Permanent brow aftercare: dos and don'ts
The short answer
For about 10–14 days, keep your brows clean and mostly dry, don't pick or scratch, and skip makeup on your brows, sweaty workouts, swimming, saunas, and sun. Most people go back to work the same day. Once healed, wear SPF on your brows and keep retinol and acids away from them so your color lasts.
Aftercare dos and don'ts
Do
- Wash your hands before touching your brows
- Follow the exact cleansing and ointment steps I give you
- Sleep on a clean pillowcase, on your back if you can
- Keep your face out of the shower stream and keep showers short
- Let flakes fall off on their own
- Wear a hat outside while healing
- Come to your 6-week touch-up
- Use SPF on your brows every day once healed
Don't
- Pick, scratch, or rub your brows
- Get your brows soaking wet or steamy
- Wear makeup on or around your brows
- Work out hard enough to sweat
- Swim, use hot tubs, or sit in a sauna
- Tan or spend long stretches in direct sun
- Use retinol, acids, or exfoliants near your brows
- Get facials, peels, or laser near your brows
When can I…?
These are typical timeframes. If I give you different instructions for your skin, follow mine.
| Activity | When it's usually OK |
|---|---|
| Go back to work | Same day or next day |
| Wash my face normally | Around day 7–10, avoiding the brows until then |
| Wear makeup on my brows | After about 14 days, once flaking is done |
| Work out and sweat | After about 10 days (light walks are fine) |
| Swim, hot tub, or sauna | After about 2 weeks |
| Direct sun or tanning | After about 4 weeks, with SPF on your brows |
| Retinol or acids on my forehead | After about 4 weeks, and keep them off your brows long term |
| Botox, facials, peels, or laser | After about 4 weeks, avoiding the brow area |
| Brow waxing or tinting | After about 4 weeks |
How to make your brows last longer
Sun and skincare are the two biggest reasons brows fade early. Wear SPF on your brows every day, keep retinol and exfoliating acids away from them, and let your laser or facial provider know you have permanent makeup so they can avoid the area. Oily skin also fades pigment faster, so a color refresh every year or so may keep you looking your best.
Lip blushing aftercare
- Keep lips moisturized with the balm I recommend, and reapply often
- Drink through a straw and avoid spicy, salty, or very hot food for the first few days
- Skip lipstick, lip products with actives, and kissing for about a week
- Let peeling happen naturally, and don't pick
- If you're prone to cold sores, keep taking any antiviral your doctor prescribed
Common questions
Can I shower after getting my brows done?
Yes. Keep showers short and lukewarm, keep your face out of the stream, and avoid steam. Washing your hair the day before your appointment makes this much easier.
Can I work out after permanent brows?
Skip anything that makes you sweat for about 10 days. Sweat carries salt and bacteria and can push pigment out while the skin heals. Light walking is fine.
When can I wear makeup again?
Makeup on the rest of your face is fine after the first day or two, as long as you keep it away from your brows. Wait about 14 days, until flaking is done, to use products on your brows.
What happens if I pick my brows?
Picking pulls flakes off before they're ready, and the pigment comes with them. That can leave light spots or gaps, and in some cases scarring. If it happens, don't panic. Mention it at your touch-up.