Does Permanent Makeup Hurt?

Short answer: permanent makeup is usually much less painful than people expect — but the experience depends on the procedure, your skin, and your sensitivity.

At Body and Brows by Ana, we’ve worked with thousands of clients across eyebrows, lips, and eyeliner. Below is a transparent, experience-based breakdown of what permanent makeup actually feels like — no marketing fluff, just reality.

What Permanent Makeup Feels Like (Realistic Expectations)

For most clients, permanent makeup causes mild to moderate discomfort, not severe pain.

Pain tolerance varies person to person, but the majority of clients are surprised by how manageable the sensation is — especially for eyebrow and eyeliner procedures.

Pain Scale by Procedure (1–10)

When clients are asked after their appointment to rate discomfort from 1–10, here are the honest averages:

• Eyebrows (Powder, Combo, Nano) = 3 to 4

• Lip Blushing = 8

• Permanent Eyeliner = 2

Brows and eyeliner are typically very tolerable. Lips are consistently the most intense.

Which Permanent Makeup Procedure Hurts the Most?

Lip Blush Tattooing

Lip blushing is the most uncomfortable procedure.

This is because:

• Lips have more nerve endings

• The skin is thinner and more reactive

• Swelling increases sensitivity during the session

Eyeliner, despite sounding intimidating, is usually the least painful procedure.

Who Feels the Most Pain During Permanent Makeup?

Certain patterns show up consistently:

Clients who tend to feel more discomfort include:

• People with thin or sensitive skin

• Clients with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis

• Those with low pain tolerance

• Clients who are on their period, when sensitivity is often heightened

Skin type matters more than anxiety or previous cosmetic procedures.

What Causes the Pain During Permanent Makeup?

Discomfort is rarely about just one thing. Clients react to a combination of factors:

• The duration of the procedure (biggest factor)

• Skin stretching

• Anxiety

• The sound of the machine

• The needle itself

Even mild sensation can feel stronger over time — the discomfort becomes more psychological than physical when repeated.

Does Numbing Cream Really Work for Permanent Makeup?

Yes — but it doesn’t work the same for everyone.

Here’s the truth:

• Numbing can eliminate pain for some, and take the edge off for others

• It typically lasts 10–20 minutes

• It requires reapplication throughout the session

• Two types are used:

  • Primary numbing cream (before the skin is opened)

  • Secondary gel numbing (used during the procedure)

Numbing helps significantly, but individual response varies.

What Do Clients Say After Permanent Makeup?

The most common reaction:

“That was way better than I expected.”

Many clients arrive bracing for pain and leave surprised by how manageable the experience actually was.

Is the Touch-Up More Painful Than the First Session?

Yes — for most clients, the touch-up is more uncomfortable.

Why?

Because the skin and nerve endings have already been worked on, making the area more sensitive even though the appointment is shorter.

Does Healing Hurt After Permanent Makeup?

No — healing is typically painless.

• The procedure itself causes more discomfort

• Healing may involve tightness, flaking, or swelling

• Clients rarely experience pain during healing — just temporary visual changes

Can Permanent Makeup Be Too Painful?

In real-world experience:

• Clients do not stop mid-procedure

• Clients do not faint

• Rare complaints of “too painful” usually occur when someone is menstruating

Severe reactions are uncommon.

Final Answer: Is Permanent Makeup Painful?

Clients with thin skin, certain skin conditions, or heightened sensitivity — especially during menstruation — may feel more discomfort.

That said, most clients are surprised by how little permanent makeup actually hurts. Many come in expecting the worst and leave realizing the experience was far more manageable than imagined.

Overall, permanent makeup is significantly less painful than people expect — especially when performed by an experienced artist using proper techniques and numbing.