Semi-Permanent Makeup..What Next?

In regard to all this talk about “Long Lasting, or Semi-Permanent,” several incidences come to mind, one even before I entered the industry.

· A woman I worked with who wore very little makeup was planning a vacation on a cruise ship. She convinced her husband that she would have more fun if she got some semi-permanent makeup. At the time I knew little if anything about permanent cosmetics and was quite interested in just what process she might be referring to. At first I thought for sure it must be long lasting topical makeup but she said no, they use a machine to put it in the skin but it doesn’t last long. Well lo and behold this semi-permanent makeup did indeed last and caused a lot of friction between her and her husband, who preferred a “fresh” face with little or no makeup. She felt she had been duped and left to deal with the relationship problems created by the fact that it did not magically go away. At one point she said to me, “After researching what this really is, it is a tattoo. If the technician had just been honest, I could have at least made a good decision and discussed this with my husband.”

· The other example of how damaging this semi-permanent misrepresentation can be falls closer to home. One of my first clients over 12 years ago was a woman whose lips where literally tucked inside her mouth. Very little of the vermilion showed where you would normally expect to see lips. As a result, and knowing very little back then, I tattooed a set of lips into her skin surrounding what little lip tissue showed, and did a good job, if I do say so myself. She was thrilled. For the first time she had lips that could be seen.

I received a call from this client about 3 years ago advising me that she had experienced a radical lifestyle change and lived with a religious group who did not believe women should wear makeup. She asked if there was any way she could get the lip pigment to go away. We discussed possible laser treatment or other medical alternatives, none of which fell in line with her newly found beliefs. In closing she stated, “Well I should have taken the “permanent” in “permanent makeup” seriously.

Both of these examples, although only one pertains to me as a technician, have undertones of liability. In the first example, the person who thought she was getting semi-permanent makeup most likely would have had a good lawsuit in the event she had chosen to pursue it. She really did not realize she was getting a tattoo.

The second example of my own client might have had reason to seek damages if my paperwork did not indeed say permanent makeup is a tattoo.

Today I touched up an eyebrow that still had visible pigment after 6 years.

I agree with Katiecee that in the event someone is experiencing total loss of pigment short term or even long term, one must look to the technique and pigments/products they are using. Am I willing to support a change in perception about the services we provide because a few technicians don’t know how to properly tattoo pigment into the skin or use pigments or products that do not fare well for the long term? Goodness no. The problem lays with the inexperienced, or possibly a product that is not serving well or even misuse of products. Some technicians lather on liquid and gel anesthetics so often during the procedure it is little wonder that what they get back is a diluted version of what was intended and they in turn get a diluted life span of the procedure.

Another area where this concept would just play hell is in legislation and regulations. Some may be able to dupe a few non-suspecting legislators who know nothing about tattooing, but for the most part, the US has standards that call out regulations for tattooing, permanent cosmetics, and at the top level body art.

So, if I am to understand the proposed or presented concept, if I am tattooing eyeliner with ink, then I am indeed tattooing, but if I am tattooing with pigment, then I am offering semi-permanent services? HA HA, it must have taken a long time to come up with that one up! Now the question is – Why?

For years I wondered why all the adversarial feelings between body tattoo artists and permanent cosmetic technicians. The longer I am in this industry the better I understand it. Before we invaded their industry, allergies were negligible, questions were few regarding pigments/ink, there was either tattoo regulations, or there was not. Now since the permanent cosmetic industry has made the scene for more than the past decade and a half, they have watched us twist the tattooing industry any which way but loose to suit our own snobby needs to be distanced from being identified as a tattoo artist. We are “Micropigmentologists,” we are not “really tattooing,” we are placing pigment particles under the skin with a specialized device, blah blah blah blah. You get the picture.

I suppose everyone has the choice of doing what they wish, but after the sheep follow the herd and someone gets sued for their “semi-permanent: work not going away in any prescribed or anticipated time, I would not expect to hear any “howling at the moon about it.” Sometimes you get what you ask for.

For me, I have body art regulations in California which identify permanent cosmetics as tattooing (thank goodness,) and I am proud to be a tattoo artist specializing in permanent cosmetics.

Color refreshers are routine for ALL color, cars, houses, and clothing due to repeated washings - you name it - color fades. How much and when? Maybe never - maybe sooner than later. Try putting your finger on that one and you will have created quite a job for yourself…Carry lots of insurance.

Semi-Permanent Cosmetics: The Latest Deception

There continues to be discussion about this situation. Professionals in this industry must no longer misrepresent to their clients that cosmetic tattooing is a semi-permanent process.

Semi-permanent makeup (other than the correctly identified long-wear topically applied makeup) is advertised by some in the industry as lasting 3-5 years. It has even been marketed to some religious groups that it will wear away in this period of time. These people have the false impression that in 3-5 years their "semi-permanent" makeup will be gone. This is not true. If applied correctly it will last indefinitely. Of course it will fade - all tattooing fades and unfortunately on the face, due to the constant exposure to the sun, it will fade at a faster rate.

So rather than getting the necessary color refreshers over the years, these (mostly) women will then have to suffer though discolored, faded eyebrows for instance, waiting for them to magically disappear altogether. It's simply not going to happen.

Of course on rare occasions, the color does not last well and may appear to be completely gone. Trust me, this is NOT a "perfected" method - it is a mistake. It is from a poor application in many cases. My personal experience has taught me that it is difficult to get color to stay well in some individuals; but this does not make it semi-permanent - it just means I have to work harder at my job.

It is a tattoo - a tattoo is permanent by nature of the process.
Webster Dictionary Definitions:

Tattoo: an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin or by production of scars

Indelible: a. that cannot be removed, washed away, erased
b. making marks that cannot easily be removed

What information here suggests the process is anything but permanent???

What information here infers or otherwise suggests that semi-permanent is an accurate description of this art form???

I have polled many manufacturers of pigments and devices for this industry and NOT ONE has been able to tell me their products can produce a semi-permanent makeup design. It is time those in the cosmetic tattooing - permanent makeup - permanent cosmetics - micropigmentation - semi-permanent makeup industry, or whatever your flavor of the month is, speak with the same voice and STOP misleading the public.

IT IS NOT SEMI-PERMANENT. Provide proper information to your clients to explain about fading and the need for color refreshing down the road. Fading in traditional tattooing is acceptable and oftentimes appreciated as acknowledgement of "vintage" art, so to speak. On the face when it is meant to enhance features just like traditional topically applied makeup, fading is not desirable.

Just be honest. It is a tattoo...it is permanent.