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Can’t “Make Up” My Mind

What do you think of the idea of permanent makeup? Here in Hawaii I don’t wear make up much.  It never stays where one puts it.  Because of the humidity, sooner or later (usually sooner) it all slides off my face and soaks into my collar — and the slide itself isn’t pretty to see.  I gave some thought to permanent cosmetics.

I keep seeing these shops that offer permanent makeup.  Imagine never having to put on eyeliner, blush, eyebrows or lipstick again because it is always there, 24/7.   But at what cost?  Price-wise, emotionally, physically?  I’m telling you, the thought of being poked a kajillion times with a sharp needle doesn’t really appeal to me. However, after perusing browlady.com and looking at some of the before and after pics, I was intrigued.

That’s when I decided to call my sister, Caryl. Caryl has permanent cosmetics (top & bottom eyeliner and eyebrows). The first question I asked her is do you like it? She responded, “I love it and I wouldn’t do without it!” So I said, “Did it hurt?” And she said, “I personally don’t think it was painful, no. But you’d better ask Jackie. She thought it was horrible and wouldn’t finish.”

Caryl also told me black ink causes less skin irritation than the other colors. That’s when I asked her how long one’s face is out of commission after getting this done. “Tell me about the swelling and the bruising,” is actually what I meant. Caryl said that there is some redness and irritation for a couple of days, but nothing so bad one can’t go about their normal life — including shopping and other public things. She said that’s providing you research your permanent makeup artist with care and get somebody with a reputation for quality.

I asked her what the biggest drawback was to doing this and she told me that for her, there were no drawbacks. Then I asked her how permanent permanent makeup is. She said, “Well, it only lasts 10 to 15 years. I just had mine redone.” Then she explains that the tattooing fades over time. As to the cost, she said it was worth it just to not have to waste time with cosmetics (or buy them!) or worry what she looks like because of “makeup slide”.

So, back to the website that started this line of thinking, browlady.com. The site has some great before and after pics — and at least one not-so-great (my opinion) before and after pic. That bottom lip job, to me, is just a bit too much; but then I prefer the “natural” look. Still, not having to put on messy, smelly, smeary makeup for the next 10 years sounds awfully inviting.

This site also has a few dead links. The one that concerns me most is the “Qualifications” link. It doesn’t open but it does have a doctor’s referral recommendation under it. That would only satisfy me if I really knew and trusted the referring doctor. I want to see the lady’s certifications, too! And I’d want to speak to a few of her customers (and look at them) in person. A recommendation from a satisfied customer is worth a dozen websites.

So, voice your opinion — is this something you would try? Why or why not?

This was a paid post.  The links were removed on 10.12.09

38 Comments

  2. PFFFFT…why anyone would do this is beyond me. Be happy with what ya got is what I say. Besides, one should look crappy in the morning when waking up, get all dolled up and then look crappy again when going to bed. Of course, clean by showering, but have a painted face all the time…gag me with anything you so desire 🙂
    .-= Thom´s last blog ..A Thousand Words In Idioms – Y and Z =-.

    1. Thom — so, you’re not wanting this for a late birthday present, huh? A little eye enhancement or lip shading? Then we’ll send you for a manicure and an ear piercing.

      (Yes, yes, I know, the only ear piercing will be you screaming obscenities if we really try this ….) 😉

  3. Quilly ~ Only you can answer this question whether you want to do it or not. If it was me, I’d not do it at all. But then I am male and not as conscience of my appearance.
    .-= Bill´s last blog ..Please Note =-.

    1. Jientje — that is a valid concern, however I think a simple thin bit of eyeliner and a tiny bit of color behind the brows would be easy to live with. Definitely not eyeliner or blush though, and I like different shades of lipstick with different outfits, so I’d probably pass on that, too.

  5. I might like a bit of eyeliner. I have thought about it from time to time, but not enough to investigate it. I did enjoy checking out the website. Gave me more info. Still on the fence. I think that I’m just too chicken. 🙂
    .-= Cherie´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Lines =-.

    1. Cherie — me, too. It would be cool to have my eyes done so they no longer automatically disappeared behind my glasses, but …. squawk, squawk, squawk, I’m a bit nervous about it!

  6. Nope.
    When this whole process came into vogue a few years ago some news group – maybe 20/20 did a story about what could go wrong. Lots of horror stories. Of course, new techniques could be in place now. Still, somebody poking a needle near my eye is just plain enough reason for me to say no. But, to each his own.
    .-= Carletta´s last blog ..A Blurred Bundle of Innocence =-.

  7. What a terrific topic of discussion! I went and took a look at the website you linked to. There were some dead links, as you said, but some of the pics looked really nice. I guess my fear would be if the lips were too red or bright or the brows looked too heavy. I’d be fearful that I’d be stuck with a bad look for… ten or more years!
    Permanent eye liner and some nicely shaped, mild colored lips would be great. If I ever have the courage to do it, I’ll let you know.
    Meanwhile, if you take the plunge… POST PICS!!!!
    🙂
    .-= Jamie Dawn´s last blog ..Frazzled!!! =-.

  8. Interesting to read everyone’s take, especiallly Thom and Jientje. the liner isn’t done to make a fashion statement, mostly for blondes to actually look like they have eyelashes and eyebrows. My eyeliner is done in brown and follows the lids in the hairline, not up out or over the lids. and my brows are done in light brown with small lines that represent actual hairs to fill in and enhance the blonde eyebrow. I am with the rest of you on the lips and blush, taste my change on color there. I was so tired of wearing black eyes from my mascara and fake looking smudges for eyeliner that permanent makeup (that I have been wearing since 1987, at the age of 37) has been a real ‘find’ for me…….I wouldn’t want to do without it!!!! To each his own, I would never do Botox !!

    1. Caryl – -and you look perfectly natural to me. At least I don’t remember looking at you and thinking, “What the heck is that!”

  9. You know I almost missed that this was a paid add. I’m with Thom but I don’t think your advertiser wants to hear that . On the other hand I’m not a woman but Betty uses almost no make up and she has always been beautiful.
    .-= Dr. John´s last blog ..Raven’s Challenge 74 =-.

    1. Dr. John — all opinions are my own, paid or not. I only take the “big posts” if they’re something I think I can make interesting. And while I don’t want to slight your word, I think you may be just a tad biased where Betty is concerned. 😉

  10. I wouldn’t consider it but if I did it would be at a dermatologists, there are a few around here who do it.

    I don’t think I’d ever do the lips, and don’t know anyone personally who has, but I know people who have had the eyes done and are happy with it. I wish the site had more photographs.
    .-= cooper´s last blog ..Late Afternoon Brain Flatulence. =-.

    1. Copper — the lack of photographs bothers me, too. I am sure the incomplete website would give me pause if I were looking for a permanent makeup technician.

  11. Well, as a person who wears NO make-up except for the occasional lipstick… I have to admit I have actually THOUGHT about getting my lips done! However… after looking at this web page, I can pretty surely say NO WAY! Those lips are CRAZY! I would just want to darken my natural color maybe a shade or 2 so that I no longer have NEED for lipstick – my lips would once again be visible! But… no. To get something like what these women have had done – not a chance! And looking at those eyebrows… (which I have NO eyebrows… none that can be seen anyway…) … I did have my eyebrows dyed one time and even THAT was disastrous! There was just nothing natural looking about it! And one of the hair dressers at my shop had her eyebrows tattooed — they look awful. I would never say that to her – but they do. And then what do you do once it’s done if you absolutely hate it??? I guess for people who DO wear a lot of makeup it probably is something to think about. But for me? No… *shakes head* … I like natural!
    .-= Melli´s last blog ..Astronomical Fun! =-.

    1. I have seen tattooed eyebrows that look like morse code gone bad, but Caryl’s honestly don’t. And yeah, getting the wrong color would be horrid — especially if you were stuck with it 10+ years!

      1. Oooooooo…. I just thought of something… what about when you turn ollllllllllllld and gray? If you have that eyeliner tattooed on… is that going to give the effect of DEATH? I mean… it will FADE over the years… but it won’t disappear entirely… yikes!
        .-= Melli´s last blog ..Astronomical Fun! =-.

    1. Church Lady — I don’t like putting the stuff on, but I like the way I look once it’s there. Tats would be so perfect, but as you can tell, I’m conflicted.

    1. SN — I used to make up every morning before showing my face to the world. I don’t so much anymore, but I really do like the way I look when I take the effort. Wouldn’t it be cool to look like that all the time without any effort?

  15. nmmmm NO! I don’t wear makeup anyways-not even lipstick. I can count on my hands how many times I have worn makeup and they were all for special occasions. I think though that a person who does wear makeup on a daily basis wanted to save time and maybe expense I would have to suggest it-though the thought comes to mind, what if their colors change or they want a new look? Seems to complicated to me when there are more important things to be worrying about in life.

  17. I would like to have seen the “corrective” links…I have an uneven lipline and might consider that. I always use a brow pencil, but not always the same intensity, so permanance is not a desire of mine. If you use proper primers, all cosmetics can stay put pretty well, even in Hawaii. On the other hand, I would consider Botox and fillers iin a minute if they were affordable.
    .-= baroness radon´s last blog ..Where It All Started =-.

    1. Baroness, yes. I, too, was disappointed by the “missing links”. It made me thing that she must be very new at her job.

  19. I would never be able to understand why soemone would do that.

    Thanks for your comment yesterday. No real holding pattern. my “new” contributor will just eb helping me out a bit, but I think he was being a bit overzealous.
    .-= Family Man´s last blog ..Pardon the intrusion =-.

    1. Ian — and your so confused by the idea of permanent make up that you posted twice! I’ve kept you on my feed reader. All is good.

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