HOW NOT TO TATTOO BROWS

Most of us have seen brow procedures gone bad either in person, or on the internet. The question is, “How should you, as an artist, not tattoo brows to ensure your clients love the way their brows look for years to come?” I believe eyebrows are one of the most important features on my clients face. And when the brows, and eyeliner are properly placed it can make their eyes radiate with this amazing beauty. We all know the icons in the beauty industry are masters in the way their brows appear not only for the camera, but also to meet their clients everyday needs. Three major takeaways I’ve gained over the past 30 years of being a permanent makeup technician is that the design, color, and placement of our brows becomes the signature of the tattoo artist, as well as, for our clients!

Here are the top 3 things to consider before tattooing any brows

#1 KEEP THEM TIMELESS

First, we have to take into consideration the age of our client. For my clients in their 20’s I know that they will have more years of touch up procedures verses clients coming in starting in their 50’s or 60’s. Most brow procedures require refresher appointments every 2-3 years, and you would want to leave tiny islands of skin to keep the hair strokes looking more natural as time evolves.

We want to be kind to our clients skin, and proceed with knowledge so that 5 or 10 years down the road our clients skin doesn’t turn a silvery color from years of heavy handed touch ups that may leave clouded hues across your clients brow area. Guide your clients carefully! All tattoos spread, and shift in color to some degree; allow room for this in your work. Some of us may enjoy the different brow fads, but when we use a more natural approach in tattooing permanent makeup our clients brows keep from looking dated as the trends change. Conventional makeup can be used for enhancement when desired.

#2 COLOR CHOICE

Take the time to study your clients skin tones. Use colors that will compliment their eye, skin, and hair color. Keeping your color pallet on a neutral level can serve your clients better than using auburns, red browns, or blacks. Very dark, black tattooed brows are likely to leave your clients needing corrective procedures in the years to come. As well as colors that may need to be neutralized once fading into unwanted salmon pink, purples, and buttercup yellows. These scenarios may lead your clients into becoming slaves to find a pleasing appearance to the aftermath of a brow procedure going bad.

No one wants their clients to have to seek out corrective procedures because of the smudged undertones that can follow in time, and can be very unpleasant because they appear dirty as the aging process continues. Do your due diligence as a makeup artist, and spend time studying your clients undertones. Also, take into consideration their lifestyle, medications, and ingredients in the skin care products they use.

#2 PLACEMENT

We all have a natural bone structure, and it is always, always, always best to stay within your client’s natural facial structure. This way you can never go wrong! Keep in mind that there are circumstances that may require us to make some minor adjustments in our brow placement, but there is an old school rule of thumb that will work with everyone, in every season of life, and no matter what the fad is. Take a pencil and hold the center of the pencil with your fingers to the outside corner of your nostril, keeping your pencil straight up to the bridge of your nose. On the inside of the pencil where the bridge of your nose starts then moving along the brow bone is where your brow should begin. Now hold your pencil at the edge of your clients nostril as they look straight ahead, situate your pencil to rest on the outer edge of the iris (the color part of the eye), and this part of the brow bone is the area the arch should naturally fall. Now, take your pencil from the nostril, pointing outward to the outside corner of the eye, and upward to the desired height of your clients brow tail bone. Remembering never to go too far down; this could give the appearance of droopy eyes. Using this patterning as your guide can be a life saver!

Permanent Makeup is a wonderful procedure that gives you many years of freedom. It is very tedious work to draw on your own brows, eyeliner, and lip color on a daily basis. And there are many wonderful artists out there ready to help you. Do your research, and get connected with one today so you can find your freedom. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 419-680-1486.

I wish you all great success, and I hope this information helps you along the way!

Alisa Florio