How Long Does Lip Blushing Last?
Lip blush tattoos do typically last for two to three years, and they do require touch-ups. "Each year, you'll see [the pigment] get lighter and lighter until it disappears," says Kondratyev. "It's not going to have a weird patchy fade-out or change color; you'll just notice that more of your own lip is exposed."
After your first lip blushing session, because of the layer of skin that the ink is implanted on, people often need a touch-up four to six weeks later. "That's because your body wants to push some of the ink out when it's healing, so you might need to put some of those areas back. That said, lip tissue regenerates superquick, so that's why as long as it's implanted properly, it's never permanent. If you really want to keep up with it and keep it on point all the time, I recommend doing a yearly refresh session — especially for people going through a more transformative lip blush, like correcting and camouflaging scars."
What Should I Expect After Getting Lip Blushing?
The most common reaction is swelling, but everyone reacts differently — some people might not swell at all — and it should subside after 24 hours. As your lips heal throughout the next seven days, you'll want to coat them with a thin layer of Aquaphor, avoid eating or drinking spicy, citrusy, or salty foods, and it's also best to wait at least four days before working out again to preserve the ink.
As you work your way through the healing process, by day three or four, your lips will become dry and start the shedding phase. The biggest thing to remember is not to pick or bite your lips. As tempting as it is, you have to let your skin shed and flake off on its own — otherwise, you could lose your color. After seven days, your skin will be completely healed, but you'll notice a lighter, milky color. After 30 days, your color will be completely developed, and you'll see your final results.
How to Find the Right Cosmetic Tattoo Artist
"In my opinion, you need to see healed photos of their work — that is where the truth lies," Kondratyev says. "Right after, the lips are swollen, and bright, and juicy. But once they are healed, that's what you're going to be walking around with, so that's what you need to look for." You'll also want to make sure your artist has worked on a wide range of different skin tones, because that means they know how to formulate colors correctly. "Personally, I would not see someone that didn't work on all skin tonalities. Each person is entirely different, and you need to formulate and tattoo them to suit them."
