How Long Does Permanent Makeup Take to Heal?

At Body and Brows by Ana, one of the most common questions we hear during consultations is:

“How long does permanent makeup take to heal?”

The short answer: Healing happens in stages — and full results take about 4–6 weeks.

But the real answer depends on your skin type, the service you receive, and how closely aftercare is followed.

Here’s what healing actually looks like based on hundreds of real clients — not textbook timelines.

The Real Healing Timeline (What Clients Actually Experience)

Days 1–3 — Redness, Swelling & “What Did I Do?” Stage

• Mild redness and swelling

• Color looks bold or intense

• Lips swell the most, brows the least

This is when clients usually start worrying (typically around Day 2).Totally normal.

Days 6–8 — Scabbing Begins

• Scabbing becomes noticeable (especially with powder or combo brows)

• Some flakes or larger scabs may fall off

Many clients panic when they see empty spots underneath.

👉 This does not mean your pigment is gone. It’s simply the skin releasing excess pigment as part of healing.

Days 10–14 — Patchy Phase

• Scabs finish falling off

• Brows or lips may look lighter and uneven

This is when most clients finally relax once they realize everything is progressing normally.

Weeks 2–3 — Presentable Results

• Results look socially presentable

• Color continues softening

• Skin is still healing underneath

Weeks 4–5 — Brows Start Looking Natural Again

This is when:

• True color settles

• Skin finishes regenerating

• Brows begin looking “normal” and natural again

This is also when we evaluate results for your touch-up.

Healing Differences by Service Type

Every area heals differently.

Brows (Nano, Powder, Combo, Microblading)

• Brows produce the most visible scabbing

• Powder and combo brows scab the most because more surface area is treated

• Nano brows scab less due to tiny strokes

• Microblading often looks rougher during healing because it causes more trauma to the skin — one of the reasons we favor ombre powder and nano brow techniques

Lips & Eyelids

• Lips experience the most inflammation and swelling

• Eyelids follow closely

• Both lips and eyelids scab very little compared to brows

Lips often look dramatic at first — this is completely normal.

The 3 Biggest Freak-Out Moments During Healing

These happen all the time:

1. Large scabs fall off and clients see empty spots

   This causes major panic — but it’s exactly why touch-ups exist.

2. Brows fade suddenly after healing

   Pigment fades about 30–40% after the first session. This is expected.

3. Patchiness appears

   This is normal skin regeneration and gets refined at touch-up.

About 80% of clients need a touch-up. The remaining 20% are given the option.

Touch-ups are perfecting sessions used to:

• Add more color

• Increase intensity

• Adjust tails

• Fill any gaps

How Skin Type & Lifestyle Affect Healing

Here’s what we see in real life:

Oily vs Dry Skin

• Oily skin heals faster but tends to blur and fade pigment more

• Dry skin heals slower, scabs are drier, but pigment retention is better

Mature Skin

Mature skin takes longer to heal because collagen production and cell turnover slow with age. It also holds pigment more deeply, which is why artists must work lighter during the initial session.

Sun Exposure

Sun fades pigment — especially right after treatment. Clients should avoid unnecessary exposure.

Sweating & Gym

Salt pulls pigment from the skin. Heavy workouts during healing can cause fading.

Smoking

Smoking restricts blood vessels, slows healing, and often produces dull or ashy results.

Skincare Products

Retinol, acids, and vitamin C must be paused during healing — these products effectively bleach pigment from the skin.

Real Client Healing Patterns

Every client heals differently.

We’ve seen:

• One client fully healed in as little as 5 days

• Another took almost 20 days due to mature skin

• Some clients unexpectedly lose pigment (often linked to hormones, medications, or autoimmune conditions)

• Clients with more melanin or mature skin appear darker for weeks before softening - the permanent makeup artist needs to go lighter with these types of clients.

Common Aftercare Mistakes That Cause Fading

These are the biggest issues we see:

• Not following aftercare instructions

• Picking scabs early

• Wearing makeup too soon

• Being on antibiotics during healing

• Excess sweating

These slow healing and reduce pigment retention.

When Will I See Final Results?

Here’s the honest answer:

👉 Brows typically look fully natural around 4–5 weeks

👉 Lips may take slightly longer to settle completely

That’s when permanent makeup truly looks like itself.

What Matters Most for Smooth Healing (Ranked by Your Artist)

1. Artist technique

2. Aftercare compliance

3. Skin type

4. Client expectations

Healing is a partnership — we do our part, and you do yours.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Process

Permanent makeup is not a one-day transformation.

It’s a process.

Trust the timeline. Follow your aftercare. Stay patient.

Beautiful results happen when expert technique meets proper healing.