Australia’s Guide to Caring for an Eyebrow Tattoo in Summer
What one is to expect with aftercare is not complicated: as the skin heals you want your brows to be clean and lightly shielded from the elements, be it soaking or picking, and kept out of direct sun and sweat. For the first 7 to 14 days at least a fresh brow tattoo calls for some attention; the complete healing and settling of colour will run its course over a number of weeks.
I have been talking to people in the beauty, spa and hospitality trade for years to find out what their clients go through post treatment. As a writer from Fremantle I am Dominic Faulkner. The Australian summer throws up its own set of problems. There is the heat and the perspiration, a shower can turn into a monsoon of sorts and one finds oneself at the beach unawares. A sensible approach to aftercare will see off any irritation and preserve the pigment.
A Healing Plan Without Fuss
You will not find anything glamorous in good aftercare tips. Hands are to be washed, the technician’s instructions heeded and the brows left well alone. Being an open area of skin that is in the process of healing, your cosmetic tattoo requires you to minimise moisture and friction.
Whether it is microblading or a powder brow, the aftercare may differ. Some artists will put you on a dry-healing regimen or have you apply a little cream. If they have put a certain technique or pigment to work on your skin, their word on the matter is best. Reading brow tattoo healing experiences can also provide helpful context.
Who Requires More Attention
For the adult who has had a professional job done and is looking for some practical summer aftercare this guide is suitable. It does not replace medical opinion though. Should you notice pus, red streaks, fever, an allergic response, swelling or pain that is getting worse, put in a call to a health professional.
Then there are those with allergies, oily skin, a propensity for keloids or eczema in the vicinity of the brows. Or perhaps you have had a facial of late. Have a word with the technician before hand. “She’ll be right” is no way to plan your aftercare and rescheduling is often the better option.
The First 14 Days
Healing is a predictable affair if not the same for all. You might see the colour come on strong then mellow, or things look uneven while flaking occurs before the pigment makes itself at home. Take the following as a working framework, not some inflexible timetable.
| Timing | What You May Notice | What Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Brows are more defined, if a bit swollen. | Hands must be clean. Do not touch and do as the technician says. |
| Days 1–3 | Colour seems stronger, there is some tenderness and tightness. | Leave it dry and clean per your instructions. No rubbing, sweat or sun. |
| Days 4–7 | Some scabbing or itching to be expected. | Resist the urge to scratch or peel, let it come away on its own. |
| Days 8–14 | It can look patchy or faded for a time. | Be gentle and do not make up your mind on the outcome yet. |
| Down the track (several weeks) | Now the colour is apparent. | If a touch-up is in order, talk about it once the proper healing time has elapsed. |
One does not need to think the technician has erred because the brows are dark on day one; the swelling and new pigment alter the appearance. In summer the error is more likely to be the other way round, to consider it healed because it is comfortable after a few days.
Cleanliness for Fresh Brows
There is no point in being aggressive with cleaning as it will only cause irritation. Use what your technician has put forward, or if nothing was provided, enquire as to what will suit your skin instead of using a heavy duty exfoliating wash. Lukewarm water is fine. Dry with a soft towel or tissue by patting, not dragging it over the brows. They are not a pair of shoes in need of a polish.
Showering
As to when one can have a shower after an eyebrow tattoo, you can do so fairly soon after. But do not let hot water or shampoo run over the tattoo. Tilt your head back to wash your hair and keep it short. And if the written instructions from your technician say to stay clear of the water for a while, then follow them. One has to make a distinction between being properly careful in the shower and letting the brows soak. The latter is what happens with a bath or an extended steamy shower where water is running over the area time and again; it is more exposure than is called for.
Sweat, heat and exercise need to be kept in check
In the summer months aftercare is not as straightforward, particularly in the humidity of northern Australia or when there is a hot stretch in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Moisture and salt will aggravate skin that is healing, and a dab of the forehead with unclean hands can put bacteria on it.
During the initial phase of healing, opt for something mild and do it in the cool of indoors. Put off any heavy lifting, long runs, hot yoga or strenuous exercise until the skin has stopped flaking and is no longer tender, in accordance with your technician’s advice.
Make it a cool routine
Working outside? Then do it at the cooler hour of the day. Have some clean tissues to hand for blotting sweat but do not go wiping at the tattoo. A hat is fine so long as it is clean and breathable and does not chafe the brows. Air conditioning is all well and good but you would not call a fan full of dust in your face a beauty treatment.
It is better to let the saunas and steam rooms be until the brows are healed; the heat and steam will soften scabs and introduce moisture you do not want. A very hot bath post-exercise is the same. A lukewarm or cool rinse is more sensible. And always have a wash of the hands before putting them to the brow area.
- And always have a wash of the hands before putting them to the brow area.
- If the skin is still being irritated by perspiration, keep to light exercise.
- Use shade or a hat in preference to rubbing sunscreen into pigment that is yet to heal.
- Have some clean tissues to hand for blotting sweat but do not go wiping at the tattoo.
- Should the brows get sore or swollen, take a break.
UV and the healing brow
The vulnerability of healing skin makes UV and direct sunlight a concern in summer; it can also have an effect on how the cosmetic pigment eventually takes. So stay out of the sun and do not sit in it.
Before making plans for the beach, a pool side or a lengthy drive where one might think the car window is enough protection, see what the Bureau of Meteorology has to say about the UV Index and its forecasts.
Ordinary sunscreen is not to be put on new tattoo work unless your technician or a health professional gives the nod. In the early going, physical shade and sunglasses that do not bear down on the brows are the way to go. After the skin is fully healed, your pharmacist or technician can put you on to a facial sunscreen.
Do not let rain be an excuse
A bit of summer rain is of no consequence if it is only momentary, but you will be better off not having to deal with heavy or muddy water and the wiping that goes with it. Pat with a tissue if you must and leave the wet sleeve or towel alone.
Up in the Top End or northern WA where cyclones are a possibility, the weather has a way of turning on you and outdoor excursions may have to be put on hold for safety or flooding. An inconvenience perhaps, but the brows will thank you for the rest. Bushfire smoke and dust are irritants too, so heed official warnings and remain inside.
Leave the swimming for later
Beaches and pools are a temptation in summer but they mean prolonged contact with water, and with the chemicals in a pool or the salt and microorganisms at the beach. Do not swim until your technician has given you the all clear. This goes for the tinnie, river, spa or water park as well. There is no point in slapping a waterproof patch over a fresh tattoo and thinking you are done; the adhesive will upset the skin and water will find its way in around the sides.
Book the appointment with an eye to your schedule
There is a difference between a week at home and trying to keep the brows dry at a crowded pool with towels and children and the odd mozzie in attendance. If you are due for a swim session, camping or a holiday at the beach, book the tattoo for a time when you can put the healing period first. Unusually wet or hot conditions will mean you should not be in a hurry to get back outdoors. The artist’s timetable is the best guide as healing is a matter of technique, aftercare and the state of the skin.
Less is more
You will not hasten healing with more product. Stick to the aftercare cream your technician has put you on and use no more than is told you to. A thick application is greasy in the heat and will only tempt you to touch it.
Unless your technician puts you at ease to do so, keep make-up off the healing brows and the vicinity. The same goes for retinol, acids, exfoliants, facial oils, anything with fragrance or hair-removal products; they are best kept from the area as it heals. And put away the antibiotic cream unless a health professional has put in the word for it.
- Leave scabs, dry skin and flakes alone.
- You will not be using any cleansers or active skincare that stings.
- Nor should towels, face cloths or cosmetics be shared.
- Unapproved balms, oils and home remedies have no place on the brow either.
- As for waxing, threading, laser or peels in the neighbourhood of the brows, do not book them without some professional input.
Whether one is after microblading or powder brows in Australia, restraint is to be preferred over experimentation in the way of aftercare. A new brow tattoo does not require an armory of products, just clean hands, time and a routine that suits.
Scabbing And Colour Changes: What To Make Of Them
Some itching, flaking and light scabbing is normal in the course of healing. Let the skin do what it will. To scratch or peel is to risk irritation, uneven results and the loss of pigment before its time.
Then there is the matter of colour. Brows can go from too dark to too pale to uneven and back again, which is often a surprise. Technicians are not going to put in a touch-up until the skin has seen out its initial healing for this reason. One would be jumping the gun to demand a correction on day seven.
A Case of Expectation Versus Reality
Expectation: You may expect to walk out of the appointment with finished brows. Reality: in reality they could be a little swollen, sharper or darker.
Expectation: You might think a bit of itching is cause for concern. Reality: mild itching is par for the course in healing, but worsening pain, discharge, redness that spreads or pronounced swelling warrants a professional’s eye.
Expectation: Sunscreen is a summer staple. Reality: it is not always right for fresh tattooed skin; a hat and some shade are more practical to start with.
Aftercare Questions Answered
In talking about brow tattoo healing I come across these questions time and again. The short answer will do, though techniques and the way skin reacts are different so your technician’s own instructions should be heeded.
Showering after an eyebrow tattoo?
There is no problem with a careful shower shortly after treatment provided you do not let the brows soak or have hot water and shampoo run over them. Make it a quick affair with lukewarm water and pat to dry. But if your technician has been more prescriptive on the water, so be it.
What to do once the eyebrows are done?
Hands should be washed first. Then adhere to the cleaning and cream regimen, see that the brows are not exposed to sweat or the sun and stay off swimming, steam and make-up till the skin has healed. Photographs are fine for monitoring purposes but do not stand over the brows every ten minutes, it will not hasten their recovery.
Is there a way to put a hurry on healing?
Not safely. You can help matters by being diligent with cleanliness, curbing friction and moisture, watching your UV and sweat exposure and letting the scabs go of their own accord. Be wary of any product touting instant results.
Things to eschew after getting your eyebrows tattooed
No picking, scratching, scrubbing or soaking. No heavy exercise, swimming or sunbaking for the duration. Steer clear of unapproved creams, retinol and acids on the area. Nor should one put up with heat, pain, redness or discharge that is getting worse.
When is the final colour in?
Do not form an opinion in the first week. The brows will be darker at first and lighter when they flake. Once the healing period is behind you, talk to your technician about the result and any touch-up needed. Skin type, lifestyle and how well the pigment is retained will all play a part in the timing.
Summer Brow Care Should Be Simple
Proper aftercare for an eyebrow tattoo in Australia is largely a matter of not making trouble for yourself. Fresh brows want to be clean and dry (but not over-dried) and kept from the elements, sweat and the like.
If your week is full of road trips in the heat or a trip to the beach, or you have a marathon or sauna in the offing, plan the appointment for a time when you can give your brows the attention due. It is a small price to pay for a better outcome.