What to Expect After Permanent Eyeliner: Healing Schedule Day by Day

Day 1: You’ll love your new eyeliner!

Your eyeliner color is approximately 30% darker than it will be when it’s healed. It will also appear slightly larger than it will heal in just a few days. This is due to color oxidation as well as a small amount of swelling and it is a normal part of your healing process. You will have no trouble driving home and going about the rest of your day normally. It’s unlikely that anyone will notice you’ve had your eyeliner permanently done except for possibly those you know very well.

Days 2-3: Your color will darken temporarily as the pigment oxidizes and thin scabs will form.

You may wake up slightly puffy but you can remedy this by sleeping on an incline or applying a cool compress. Your eyeliner will feel tight and dry, but not painful.

Days 3-5: Your eyeliner will begin flaking until there is no scabbing left.

You want to allow healing to shed naturally. Once all scabbing has finished flaking, it is common for the color to appear lighter than it will eventually heal. This lighter color is only temporary as your freshly healed skin is hiding the true color underneath. Over the next several weeks your eyeliner color will bloom.

Day 42: At 6 weeks your eyeliner is fully healed.

It’s now okay for you to come back in for your follow up. Any adjustments such as darkening the color or altering the shape can be done at this appointment. R

Dry Heal

Dry healing was the most popular before wet healing existed. Dry healing is how it sounds. You’ll keep your permanent eyeliner dry at all times. After your permanent eyeliner appointment you won’t touch your eyeliner at all. You’ll let your eyeliner heal on its own.

PROS: There’s nothing for you to do and there’s no aftercare kit required.

CONS: You’ll have heavy scabbing during healing and your color won’t heal evenly.

Wet Heal

Wet healing is how most permanent eyeliner artists have their client’s heal today. Your artist will have you clean your eyeliner every 15 minutes following your appointment. Depending on your artist’s preference, you’ll do this for 2 to 3 days. You’ll also use a gel to keep your eyeliner from drying out.

PROS: You’ll have no scabbing and your color will heal much more evenly.

CONS: You’ll have some work to do and an aftercare kit to keep on you.

Post Eyeliner Care Instructions

The eyes can be iced with cool packs to reduce inflammation; a barrier should be used such as Vaseline or A&D ointment to avoid keeping the eyes wet. The cool packs should not be applied for any more than twenty minutes at a time and a twenty minute break in between.
Cold packs to the procedure area can be used for the first 24 hours.
You should massage eyes with cotton balls and cool water for the first 24 hours to remove any blood and to avoid scabbing.
No makeup for 7-14 days until the eyeliner is 100% healed.
If any ink does collect in the corner of the eye, it can be removed by wetting a Qtip and rolling the pigment out.
A thin coat of Vaseline should be kept on the eyes 24 hours a day for 7-14 days.
Take Advil or Tylenol as necessary for discomfort.
If eyeliner procedure is done, a new container of mascara is a MUST to prevent infection.
You may shower on the day following the procedure as usual.
DO NOT go into sun or swimming pool for two weeks. When you do go into the sun use an SPF 45 to protect your face.
DO NOT pick scabs or color will be lost.