Permanent makeup - curse or blessing?

It sounds like the answer to every woman's dream - permanent makeup. Imagine getting out of bed in the morning and instead of reaching for the lipstick, eye liner, blush etc you look in the mirror and hey, you look like a million dollars. But supposing you fancied a different color eye liner or lip liner - maybe then you would feel permanent cosmetics were a curse - because that is exactly what they are - permanent. The process actually involves tattooing designs that mimic makeup onto the face, eyes and lips.

Who would want to wear tattoo makeup?

For those wishing to use permanent make-up purely for reasons of convenience ie athletes, women on the go, business women, the most common areas for treatment are the eyebrows, eye lashes and the lips.

But in fact, for thousands of women,  the main reasons for wearing permanent make up is not solely for convenient cosmetic purposes, it can have very practical applications. Permanent make up is very useful for women who cannot wear or apply conventional cosmetics for one reason or another.

• Those that suffer from allergic reactions to conventional cosmetics.

• Women who are blind or have vision problems such as cataracts and find applying makeup almost impossible.

• Women who do not have a steady hand after a stroke or who suffer from arthritis or Parkinson's disease can benefit greatly from permanent make up procedures.

• Women who want to restore a more normal appearance after disease or disfigurement, for example alopecia (hair loss), scars or breast reconstruction.

The technique for applying permanent make up is exactly the same as tattooing. First a patch test is done to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the pigment to be used. The technician then uses a hollow needle that vibrates. Every time the needle punctures the skin, a droplet of pigment is left in the hole made by the needle. There is a slight stinging sensation and bruising and redness usually lasts for a couple of days.

Obviously when looking for a permanent cosmetic technician, take all the necessary precautions. Find out how much experience they have, what qualifications they have, are they members of a professional organization, ask to see their portfolio and ask to speak to former clients and ensure that the premises and instruments are sterile. In fact, many of the criteria for choosing a plastic surgeon should be applied to choosing your permanent make up technician.

But the big question is - how permanent is permanent? While the pigments are permanent they are not placed as deep in the skin as normal tattooing as the skin on the face is very delicate. Most women can expect it to last 10 years or more without any noticeable fading effect.

Yes, for thousands of women, careful thought and the right technician have made permanent cosmetics a long lasting blessing.