Archive for the ‘Permanent Makeup’ Category

…is one of the most common questions I get asked during an initial consultation. My answer, there are many factors to take into consideration. Permanent makeup is permanent as in when you wake up each morning its there.

Let’s back up. First, all permanent makeup colors fade over time. This is to be expected. Lighter colors will fade sooner than a medium or dark shade. For instance, eyeliner may need to be refreshed every 2-5 years while light to medium eyebrows would be 1-3 years.

The sun is the enemy to permanent makeup and to all pigment color for that matter. Wearing sunscreen, hats and sunglasses will help preserve your makeup color. However, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, even with these precautions, on an average you will require more frequent touch-ups.

The another enemy to permanent makeup is anti-aging skin care products that promote rapid exfoliation such as alpha hydroxy acid, Retin-A, glycolic products and related professional treatments. All are wonderful for the skin, they just should not be applied to areas that have been re-pigmented with permanent makeup color, as they will alter the color and slowly fade it away. This also is true when considering tinting eyebrows gone gray. Professional hair color can bleach out parts of permanent eyebrow color…the results orange brows.

Now, let’s talk about the skin before permanent makeup is applied. The healthier the skin, the longer the color will last. Sadly, many of us grew up in a time where our definition of sunscreen was baby oil. Yes, I know that we didn’t know what we do today back then, but still…our skin does have some (hopefully) minimal, permanent sun damage that affects the dermal layer. This happens to be the section of the skin where the color needs to be implanted. Simply stated, the healthier this layer, the better the color retention. Other factors such as smoking and certain medications will compromise the integrity of the dermis as well. So there you have it, there really is no quick and easy answer to the question…”How long will my color last?”

When the color does fade to a lighter shade, a simple touch up in my office will make your color look brand new. Remember, permanent makeup is a low not no maintenance procedure.

If you have been considering permanent makeup and would like to know more call and schedule a complimentary, no obligation personal consultation.

The Mission: To look your best 24/7 – The Solution: Permanent Eyebrows

Jamie Lee Curtis once said, “After her soul, the first thing that I check out in a woman are her eyebrows.” Eyebrows are one of the greatest assets a woman holds – they are an important player in face-to-face communication and they have the ability to help show off a wide range of emotions and facial expressions. An example of infamous eyebrows? Audrey Hepburn. Known for her classic beauty, many people remember one distinct feature about Hepburn’s face – her thick, strong eyebrows.

Why are eyebrows so important & what can permanent eyebrows do for you? Eyebrows frame the face and having the proper eyebrow shape can enhance the shape of the eyes, while also taking years off of your appearance. Choosing permanent makeup for your eyebrows allows you to fill-in sparse eyebrows, reshape any poorly arched or uneven brows and is also a way to add new eyebrows for clients that have undergone hair loss – either through Alopecia, Chemotherapy, burns or injury. A permanent eyebrow procedure will drastically rejuvenate your appearance by creating a “non-surgical brow-lift”. Think about it – you have the ability to get rid of that sad, angry or tired look…without surgery! Permanent eyebrows are also known as the perfect finishing touch for clients who have had BOTOX.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

During a woman’s daily makeup routine, eyebrow application usually takes the most time, is difficult to do and can create a challenge when you are trying to recreate the same look every day. Permanent eyebrows are an investment – one with great benefits. You will enjoy hassle-free eyebrows that are both moisture and smear proof and you will look your best all of the time. With all of these benefits and more, it is easy to understand why permanent eyebrows have become one of the most highly sought after procedure.

So, what are some different types of permanent brows? A variety of looks can be created with permanent eyebrows – each one unique and in accordance with the distinct personality of the client. Clients can choose from soft and powdery strokes and classic hair strokes over a powdery base to sophisticated, multi-colored hair strokes and sexy, bold glamour strokes. For women that have little to no brow hair, permanent eyebrows will be designed specifically for you using custom blended colors that render a “hair-like” appearance. Are you a fair-skinned blonde? You need not worry about ending up with a harsh or artificial look; be confident in knowing that a soft, feathery brow that exudes a
natural, timeless beauty awaits you.

Schedule Your Complimentary Eyebrow Consultation

During your eyebrow consultation with Sarah Oliver, often referred to as the “permanent eyebrow expert” by area physicians and beauty professionals, you will learn about the different procedures and also be asked to fill out a questionnaire. The eyebrow consultation also includes tinting, shaping, application and a lesson. Sarah is a big believer in preserving eyebrows, so she begins with tinting the brows, no matter how few. The tint will bring out the soft, vellous light hairs that are often not seen. Tint colors range from Auburn, Medium-Brown and Dark-Brown to Black-Brown and Black. Brows are then designed and reshaped. Once the desired brow has been achieved, Sarah will suggest techniques and colors in addition to showing a series of “before” and “after” photos of her work.

Important Tips When Considering Permanent Eyebrows

Clients that choose to have the permanent eyebrow procedure done should be aware of factors that can contribute to color changes. Here are some to keep in mind: Improper Consultation and/or Pre/Post Care Instructions; using aspirin based product and/or blood thinners 1 week prior to the procedure(s); sun exposure (including tanning booths); salt, from either the environment or foods; acids from foods or topical
products; professional hair color applied to tint light or gray eyebrows; whitening toothpastes and teeth whitening services and chemical facial treatments.

Another important thing to remember is that eyebrows are often refreshed every 1 – 3 years, as the colors used in the procedure are generally softer than colors used in eyeliner or lip colors.

“The joyful spirit always carries its eyebrows high” – Pierre de Ronsard

Remember, classic, permanent makeup requires an experienced artist who embodies a refined sense of color and style with the unique ability to custom blend colors for varying complexions, personalities and lifestyles. Countless women can tell you from personal experience that having a permanent makeup procedure performed has given them enormous freedom and the ability to “wake up and go” – getting their morning routine started quickly, without the hassle of a long-winded daily makeup ritual.

In addition to being an expert in her field, Sarah Oliver also offers her clients a wide range of products that work in perfect harmony with permanent makeup procedures. The AMPLIF-eye product line, which features products such as the Lash and Brow Fortifier, is compatible with permanent eyebrows. This highly concentrated formula is full of fortifying peptides and botanical extracts that nourish, all combined in a delivery system that gets directly to the root of short, thinning, gray and sparse lashes and brows.

To learn more about this product line and to find more information about this month’s AMPLIF-eye special, please
visit: http://www.natural-you.com/promo

Dealing with hair loss can be difficult, for just about anyone. For patients battling cancer, hair loss adds additional stress during an already difficult time. Most cancer patients will face losing their crowning glory, their hair, to the very treatment designed to cure them – a cruel irony that many patients struggle to come to terms with and which can deeply affect their self-esteem. Did you know that self-esteem plays an integral role in the success of cancer treatment? Yes, a woman’s ability to feel great about herself is a huge leap forward on what can be a long road to
recovery.

Chemotherapy and Alopecia patients can experience total hair loss, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Though there are alternatives to hair loss, such as wigs, which can help a client feel like their old self again, there is another answer in regards to facial hair loss – permanent
makeup. Permanent makeup consists of a method which delivers tiny color particles beneath the client’s skin and can be used before undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. The procedure can be completed in as little as an hour and recreates the illusion of eyebrows and eyelashes, eliminating the clients need to continually reapply their make-up and allowing them the freedom to spend more time focusing on their recovery.

Through permanent makeup, women have the ability to ease the distress of chemotherapy by preserving the appearance of their eyebrows and eyelashes. Women can feel confident with natural looking eyebrows and beautifully defined eyes with this long lasting and simple
solution. Permanent makeup can be applied one month before the client undergoes cancer drug administration; this time frame allows the client’s original facial hair, which is still in place, to be enhanced with natural looking micro-pigments. The client can enter into treatment feeling beautiful and having one less thing to worry about.

For those patients already undergoing chemotherapy treatment, permanent makeup can be applied in the midst of treatment, if approved by a physician. The procedure can be performed during an off-week when no chemotherapy drugs are being administered. No matter where you are in terms of your treatment, there is an option available to you that will assist you in looking your best.

Chemo and Hair Loss Facts…

Chemotherapy is a treatment designed to significantly restrict the growth of cells. The treatment also affects the constantly growing hair follicles; because the cells which are found in the hair root and scalp are affected, the growth begins to slow down and eventually comes to a halt. In addition, the patient’s hair follicles become weaker and are no longer able to support the existing hair strands, causing them to break or fall off completely.

Because the scalp is fed by a complex network of fine blood vessels, a high concentration of the chemotherapy drug is delivered to each hair follicle. Some patients will experience hair loss within 7 – 10 days of their first treatment, with the hair from the crown and sides of the
head being lost first. The most severe loss occurs 1 -2 months after treatment as begun. Once the entire chemotherapy drug treatment plan has been completed, patients notice regrowth of hair within 4 -6 weeks. Once hair begins to grow, it is not uncommon to notice some changes.

65% of chemotherapy hair loss sufferers have experienced a change in their hair texture and/or color. The above statistic is broken down further as follows: Approximately 33% of patients will experience a change in color; 40% will experience a change in hair texture; and 50% will
experience will experience a change in hair type when regrowth takes place.

Hair After Chemo…

Patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatment will experience a hair regrowth rate of just over a centimeter per month. Hair that is newly grown after treatment is fragile – finer and weaker than hair that has been growing for a long period of time. Most patients will notice that
their hair will return to its full thickness and strength after 6 months from their final treatment. During the 6 month period after treatment ceases, it is important not to “stress” new hair growth – patients are advised to refrain from subjecting their hair to permanent or semi-permanent hair dyes during this time. Because dye absorption ability may also be altered in newly grown hair, it is essential to perform a strand test when tinting new hair to see how it will react. During these early months of regrowth, vegetable dyes and non-permanent hair colors offer an easy and safe solution that is gentler on hair that is in a fragile state.

During this difficult time, it is vital for patients to feel supported in every area. Patients should be encouraged to turn to their hairdresser in helping them make the right decisions in how to properly deal with the consequences of their treatment.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

To learn more about the permanent makeup techniques and services performed by Sarah Oliver, specifically for cancer and alopecia patients, or to schedule a consultation session, please visit: http://www.natural-you.com/services/oncology-esthetics/