Many women wouldn’t want to wear the same shade of lipstick every day, but for some, having make-up permanently applied is a lifesaver. Even if you don’t want a made up look 24*7, there are many other uses for having permanent make-up or rather you can say semi-permanent make-up. This is because semi-permanent make-up is ideal for people, including cancer patients, burn patients or those who have lost eyebrows, air hostesses and women in hospitality industry. Old women who have unsteady hands and can’t apply make-up may opt for this, too. There are women who have gad plastic surgery and use permanent make-up to cover scars, and some who have had breast reconstruction.

How do you choose a technician? Look at her certification. Ideally you want to find a licensed, experienced advanced permanent cosmetic technician. The license for an advanced technician indicates she has had extra training and more experience than a regular cosmetologist. She or he would have a background in skin and make-up, so she can match colors to your skin tone properly and create looks that don’t seem artificial.

What happens when you go for this? Ask to see his technician’s portfolio. Everyone has different ideas what looks good. At your first meeting, she would discuss with you the color of your skin, eyes and hair. It’s important to match colors properly.

How does it work? The technician applies a numbing cream to the area being tattooed and then uses a tool that injects ink under the first layer of skin. The needle only goes under the first layer of skin, because the color goes only in the first layer of the skin. And as you shed your skin, the color comes off. When you’re younger, cell renewal is faster; it slows as you age. This is why experts recommend semi permanent make-up.

Is it painful? In general, after apply a numbing gel, most of the clients don’t feel pain, but remember, pain threshold vary. Because experts found that women who are younger feel more pain than the old ones.

Cost and time: On an average, it costs rupees 5,000 for eyebrows. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to do one eyebrow. It’s usually a one-time process and you need touch-ups once in two or three years and most doctors don’t charge for it.

Are there dos and don’ts? Never go around corners of the eye with black. If you go around the inner or outer corners of the e ye, the ink will migrate and spread to the other parts of the skin. It can only be removed through a surgical procedure. Remember, when choosing permanent cosmetics, opt for day time make-up colors as evening shades are too dramatic. So select soft colors, but once it applied, you can’t take it off. Find someone who doesn’t reuse needles. Make sure the technician abides by proper sanitation practices. She should wear gloves and use new needles for each client.