Permanent Makeup: Lips
We moisturize them, we buff them, and we paint them with gloss. They frame our words and ease us into our most intimate moments. It’s one of our most important assets and we maximize them with a heap of products that range from a dollar to hundreds. But what if we can cut the maintenance down to size?
One of most popular cosmetic procedure nowadays does exactly just that-semi-permanent lip tattoos. The results offer hassle-free mornings and less maintenance during outings. It’s especially beneficial for those who don’t have time between work and everything else that goes on through the day. The idea of Instagram-ready “woke up like this” is very appealing to a lot of women, old and mature. There’s also the lot who just wants a more defined lip to make it fuller.
When performed by a trained aesthetician, it should be proportional to the client’s facial proportions and symmetry. The right lip tattoo can really transform and enhance one’s features. (See: Kylie Jenner!)
Cosmetic lip tattoo uses pigment, rather than ink, unlike regular tattoos. As it’s semi-permanent, it also won’t last forever. Depending on the facial area and other factors, permanent makeup can last several years.
Lip Tattooing Techniques
- Lip Liner - Ideal for delicate definition. It can correct uneven lips and add more shape as necessary. The look comes up fuller and classically defined.
- Lip Blend - Best for small or uneven lips, and discolored edges. It helps with volume and provides a softer, redder shade.
- Full Lip - The ultimate treatment to achieve full and luscious lips. This is as effective as lipsticks so no more touch ups! There’s a wide range to choose from, from light pink to vampy dark shades.
- The skin of our lips is very thin compared to our facial skin. The skin on our face has 3-5 cellular layers, while facial skin has up to 16 layers.
- Our lips are red because the skin on our lips is thin, making the blood vessels more evident. People with darker lips just have more melanin in them.
- The lips and tongue have the most concentration of nerves in the human body. It varies from person to person, but nerve endings are around 10,000. This makes the lips an erogenous zone, making kissing a crucial part of intimacy.
- Lip skin has no sweat glands or hair. This means that it doesn’t have the usual layer of protection like sweat and body oil that deters bacteria. This, along with saliva, makes lips dry easier.
- In some cultures, a woman’s lips are covered or veiled because of its similarities to the vulva. (Seriously though? This infringes on women’s rights in more ways than one. It’s not our responsibility to stop men from being perverts, it’s a man’s responsibility to NOT act on their perversions.)