Essential Information
Permanent Makeup Candidacy Guidelines
Clear, honest guidance on who is — and isn't — an ideal candidate for permanent makeup procedures like microblading, nanoblading, lip blush, and eyeliner tattoo.
Permanent makeup works best when your skin is healthy, stable, and ready to heal predictably. Most people with healthy skin qualify — but certain medical conditions, medications, and skin types require evaluation, medical clearance, or may disqualify you from treatment.
Key Sections
Part One
Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Permanent Makeup
Healthy skin, realistic expectations, and commitment to aftercare.
If your skin is in good condition and you can commit to proper aftercare, you're likely a strong candidate for permanent makeup procedures including microblading, nano brows, powder brows, lip blush, and eyeliner tattoo. We work with clients from their late teens through their 80s, across all ethnic backgrounds and skin types.
The key factors for candidacy are: healthy, stable skin in the treatment area with no active conditions; no inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or active acne in the treatment zone; realistic expectations about results, healing time, and the need for touch-ups; commitment to following pre-care and aftercare protocols strictly; and understanding that results develop over time — pigment settles and reveals its true color over 4–6 weeks.
Age alone is rarely a limiting factor. What matters most is the current condition of your skin, your overall health, and any medications you may be taking. Mature skin may have different texture and healing characteristics, but many clients in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s achieve beautiful results.
Part Two
Who Is Not an Ideal Candidate
Certain conditions, medications, and circumstances affect healing, safety, or pigment retention.
Permanent makeup involves controlled trauma to the skin using fine needles that deposit pigment into the dermal layer. If your skin is compromised, your immune system is suppressed, or your body's healing response is unpredictable, outcomes may be poor, unpredictable, or unsafe.
Absolute Contraindications
>The following conditions mean we cannot perform permanent makeup procedures, regardless of other circumstances:
Requires Written Medical Clearance
The following conditions may be compatible with permanent makeup, but require written approval from your physician confirming the procedure is safe for you:
Skin Conditions & Active Issues
Active skin conditions in or near the treatment area must be fully healed before we can proceed:
Medications & Treatments to Avoid
Important: Never discontinue prescribed medications without consulting your physician first. If you require blood thinners for a medical condition, we can discuss alternatives.
Eyeliner-Specific Contraindications
Important Studio Policy
If you arrive with an active skin condition, blemish, rash, cold sore, or any concern in the treatment zone, we will not proceed with your appointment. You will be rescheduled (typically several weeks to months out depending on availability) and your deposit will be forfeited. A new deposit will be required to rebook. No exceptions. This policy exists to protect both your results and your health.
Part Three
Lip Blush: Cold Sore Prevention Protocol
If you've ever had a cold sore, antiviral medication is required — no exceptions.
Lip tattooing procedures (lip blush, lip liner, full lip color) can trigger cold sore outbreaks in individuals with a history of HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1, which causes oral herpes/cold sores). The procedure creates minor trauma to the lip tissue, which can reactivate the dormant virus.
Over 90% of people carry HSV-1, often without knowing it. You may have been infected as a child and never experienced a visible outbreak. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells and can be triggered by stress, illness, sun exposure — or cosmetic procedures on the lips.
If you have ever experienced a cold sore — even once, even decades ago — you must obtain an antiviral prescription from your doctor before your lip blush appointment. Acceptable medications include:
If a cold sore outbreak occurs during healing, it can cause significant pigment loss in the affected area, uneven healing, potential scarring, and compromised results requiring additional correction sessions.
Cold Sore History = Antiviral Required
No exceptions to this policy. You must bring proof of your antiviral prescription to your appointment. If you have a history of cold sores and arrive without having taken antiviral medication, your appointment will be canceled and your deposit forfeited. This protocol protects your results and prevents painful outbreaks during healing.
If you're unsure whether you've ever had a cold sore, we recommend taking the antiviral medication as a precaution. Discuss this with your physician — the medication is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects for most people.
Part Four
Important Disclaimers & Realistic Expectations
Understanding the nature of permanent makeup and factors beyond our control.
Individual outcomes vary and cannot be guaranteed. Permanent makeup is a skilled cosmetic procedure performed on living tissue. While we strive for beautiful results for every client, understanding how outcomes can vary will helps you make an informed decision.
No two people heal the same way. Even the same person may experience different healing, retention, or color shifts between appointments or between different areas of the face. Factors including your immune response, skin type, metabolism, medications, diet, stress levels, sun exposure, skincare routine, and lifestyle all influence your results.
Permanent makeup enhances — it doesn't replace. While PMU can significantly reduce your makeup routine, you may still want or need to use cosmetic products for certain looks or occasions. Results are designed to look natural, not fully "done."
We cannot control your body's healing process. A small percentage of people experience very little pigment retention (hypo-retention) or excessive retention (hyper-retention). This is unpredictable and will only be apparent after healing is complete.
Long-term changes are normal. Over months and years, pigment may fade, blur slightly, or shift in tone due to sun exposure, skin changes, and natural processes. Periodic color refreshers (typically every 1-3 years) maintain optimal results.
FDA Information
The FDA considers permanent makeup pigments to be cosmetics. However, no color additives have been approved by the FDA specifically for injection into the skin. While reputable manufacturers use pigments reviewed for safety and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), the long-term health effects of tattooing pigments are not fully known. As with any elective cosmetic procedure, you assume responsibility for your decision to proceed.
MRI Considerations
In rare cases, permanent makeup containing certain metallic pigments may cause slight discomfort, warming, or minor swelling during MRI scans. While serious reactions are extremely rare, always inform your MRI technician about any tattoos or permanent makeup before your scan.
If you have any concerns about your suitability for permanent makeup, or if you have medical conditions not addressed on this page, we strongly encourage you to consult your physician before booking. We're happy to provide documentation about the procedure for your doctor's review.
Not Sure If You Qualify?
Schedule a complimentary video consultation with our Manhattan studio. We'll review your specific situation, discuss any medical considerations, and help you determine the best path forward for your permanent makeup journey in NYC.
Schedule Your Free Consultation