My Eyeliner!
A Post About Permanent Make-up
My friend Sally (a gorgeous Moroccan woman) was telling me she really wanted her eyeliner tattoo’d. Waking up looking the same as when I go to bed is my lazy life dream! And before you respond that we’re nuts… Let’s look at the facts. Do you agree:
– You spend about $100 a year on eyeliner.
– Perfect eyeliner requires a Masters in Art.
– Waking up next to someone with black raccoon eyes… shameful (on multiple levels!)
– Getting ready takes a really long, annoying time (Have you ever noticed? A Woman’s “I’ll be ready in FIVE minutes” & a man’s “I’ll be home in FIVE minutes” are exactly the same?)
– Tattoo’s are AWESOME. (I have 3 extremely tasteful works of art. O.k., 2 are extremely tasteful and 1 is a tramp stamp that I got when I was 18, but I still love it! And it’s over 10 years old… so HA mom and dad!)
The Research:
I research EVERYTHING before I do it. And I do it from a medical perspective. As a Registered Nurse, I have a lot more general knowledge about health and the human body than the average beauty writer. Here is some interesting information I came across on my background search.
Permanent makeup: (noun) aka micropigmentation, is a cosmetic technique in which an organic pigment is embedded into the dermis in a fashion to resemble make-up. Common areas are lips, eyeliner, and eyebrows. It can also be used to disguise scars and spots in the skin. FUN FACT: You can use it to restore or enhance the breast's aureola after breast augmentation or reduction (I think this is awesome...ly funny! Who knew!).
History:
Dates back to the 20th century, with George Burchett describing it as fashionable in the 1930’s. I was surprised that there was no information on tattoo’ing from any early cultures. I figured surely the ancient Egyptians used needles and eyeliner!
Regulations: In most areas it falls under the cognizance of the Department of Health, State Boards of Cosmetology are often the oversight agency. In some areas, a cosmetology or esthetics license is required, while in others, these people are prohibited and only a nurse or doctor can perform these procedures. Some states forbid it completely. Fortunately, if Mass were to ever abolish permanent make-up, NH is only an hours ride away!
My Experience
It’s official. I realized I’m insane! I’m glad I didn’t REALLY think about it before I did it… because Permanent make-up is anxiety provoking! I highly recommend taking a xanex or something before a procedure like this!
I would also like to note that I told my mother I was doing this and she didn’t even bat an eyelash.
Sally and I went to a cosmetic artist that came with stellar recommendations. As we entered into her basement shop (just kidding!) … I was so excited walking in the door!
I went first, laying on the cosmetic bed. We talked about tattoos while I lay with Emla Cream on my eyes. The artist explained the whole procedure to me as I numbed. We discussed what kind of style I wanted and what color would be best with my eyes. I decided I just wanted my lash lines done in black ink. I don’t like trendy things… I like a classic look. Trends come in and out of style, and I didn’t want anything permanent on my face that might go out of style!
After a half hour with the numbing cream on my eyes, we started the procedure. Lidocaine with epinephrine was injected into my eyelid to numb the pain and keep the bleeding to a minimum (I don’t think it bled at all actually). I’m sure you’re all wondering: Did it hurt? No… It really didn’t. It felt weird! There was a buzzing and a vibrating and the knowledge that there was a needle… really close to my eye. Anxiety! Actually I think I was totally fine until we got to the lower lashes… When I needed to open my eye while the tattoo was being applied. It was nuts!!! I realized at this point that I am absolutely insane! And I love it.
It took about two hours total. By the end it was starting to hurt a little and I had enough. Many people do tattoos in sessions because of swelling. I had some ice on my eyes for a few minutes while the ink was cleaned off and the lidocaine wore off so I could open my eyes again. Vaseline was put on the tattoo (I forget why).
I finally got to look in the mirror. More anxiety!
It looks amazing and I love it!
I have a lot of friends with tattoos, I’d like to shout out to my friend Angel right here, who has a sleeve from some Gothic Artist. Surprisingly, my friends with tattoos, ESPECIALLY Angel, were telling me not to do this. Even Angel loves it though!
Follow-up and Post-care
I will need to go back in 3 weeks and have the line neatened and the rest finished.
For 4 days:
- No make-up
- Rinse the eye twice a day with saline
- Apply Vaseline to the lash line
- Ice, Ice, Ice!
*Note: My eyes are really swollen in the pictures. I didn’t Ice, Ice, Ice enough.
**Note 2: I could not fill my eyelash extensions before the procedure. That is why they look RIDICULOUS.
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