate candidate. If there is any uncertainty, we will reschedule until it is safe to proceed.

You are required to read through the emailed consent form before arriving to your appointment. A printed copy will be provided in studio for you to review and sign.

Please do not take Tylenol, ibuprofen, Advil, or any painkillers before your appointment. These medications thin the blood and can cause excess bleeding, which affects pigment retention and healed results.

Numbing is fully provided during your appointment and continuously reapplied throughout the procedure, so taking pain medication beforehand is not necessary.

This is a very common fear — and it’s important to know that you are in full control the entire time.

Before any pigment is implanted, your brows are carefully mapped based on your facial structure and natural growth pattern. Nothing begins until you approve the shape. Your comfort zone, your preferences, and your feedback are always taken into consideration.

Throughout the appointment, I check in with you multiple times to ensure you’re happy with the direction we’re going. Even at the end of the procedure, we can still make small adjustments and refinements before you leave. You are never rushed out the door.

Your 6-week touch-up appointment is another opportunity to fine-tune. We can adjust depth, add softness or fullness, and perfect any areas that healed lighter. Permanent makeup is a two-step process for a reason — it allows for refinement.

My goal is for every client to feel confident and fully satisfied before leaving my studio.

In the rare event that someone truly does not like their brows, removal options are available. The most effective removal method is laser removal using a pico laser, which breaks down pigment more efficiently and safely than older laser technologies.

That said, the detailed mapping process, collaboration, and multiple check-ins make dissatisfaction extremely uncommon. This is a team effort — and you are part of every decision.

In many cases, yes — but it depends on the existing pigment.

If you have previous permanent makeup, I need to assess:

• How dark or saturated the old pigment is

• What tone it has healed to (warm, cool, gray, etc.)

• How much skin integrity remains

• The overall shape and placement

If the old tattoo is too dark, too saturated, or has shifted significantly in color, it may need to be lightened before we can safely correct or improve it. In some cases, partial removal is recommended first to create a better canvas.

If the existing work is faded and neutral in tone, a correction or refresh may be possible without removal.

Every case is different. Photos are required prior to booking, and sometimes an in-person consultation is necessary to determine the safest and most realistic plan.

The goal is always to protect your skin and create the best long-term result — not to layer over something that should be corrected first.

Yes. Safety and sanitation are taken extremely seriously.

Permanent makeup in Nova Scotia is regulated through Environment Nova Scotia, and my studio is inspected annually. An inspector reviews my salon setup, procedures, infection control protocols, and overall health and safety practices to ensure everything meets provincial standards.

All tools and equipment are handled using strict infection control procedures:

• Single-use, sterile cartridges that are disposed of after every client

• Medical-grade disinfectants used on all surfaces

• Barrier protection on equipment

• Proper sharps disposal

My Blood Borne Pathogens certification is updated yearly, and all safety protocols are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure continued compliance.

Yes. Flexible payment plans are available through Afterpay.

Afterpay allows you to split your total into interest-free installments, making it easier to budget your appointment. If you would like to use Afterpay, you must contact me after booking to request an Afterpay invoice. Once the invoice is sent, you can complete your payment plan directly through Afterpay.

If you choose not to use Afterpay, payment is simply made at your appointment. I accept all major forms of payment.

Permanent makeup is an investment, and payment options are available to make it more manageable if needed.

Permanent makeup is a two-step process. Your initial appointment is the first session, and the 6-week touch-up is booked separately to perfect and lock in your results.

An aftercare kit is included with every appointment, which contains a gentle cleanser, a healing balm formulated specifically for permanent makeup, and detailed written instructions to support proper healing.

Microblading

• Initial session: $345 + tax

• 6-week touch-up: $125 + tax

• Annual touch-up (within recommended timeframe): $215 + tax

Nano, Powder & Combo Brows

• Initial session: $390 + tax

• 6-week touch-up: $150 + tax

• Annual touch-up (within recommended timeframe): $250 + tax

The 6-week touch-up is strongly recommended to refine shape, adjust tone if needed, and ensure optimal pigment retention.

A $50 consultation is available if you’d like to discuss your options beforehand. If you decide to book, that $50 is applied toward your service total.

For all first-time clients, a $150 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your appointment. The remaining balance is due at your visit. Flexible payment options are available through Afterpay if you prefer to split your total into installments.

A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will result in the loss of your deposit. This protects the time that has been reserved specifically for you.

A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

If more than 24 hours’ notice is given, we can absolutely reschedule your appointment and your deposit will transfer to your new date.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will result in the loss of your deposit. Because permanent makeup appointments are lengthy and high demand, last-minute cancellations are very difficult to fill.

For full details regarding deposits, rescheduling, no-shows, and late arrivals, please review the complete information on my Policies Page.

All appointments are booked directly through my website on the Bookings & Inquiries page.

A valid credit card is required to hold your appointment, however nothing is charged at the time of booking. The card is kept on file in accordance with my cancellation policy.

Payment is made at the time of your appointment. I accept all major forms of payment.

If you would like to use Afterpay, you must contact me after booking to request an Afterpay invoice. Once requested, I will send the invoice for you to complete through Afterpay prior to your appointment.

After your appointment is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email along with your consent form to review before arriving.