Needle Know- How

The demand for semi- permanent make-up is growing. Chloe Walsh and Candice Watson, the two Dubai- based experts on semi- permanent make-up answer the what, why and how of this delicate treatment.

 

What are the key considerations for a salon looking to introduce semi-permanent make-up treatments?

Candice Watson: Make sure the person doing the semi-permanent make-up (also know as micropigmentation) has proper qualifications and is professionally licensed to do the work in the establishment they are doing it in. Also ensure they can provide a portfolio of clients that they have actually work on, not just [images taken] from the Internet. If it is a salon and not a clinic they must have been trained via a KHDA approved training centre, this then automatically gives municipality approval to be done in a salon. The salon must also add the activity to their license.

 

How can salons ascertain that the pigments and machinery they are purchasing are of a high quality?

Candice: The machines used here in the UAE should be machines that have been registered, which are mainly German manufactured and are digital, not rotary machines. All needles should be pre-sterile blister packed and are strictly one use only and then disposed of after every treatment. Pigments must also be approved and not permanent inks.

 

What training should technicians undergo in order to be experienced in providing such treatments?

Candice:Technicians providing these treatments should have either a beauty or tattooing background, or nursing qualifications, and should have completed and got a certification from a reputable training centre for whatever treatments they are offering. The basic make-up course should have been a minimum of four days plus at least six months to a year of practicing before they should be charging full price for the treatments. These treatments are very specific and require knowledge and practice that can only be obtained by doing more of them, they also need to listen to their clients’ needs and wants and be able to explain fully what they are doing and how the colour reacts in the different skin tones of each individual client.

 

Chloe Walsh:Technicians really need to do their research when deciding to take a career in this service. You, or your staff, should train with a well-known, reputable firm who offer intense training. Unfortunately, and scarily, there are some cheap courses out there, which are not regulated and it is not ideal to train with them when you are working so closely with clients’ delicate facial areas.

 

How does semi-permanent make-up differ from permanent make-up?

Chloe:Semi-permanent make-up/permanent make-up is more or less the same thing. The reason people get confused is that even though it fades on some clients, there may always be a slight bit of pigment left in the skin, which if you look closely you can see. We can’t guarantee that the pigment will 100 per cent “disappear” because every skin type is different and it is also dependent on how the client looks after the area -i.e. excessive exposure to UV rays, medication, and so forth. We recommend maintenance around every 12 months to keep the colour looking fresh. 

 

Candice:Semi-permanent make-up and permanent make-up are in fact one and the same in technical terms, however, in layman’s terms (to the client) the procedure if done correctly using approved and good quality pigments it is a semi-permanent procedure. The colour will last between one and three years, dependent on the skin type and the amount of sun it is exposed to (generally in UAE they will need a re-touch every year as the sun is so strong and constant). The actual molecules if looked at under a microscope will stay in the skin forever but the colour will go, hence technically it is both permanent and semi-permanent.

If a technician tells you the colour will last several years or more then they are using a permanent body tattoo ink which is strictly not allowed on the face, not only here in the UAE but most other countries. The body tattoo pigments all contain blue as the base hue colour as blue is indelible and the only colour to last in the skin forever. These pigments are not designed for the face and should never be used for semi-permanent make-up; a blue eyebrow or lip is a bad look!

 

What semi-permanent make-up treatments are available/do you offer?

Candice: I offer all make up treatments (eyebrows, eyeliner, eyelash enhancement, lip line, full lip colour, colour correction and beauty spot). I also offer all medical micropigmentation including 3D areola treatments, vitiligo, scars and burn treatments and scalp hair follicle simulation for both men and women.

 

Chloe: Sisters offers eyebrows with the natural “hair strokes” or powdered effect, eyeliners/eyelash enhancements and lip enhancements.

 

How popular are semi-permanent make-up treatments?

Chloe: Eyebrows are extremely popular!! Eyeliners are very popular as they are great for people who swim/go to the beach and who can’t apply their own eyeliner. Lips are also becoming very popular as cosmetic make up-can really help to enhance the natural lip contour. 

 

What are the reasons clients might consider having semi-permanent make-up?

Chloe: The main reason for brows is to create the perfect shape and fill in any gaps where hair may not grow anymore. A lot of clients don’t want to have to “fill” in their brows every day so this is another reason why clients choose to have this done. For eyes also, this is a great way to enhance them without having to apply make-up every day. The reason clients have lips done is mainly to enhance the perfect shape of the lip. 

 

Candice: Semi-permanent make-up or medical micro pigmentations can be done for so many different reasons and for so many people. For make-up especially in Dubai where everyone is so busy and has no time, it saves time on applying make-up, along with of course never smudging or melting off your skin in the hot months; many sporty people benefit from this also and we generally try to keep the treatments looking very natural rather than bold and fake. Semi-permanent make-up should be an enhancement of your features and not a replacement of heavy make-up.

 

Prior to treating a client, what should technicians discuss with them?

Candice: In the consultation there should be questions of medical history, any medication they are on (this can affect the pigment) and the treatment should be fully explained [in terms of] what is going to happen before, during and after the treatment along with aftercare instructions. The pain should be minimal through the use of numbing creams but not always completely comfortable. Treatment time should be explained and the also they should be aware of the fact that they will need at least one re-touch about one month later to complete the treatment.

 

Chloe: A consultation is very important in this line of work. It’s great to see the area you will work on before you go ahead with the treatment. You should see the colour that is suitable for the skin type, you should have explained thoroughly what will happen throughout the treatment, what you need to do before the treatment, how the area will look immediately after the treatment and then discuss aftercare. The price should also be discussed so the client knows what to expect. It is important the technician understands the clients’ expectations and reasons why they have chosen this service so she can really meet their expectations. 

 

What after-care considerations are there for clients?

Chloe: The main thing is to be careful when out in the sun - always use a good SPF and try and cover the area. The area will look darker/sharper immediately after but will soften and fade after a few days. There may be a slight sensation of itching and dryness around the area during the healing process but this is very normal and hardly noticeable. I always offer my clients an aftercare balm to apply for the week after the initial treatment. 

 

Candice: The healing time is usually between 3-5 days before the colour fades and they can stop using the aftercare cream, but the redness and swelling (should they get any) will only last around two hours, maximum 24 hours. No water can be used for at least 24 hours on the area and sun, steam or any heat treatment should be avoided for around seven days.

The demand for semi- permanent make-up is growing. Chloe Walsh and Candice Watson, the two Dubai- based experts on semi- permanent make-up answer the what, why and how of this delicate treatment.

 

What are the key considerations for a salon looking to introduce semi-permanent make-up treatments?

Candice Watson: Make sure the person doing the semi-permanent make-up (also know as micropigmentation) has proper qualifications and is professionally licensed to do the work in the establishment they are doing it in. Also ensure they can provide a portfolio of clients that they have actually work on, not just [images taken] from the Internet. If it is a salon and not a clinic they must have been trained via a KHDA approved training centre, this then automatically gives municipality approval to be done in a salon. The salon must also add the activity to their license.

 

How can salons ascertain that the pigments and machinery they are purchasing are of a high quality?

Candice: The machines used here in the UAE should be machines that have been registered, which are mainly German manufactured and are digital, not rotary machines. All needles should be pre-sterile blister packed and are strictly one use only and then disposed of after every treatment. Pigments must also be approved and not permanent inks.

 

What training should technicians undergo in order to be experienced in providing such treatments?

Candice:Technicians providing these treatments should have either a beauty or tattooing background, or nursing qualifications, and should have completed and got a certification from a reputable training centre for whatever treatments they are offering. The basic make-up course should have been a minimum of four days plus at least six months to a year of practicing before they should be charging full price for the treatments. These treatments are very specific and require knowledge and practice that can only be obtained by doing more of them, they also need to listen to their clients’ needs and wants and be able to explain fully what they are doing and how the colour reacts in the different skin tones of each individual client.

 

Chloe Walsh:Technicians really need to do their research when deciding to take a career in this service. You, or your staff, should train with a well-known, reputable firm who offer intense training. Unfortunately, and scarily, there are some cheap courses out there, which are not regulated and it is not ideal to train with them when you are working so closely with clients’ delicate facial areas.

 

How does semi-permanent make-up differ from permanent make-up?

Chloe:Semi-permanent make-up/permanent make-up is more or less the same thing. The reason people get confused is that even though it fades on some clients, there may always be a slight bit of pigment left in the skin, which if you look closely you can see. We can’t guarantee that the pigment will 100 per cent “disappear” because every skin type is different and it is also dependent on how the client looks after the area -i.e. excessive exposure to UV rays, medication, and so forth. We recommend maintenance around every 12 months to keep the colour looking fresh. 

 

Candice:Semi-permanent make-up and permanent make-up are in fact one and the same in technical terms, however, in layman’s terms (to the client) the procedure if done correctly using approved and good quality pigments it is a semi-permanent procedure. The colour will last between one and three years, dependent on the skin type and the amount of sun it is exposed to (generally in UAE they will need a re-touch every year as the sun is so strong and constant). The actual molecules if looked at under a microscope will stay in the skin forever but the colour will go, hence technically it is both permanent and semi-permanent.

If a technician tells you the colour will last several years or more then they are using a permanent body tattoo ink which is strictly not allowed on the face, not only here in the UAE but most other countries. The body tattoo pigments all contain blue as the base hue colour as blue is indelible and the only colour to last in the skin forever. These pigments are not designed for the face and should never be used for semi-permanent make-up; a blue eyebrow or lip is a bad look!

 

What semi-permanent make-up treatments are available/do you offer?

Candice: I offer all make up treatments (eyebrows, eyeliner, eyelash enhancement, lip line, full lip colour, colour correction and beauty spot). I also offer all medical micropigmentation including 3D areola treatments, vitiligo, scars and burn treatments and scalp hair follicle simulation for both men and women.

 

Chloe: Sisters offers eyebrows with the natural “hair strokes” or powdered effect, eyeliners/eyelash enhancements and lip enhancements.

 

How popular are semi-permanent make-up treatments?

Chloe: Eyebrows are extremely popular!! Eyeliners are very popular as they are great for people who swim/go to the beach and who can’t apply their own eyeliner. Lips are also becoming very popular as cosmetic make up-can really help to enhance the natural lip contour. 

 

What are the reasons clients might consider having semi-permanent make-up?

Chloe: The main reason for brows is to create the perfect shape and fill in any gaps where hair may not grow anymore. A lot of clients don’t want to have to “fill” in their brows every day so this is another reason why clients choose to have this done. For eyes also, this is a great way to enhance them without having to apply make-up every day. The reason clients have lips done is mainly to enhance the perfect shape of the lip. 

 

Candice: Semi-permanent make-up or medical micro pigmentations can be done for so many different reasons and for so many people. For make-up especially in Dubai where everyone is so busy and has no time, it saves time on applying make-up, along with of course never smudging or melting off your skin in the hot months; many sporty people benefit from this also and we generally try to keep the treatments looking very natural rather than bold and fake. Semi-permanent make-up should be an enhancement of your features and not a replacement of heavy make-up.

 

Prior to treating a client, what should technicians discuss with them?

Candice: In the consultation there should be questions of medical history, any medication they are on (this can affect the pigment) and the treatment should be fully explained [in terms of] what is going to happen before, during and after the treatment along with aftercare instructions. The pain should be minimal through the use of numbing creams but not always completely comfortable. Treatment time should be explained and the also they should be aware of the fact that they will need at least one re-touch about one month later to complete the treatment.

 

Chloe: A consultation is very important in this line of work. It’s great to see the area you will work on before you go ahead with the treatment. You should see the colour that is suitable for the skin type, you should have explained thoroughly what will happen throughout the treatment, what you need to do before the treatment, how the area will look immediately after the treatment and then discuss aftercare. The price should also be discussed so the client knows what to expect. It is important the technician understands the clients’ expectations and reasons why they have chosen this service so she can really meet their expectations. 

 

What after-care considerations are there for clients?

Chloe: The main thing is to be careful when out in the sun - always use a good SPF and try and cover the area. The area will look darker/sharper immediately after but will soften and fade after a few days. There may be a slight sensation of itching and dryness around the area during the healing process but this is very normal and hardly noticeable. I always offer my clients an aftercare balm to apply for the week after the initial treatment. 

 

Candice: The healing time is usually between 3-5 days before the colour fades and they can stop using the aftercare cream, but the redness and swelling (should they get any) will only last around two hours, maximum 24 hours. No water can be used for at least 24 hours on the area and sun, steam or any heat treatment should be avoided for around seven days.