Permanent Makeup, also known as PMU, is a vast market that is filled with many terms, terminology, and specialized techniques (including our signature RealTint®!). Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from our own clients at Hyper Real Academy:
General
Q: Is it a tattoo?
A: Yes, permanent makeup (PMU) is classified as a subcategory of body art, which includes tattooing.
Q: Is it temporary or permanent?
A: PMU is considered to be permanent because in some cases, the ink will remain in the client’s skin for more than 2 years. However, the tattoo is expected to fade moderately to significantly in one year, and most clients will schedule an annual touch up to refresh their PMU.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: As with any tattoo, some pain is to be expected. PMU clients experience the least pain during an eyeliner procedure, slight pain during a brow procedure, and moderate pain during a lip blush procedure. Topical anesthetics are always available. RealTint® PMU is renowned for both speed and efficiency, leading to the least amount of discomfort for clients.
Q: Do you offer microblading, nanoblading, microshading, pixelshading, etc.?
A: Let’s keep it simple. There are only 3 effects possible in permanent makeup tattooing: lines, shading, and fill. We typically refer to hairstrokes as “nano brows” and shading as “powder” or “ombre powder”, as those are popular terms. There are many different terms and countless techniques, but there are only 3 possible effects. We do NOT do microblading at Hyper Real Academy, as it is an obsolete procedure. You can read all about it’s more effective alternative, nano brows, here.
Q: Is PMU done with a blade or a machine?
A: PMU is usually done by a machine with needle cartridges, similar to a tattoo machine for body art. Microblading is done by hand tools and it is not nearly as safe, efficient, or reliable as a machine.
Q: Why are everyone’s prices different?
A: Artists at Hyper Real Academy have different levels of experience and determine their own prices. We recommend consulting with multiple artists to find the right person to work with you.
Aftercare
Q: Can I get my brows wet?
A: Yes. RealTint® PMU can be wet with water immediately after the procedure.
Q: Will I need to call out of work the next day?
A: Absolutely not. RealTint® PMU is not only minimally invasive, but the fast procedure time results in a significantly reduced chance of swelling. 99% of clients experience no bleeding during RealTint® PMU procedures.
Q: Why is the color so dark?
A: The color of your PMU will be dark and possibly red immediately following your appointment. The color will fade about 30% and the true results will appear after 4 weeks once the skin is fully healed.
Q: Can I swim or exercise?
A: Exercise that produces a lot of sweat is not recommended until at least a week after the procedure. Swimming in chlorinated water is not recommended until after the skin is fully healed.
Q: Can I use skincare with retinol?
A: Retinol, retinoids, chemical peels, and light based treatments are not recommended until after the skin is fully healed. It is recommended to keep treatments out of the tattooed area if possible.
Touch Ups
Q: How long do I wait before the touch up?
A: We recommend waiting 4-6 weeks. Touch up services cannot be done before 4 weeks following the initial session.
Q: Why is the touch up an additional charge?
A: Though a touch up is recommended for all clients, not every client is guaranteed to show up for a touch up. Some artists will separate the payment to make the service more convenient for clients.
Q: What if I don’t get my touch up?
A: You will not be charged for the touch up appointment if the touch up is charged separately. However, this massively increases the chances that the tattoo will not last a year, and we strongly do not recommend skipping.
Q: Why are 4 week touch ups needed for brows?
A: Touch ups are needed for the brows after the initial appointment because the skin is a living organ and is not expected to heal perfectly evenly.
Eyebrow tattoo patterns are both fine and delicate, making them more susceptible to fading during the initial healing process. Touch ups will allow any discrepancies in the tattoo to be resolved.
RealTint® Lip blush and eyeliner do not require a four week touch up and will not need a touch up for at least 2 years.
Q: Do I need a touch up every year?
A: All tattoos will fade gradually, and PMU is no different. Annual touch ups will refresh the color, intensity, and linework (if present) on eyebrow tattoos.
Lip blush and eyeliner do not require a touch up for at least 2 years.
Remember to ask your RealTint® artist any and all questions you may have so that you will see the best results possible.
