Aftercare instructions for your brows & lips.
How you care for your skin in the days after your appointment has as much to do with your final result as the session itself. Follow the guidance below, and text or call any time you have a question.
Healing timeline for your brows.
Brows heal in stages over about 30 days. Color will look bold at first, fade as they flake, and settle into their true tone as the skin finishes healing underneath.
Fresh strokes
- Brows appear darker and bolder than the healed result
- Slight redness or tenderness is normal
- Blot gently with a clean tissue if any fluid appears
Flaking & peeling
- Skin will flake as it heals — let it happen on its own
- Brows may look patchy or lighter underneath the flakes
- Apply a rice-grain amount of healing balm 1–2x daily, if provided
Color settles
- True color and shape gradually reveal themselves
- Some areas may look faded — this is normal and addressed at touch-up
- Book your 4–6 week touch-up once fully healed
Do
- Keep brows clean and completely dry for the first 24 hours
- Sleep on your back when possible to avoid rubbing
- Apply healing balm sparingly, only as directed
- Let flakes fall off completely on their own
Don't
- Pick, scratch, or peel healing skin
- Get brows wet in the shower, pool, or sauna for 7–10 days
- Wear brow makeup until fully healed
- Use retinol, acids, or exfoliants on the brow area
Healing timeline for your lips.
Lips heal a little differently than brows — expect more noticeable swelling at first, followed by a color cycle that can look dark, then chalky or pale, before settling into your final shade.
Swelling & vivid color
- Mild swelling and tenderness are normal, especially day one
- Color will look much darker and more saturated than healed
- Apply a cold compress in short intervals to ease swelling
Peeling & the "chalky" stage
- Lips will flake and may look pale, patchy, or muted
- This stage can feel discouraging — it is temporary and expected
- Keep lips moisturized with the balm provided
True color emerges
- Color gradually deepens back to its intended tone
- Final result is best judged after 4–6 weeks, at touch-up
- Some unevenness before touch-up is completely normal
Do
- Apply healing balm frequently to keep lips from drying out
- Drink through a straw for the first couple of days
- Stick to a bland, cool diet for the first 24–48 hours
- Let peeling skin shed on its own, in its own time
Don't
- Pick or bite at flaking skin
- Eat spicy, salty, or acidic foods for the first few days
- Wear lipstick or lip liner until fully peeled and healed
- Kiss, or expose lips to excessive sun, for 7–10 days
General guidelines that apply to both.
A few rules of thumb protect your healing skin and your color, whether you're healing brows, lips, or both at once.
Do
- Wear SPF over fully healed pigment to protect the color long-term
- Book your touch-up 4–6 weeks after your initial session
- Reach out with photos if anything looks or feels unusual
Don't
- Sunbathe, tan, or use a sunbed on treated areas while healing
- Get facials, chemical peels, or laser treatments nearby until healed
- Work out heavily or sweat excessively for the first few days
A note on pigments
Every service at Vixen Brows uses professional-grade pigments from Li Pigments and Permablend. These are chosen specifically for how they heal — but everyone's skin and lips process pigment a little differently, so some fading or color variation during healing is completely normal.
This guidance is general — always follow the specific instructions given at your appointment. If you notice excessive swelling, spreading redness, warmth, or any sign of infection, contact Velma right away.
Velma is a call or text away.
Send a photo if anything looks off, or reach out any time before your touch-up.