What to expect, from booking to healed
Here's exactly how it goes for brows and lips: what happens at your appointment, how healing looks, and what comes after.
Before you book
Most healthy adults are great candidates. If you're pregnant or nursing, have taken Accutane in the past year, take blood thinners, or have old brow tattooing, reach out first. Photos of your brows in natural light help me tell you what's possible. Then give how to prepare a read about two weeks out.
Your brow appointment, step by step
Plan on about two hours. Nothing is rushed, especially the mapping.
- Welcome and consultation. We talk through your routine, your skin, what you love and don't love about your brows, and the look you're after.
- Brow mapping. I measure your start, arch, and tail with a pre-inked string and pencil, balance both sides, and watch how your brows move. See my mapping process.
- You approve the shape. You look in the mirror, and we adjust until you love it. Nothing is permanent until you say yes.
- Color. I blend a pigment for your undertone and hair color, starting a touch softer. How I choose your color.
- Numbing and procedure. Numbing cream keeps you comfortable. Most people feel light scratching, and plenty of clients nap.
- Aftercare. You'll see your new brows, get written aftercare instructions, and head out the door. Most people go right back to their day.
Healing: the honest version
Your brows will look darkest for the first few days, flake around the end of the first week, and can look faint or patchy around days 10–14 before the color comes back. That dip is normal, and it's called ghosting.
how dark your brows look, day by day
Day 1Crisp, bold, a little pink
Days 2–4Darkest and thickest
Days 5–10Flaking and itchy
Days 10–14Ghosting: faint and patchy
Weeks 3–4Color coming back
Weeks 4–6Healed, softer color
After touch-upFilled in and perfected
Read the full healing timeline and aftercare dos and don'ts.
Your touch-up and beyond
About 6 weeks later, once you've healed, you'll come back for your touch-up. It's included with every brow service. We check that the shape healed where it should, fill any spots that didn't hold, and fine-tune the color. From there, most clients come in for a color refresh every year or two, as the pigment gradually softens.
Your lip blushing appointment
Plan on about 90 minutes. We'll talk through the shade you want, from a soft, natural tint to a little more color, and I'll map your lip line so it's balanced. Numbing keeps you comfortable while the color goes in.
- If you get cold sores, tell me when you book. Many clients ask their doctor about an antiviral to take before and after.
- Healing: lips look bright for a few days, peel around days 3–7, can look faded for a couple of weeks, and show their soft healed color at about 4–6 weeks.
- Aftercare: keep them moisturized, drink through a straw for the first few days, and skip lip products until you're healed. Lip aftercare.
Booking and policies
- Booking and payment: you book and pay through my online booking. Buy now, pay later options are available there for eligible appointments.
- Touch-ups: your follow-up about 6 weeks after a brow appointment is included.
- Cancellations: things come up. If you can't make your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible so we can reschedule and someone else can have the spot.
- By appointment only: so every client gets unhurried time for mapping.
More questions about your visit
How long should I plan to be at the studio?
About two hours for brows and about 90 minutes for lip blushing. Mapping is never rushed, so give yourself a little buffer.
Can I bring someone with me?
Please check with me before your appointment. Space in the studio is limited, and most clients find it more relaxing to come on their own.
Can I drive home afterward?
Yes. Numbing cream is applied to the skin only, so you can drive and go about your day right after.
When is my touch-up?
About 6 weeks after your brow appointment, once everything has healed. It's included with every brow service.
Ready to put the brow pencil down?
Pick a time that works for you. Prep instructions come as soon as you book.