The first rule of seasonal planning for permanent makeup is to book according to what the procedure requires of you in terms of healing, not mere convenience. Be it a lip blush, some eyeliner or new brows, they will not be as comfortable to settle if you have put them through their paces with sun, humidity, swimming or travel.
As a beauty writer from Brisbane I have been fielding the sort of practical queries that come up before cosmetic treatments for years. My name is Ruby Donovan and I can tell you in short order that you will find healing is less of an issue in the quieter, cooler months; summer and the wet season call for more forethought. One does not find a month that is ideal for all, but there is a time that makes sense given where you are and what you do.
Put Healing at the Forefront
You are having a cosmetic tattoo done, so factor in the redness, flaking, tenderness and shifts in colour. The outcome on the day is not the final product and those who want instant perfection are the ones left examining their eyebrows in the bathroom at 1am.
Give yourself some leeway before any pressing engagements. A good practitioner will set out the aftercare, including aftercare under Australian sun, make you aware of risks and let you know when a touch-up is in order.
An Appropriate Window for Your Appointment
Autumn and spring are a good compromise for most Australians as far as temperature and inclement weather go. Down in Melbourne the winter is dry enough for indoor heating to put the skin on edge; up in Sydney, Brisbane and coastal Queensland one may still have warmth in autumn or put up with the odd shower and humidity in spring.
Ideally you want an appointment that keeps you away from the elements, hard exercise and the like while you are in the early stages of recovery. If you are in construction, hospitality or the outdoors in your line of work, the reality of your recovery is of more consequence than the season.
Then there are weddings, photos, a presentation at work or travelling interstate. It is wise to put a few weeks between these and your session. Colour has a way of softening and the skin will not always settle in an even manner, so a follow-up might be called for.
Procedure and Timing
Brows will be put to the test by the sun and sunscreen. An eyeliner is not much use if you have contact lenses to deal with or are off on a long-haul flight. And if you have a big social occasion or are due at the dentist, a lip blush could be an inconvenience with all the spicy food and alcohol that entails.
| Procedure | Seasonal Planning Point | What Can Catch You Out |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic brow tattoo | Pick a time free of strenuous exercise and the pool. | Hats that rub the area, outdoor work or a spot of cycling. |
| Lip blush | Put aside some days for the colour to change and for tenderness. | Cold sores, lip irritation, travel and anything hot and spicy. |
| Cosmetic eyeliner | Less water exposure and more eye comfort. | Dusty conditions, eye makeup, long hours in dry air and swimming. |
| Touch-up | Same precautions as the initial session. | To think a shorter appointment means you need not plan for recovery. |
Take this as guidance for your planning, not clinical advice. Any history of cold sores, an eye condition, medications that impact bleeding or active irritation should be put to your practitioner and a health professional prior to booking.
Dealing with the Seasons in Australia
Perth, Darwin and Hobart are worlds apart; a dusty day in the former and a humid afternoon in the latter are very different propositions for new skin. Do not be guided by the calendar alone but by your city and your work.
Summer is more demanding
With the longer days and the perspiration, plus the inevitable trips to the beach or pool, aftercare is not as straightforward. If you are in the habit of slathering on some sunscreen and going about your business, you will have to be more disciplined.
Make it a morning or late-day slot where you can, and have a cool way home. Do not put too much stock in a hat for protection; a poorly fitting one will only chafe the fresh pigment. And watch the timing on your travel. Some will have their cosmetic brows done on a Friday and be on a plane to the coast Saturday morning. On paper it is doable, but then the holiday is nothing but an effort to steer clear of the salt, chlorine and the heat. You can be off the beach for a few days and it will not miss you.
Autumn: Easier to Plan
For those with winter events or end-of-year photos on the agenda, autumn has its practical side. The weather is as a rule more agreeable and one can put some limits on outdoor activities. Northern Australia is an exception where you are likely to have rain and humidity well into the season.
Make sure to look at the local forecast before you put an appointment in the diary, particularly when your work is outdoors or you are reliant on public transport. There is no better way to make a short walk from the bus stop a wet, sweaty affair than a storm that comes out of nowhere; hardly what one wants to put up with after treatment.
Winter Has Its Risks
While winter means less time in the sun and water which is conducive to aftercare for some, there is also the matter of dry air, the wind, indoor heating and the like. One has to contend with heavy clothing and scarves rubbing the face.
In the south the daylight of winter can be weak but ultraviolet exposure is still a factor. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency will tell you how the UV Index reflects the risk of ultraviolet radiation; refer to their official guidance in Australia when you are scheduling any outdoor recovery.
Spring and Full Calendars
With all the weddings, racing, holidays and professional photography that spring affords, it is an attractive time for a cosmetic procedure if a little crowded. Should you require a settled outcome for an occasion, it is best not to put off the appointment to the eleventh hour.
Then there are the allergies. They do not make for a comfortable experience with eye-area work; think twice about booking eyeliner if you are prone to watery eyes and tissue irritation. In case they are severe or hard to predict, inquire if another date would be wiser.
Outdoor Sun Protection
It is important to protect yourself from the sun year round, yet of particular note when you have cosmetic tattooing in mind and an outdoor lifestyle to accommodate. Your practitioner will let you know how and when to go back to certain products since new skin is not going to take kindly to every cosmetic or sunscreen right away.
When we speak of aftercare under the Australian sun it is not for marketing purposes. It is about putting together your shade, timing and clothing and not regarding sunscreen as some sort of magic eraser.
A Recovery Checklist
Spare a moment to run through your diary and probable exposure before you book. It saves you from having to fiddle with hats and call off plans down the track.
- Is there a clean and easy way to get home?
- Will you be able to forgo the sauna, swimming and strenuous exercise in the first part of healing?
- Have you made provision for a review by the practitioner or any colour change and flaking?
- And have you been forthcoming on health matters, medicines, allergies and any past reaction to a cosmetic tattoo?
Do not be making do with household items or essential oils or a cream that is not yours. If the area is hot, swollen or uncharacteristically sore, then get in touch with your practitioner and medical advice as needed.
Keep The Logistics Unexciting
There is merit in boring logistics. Put the appointment in place so the rest of the day is uneventful and you can get home without contending with traffic or a full social calendar. A dramatic plan of travel is not called for, just clean hands and a quiet spot to put your feet up.
Transport
Drive and you will want to have checked parking and not pick a venue with a long exposure to the sun on foot. Public transport is fine unless you think a humid platform or a train running late will be trying on the way back. For lip or eyeliner work a friend or partner may be preferred behind the wheel if the eyes are sensitive. Do not count on feeling as you did on arrival, plan for the less glamorous version of the day.
The Cost of It
Consultations, procedure type, the city and the practitioner will all put a different price on things. Before you book, ask what the total in Australian dollars is for the initial session, patch testing, any aftercare products and the touch-up policy.
Factor in the cost of a good hat, parking, transport or even time off work. An inexpensive appointment is not so cheap if you have to make up for cancelled trips or put in for leave.
Some May Have to Wait
Permanent makeup is not for everyone at all times. Postpone if there is an infection or active irritation in the vicinity of the treatment, a case of sunburn or an event that falls too close to the healing period.
There is a need for professional advice of the more personalised kind from anyone with an immune condition, eye trouble, significant allergies or a propensity for keloid scarring. The same applies if one has recurrent cold sores or is on medication that will impede healing or bleeding. A good practitioner will have no problem with you putting some sensible questions to him or her; they will not consider it a bother.
Expectation Versus Reality
One might be under the simple impression that in the morning one can save time and have brows to die for. In truth it is less than that. To begin with the colour seems pronounced, there is some tenderness to the skin and the look will not be fully established right away.
Ruby Donovan’s approach is to wait until the skin has had time to heal and the practitioner has said if a touch-up is in order before passing judgement. Do not let your nerves after the procedure or the unforgiving light of the bathroom and phone cameras be your guide.
What Most People Get Wrong
It is too easy to assume winter is the safest bet and summer the worst. Go hiking in the winter and put up with the wind and sun and it can be more of an ordeal than a week in the house during the summer. Then there is the error of making plans to suit the appointment as opposed to the recovery. An hour or two is all the treatment requires but the inconvenience is in the days after.
If You Have One Day
Make the most of a free day by dealing with the consultation and any matter of suitability before you part with a deposit. Be sure of the practitioner’s credentials and hygiene, the terms of cancellation, what the aftercare and touch-ups entail.
Pick a date that affords you the chance to look after the area when done. Should you have to put it off for a quieter time on the calendar, do so. Your eyebrows are not going to be swayed by an event countdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Permanent makeup and the realities of life and Australian weather tend to prompt these queries. Social media would have it otherwise but the answer is rarely as dramatic.
Is Winter The Best Time For Permanent Makeup?
Not of itself. While you may not be swimming or in the heat, there is still the matter of travel, dry air in the house, ultraviolet exposure and the cold wind. Take the season that makes for the least arduous recovery.
Can I Have Permanent Makeup Before A Holiday?
You can, though to book it right before a trip to the tropics or poolside is often ill advised. Check with the practitioner on the recovery time they put forward and if your plans will keep you out of the water and direct sun.
How Long Should I Wait Before An Event?
A few weeks is better than a couple of days before a wedding or photos. The colour will go through its paces of flaking and dryness and the healing is not uniform.
Can I Wear Sunscreen Straight Away?
Your practitioner will tell you. Some products are not to be used on new work right off. Until you are given the all clear, rely on shade and clothing.
Is Permanent Makeup Suitable For Beginners?
For a first timer in cosmetic tattooing it can be, so long as there is an understanding of the risks and the aftercare and the practitioner is qualified. There is no point in being hasty on account of a sale or something you have seen on social media.
Choose The Calmest Season
In Australia the best time is when you can give your skin the space to heal and stay out of harm’s way. Look at your health history, the local weather and your commitments to events before you settle on a date.
Be as methodical about the recovery as the appointment itself, ask the hard questions and do not overstate your expectations. Some forethought now will spare you later surprises and all that time gazing at your face in doubt as to whether your brows have unionised.