PMU Touch Ups

How Often Do I Need PMU Touch-Ups?

Permanent makeup is semi-permanent and fades gradually over time. Most clients follow this general timeline:

• Initial touch-up:
  6–12 weeks after your first session (essential for best results)
  
  

• Refresher touch-ups:

  • Brows & Lips: Every 12–24 months, depending on skin type, lifestyle, and desired look

  • Eyeliner: Often lasts longer — touch-ups typically needed every 2–3 years
    
    

Fading is normal and expected. The timing of your touch-up depends on:

• How your skin holds pigment

• Your skincare (like exfoliants or retinol use)

• Sun exposure

• Pigment color and technique used
  
  

Important: If most of the pigment has faded, a full-priced session may be required instead of a refresher.

What Happens to PMU Over Time

(and Why Your Brows Won’t Turn Orange)

In The Past:

If you’ve seen old PMU that faded into red, salmon, or orange brows — you’re not alone. That was common with older pigment formulas and techniques that didn’t account for undertones or long-term fading.

• PMU pigments were made from unstable, unbalanced compounds — they were often made of inorganic and carbon-based compounds that faded unevenly over time

• Brown pigment = yellow + red + black. Over time, black fades first, yellow second, and red is often the last one to stay — which is why you're left with red/orange/salmon brows

• Artists often didn’t correct for skin undertones or depth, which made it worse

Was It the Pigment… or the Artist?

Honestly? Both matter.

• If the pigment used was low-quality or not designed for brows, red residue is common

• If the pigment was placed too deep, the body struggles to break it down evenly

• If you had multiple touch-ups too close together, it can cause oversaturation, making faded red harder to correct

Today's modern technology:

Those brows were done with old technology — not what I use today.

I work with modern, pre-modified pigments that are more stable long term and fade evenly over time without leaving a weird tint behind. And I always consider your skin tone, undertones, and placement depth to make sure your healed results stay soft, flattering, and neutral — even years down the road.

Final Tip:

If your brows are several years old and fading warm, it’s not unusual — but it is fixable.
We can often neutralize the leftover pigment, reshape, and correct it over time. You may need multiple sessions, depending on how saturated the area is. Or you may need laser removal before cover up work.