The first 24 hours
The first day matters more than any other. There are two things to get right, and nothing else you need to do.
01
Cleanse two to three times on day one
On the first day, gently cleanse your brows two to three times using warm water and a mild soap, such as baby soap or baby shampoo. This removes the plasma and blood residue that rises to the surface after treatment, before it dries on the skin.
Use warm water rather than hot. Cleanse gently and do not scrub or rub the tattooed area. Afterwards, pat the skin dry by blotting with a clean tissue. This routine is for the first day only.
02
Bepanthen Antiseptic, only if you need it
ELKA CLINIC recommends Bepanthen Antiseptic. It is optional rather than routine, and it is not something to apply on a schedule.
If the tattooed area feels dry or tight, apply a small amount as needed during the first few days of healing. Only a small amount is required. The brows should never be covered in ointment or coated in a thick layer, because applying more than you need can oversoften the skin rather than help it. If your brows feel comfortable, there is nothing you need to apply.
Please do not substitute other creams, balms or ointments. If you are unsure whether you need anything at all, ask us rather than guessing.
The first 10 days
More of your final result is decided in the fortnight after your appointment than during it.
Avoid for 10 days
The restriction period
- Swimming
- Sauna
- Heavy sweating
- Brow makeup directly over the treated area
Throughout healing
Until the brows have settled
- Do not pick or scratch flaking skin. Let it shed on its own.
- Keep your brows out of direct sun.
- Avoid exfoliants and active skincare such as retinol and acids on the brow area.
- Keep your hands off the area unless you are cleansing it.
What the healing looks like
Brows change a great deal while they heal, and they rarely look their best in the middle of it. The stages below follow the same progression as the healing guide we give clients in the clinic.
Day 1
Fresh brows. Your brows look darker, stronger and more defined than the healed result will be. That is exactly how freshly treated brows should look, and most clients love them on day one.
Days 2–4
The darker stage. The colour can look more intense than you expected, and this is where clients most often start to worry. It is a normal part of healing and it is not your final colour.
Days 5–7
Scabbing and flaking. Light scabbing or flaking may begin as the skin heals. Please do not pick or scratch the area — let it shed on its own, because picking can affect how evenly the colour settles.
Days 8–10
The light stage. Your brows may look much lighter than expected, and some clients feel as though the colour has disappeared. This temporary light stage can happen while the skin settles, and it does not necessarily reflect how much colour you will keep.
Days 12–28
Colour returning. The colour gradually becomes more visible again and the result begins to settle. Your brows continue to soften and even out through this period.
After healing
Your final result. Once healing is complete you can see the settled colour and shape. A perfecting appointment is available if you would like an adjustment, but it is optional — a beautiful healed result does not depend on having one.
Healing varies from person to person. Your brows may move through these stages slightly earlier or later than shown, and the same person can heal differently on each side. Treat the day ranges as a general guide rather than a schedule.
What is normal during healing
Commonly reported
Expected and temporary
- Brows looking darker and bolder for the first few days
- Dryness, flaking or light scabbing
- Mild tenderness
- Temporary patchiness as the surface sheds
- The two sides shedding at different rates
- More redness or longer dryness if your skin is sensitive or reactive
Worth telling us about
Please get in touch
- Anything that concerns you
- Anything that looks noticeably different from the stages above
- Anything you are simply not sure about
This guide describes what clients commonly experience while healing. It is not a medical assessment and it does not list every possibility. If you are worried, please contact us.
When to contact ELKA CLINIC
If something about your healing concerns you, or looks noticeably different from the stages above, get in touch. Most of the time we will simply confirm that you are on track, and we would far rather hear from you early than have you wait and worry. A clear photograph taken in daylight helps, so WhatsApp is usually the quickest way to reach us.
From day 10
- The initial restriction period ends. Swimming, sauna, heavy sweating and brow makeup over the treated area are all fine again.
- You can begin applying sunscreen directly over the brows from approximately day ten, once the initial healing period has passed.
Sun exposure is one of the things most likely to lift colour from a healed cosmetic tattoo, so daily protection is a habit worth keeping. How long your brows hold their colour depends on your skin, your skincare routine and how much sun you get, and it varies from person to person.
The perfecting appointment is optional
A touch-up, or perfecting appointment, can be carried out approximately four to six weeks after your first session. It is not automatically required.
If you are happy with the result
No second session needed
If the healed colour, shape and overall result suit you after the first session, there is nothing further to book. Plenty of clients stop here.
If you would like an adjustment
Four to six weeks
If you would like a little more colour, a refinement to the shape, or attention to an area that healed lighter than the rest, that is what the perfecting appointment is for. Because the healed result is only readable from around week six, there is nothing to gain from booking it earlier.
Looking after healed brows
- Sunscreen over the brows is the single most useful habit for keeping colour looking fresh.
- Retinoids, exfoliating acids and pigment-targeting treatments applied directly over the area may accelerate fading. Discuss your routine with your artist or your skincare professional.
- Repeated friction over the brows, such as scrubbing, heavy cleansing or exfoliating pads, has a similar effect over time.