Treatment Review: Permanent Makeup with Ashlene McCormack

When I stepped into Ashlene's clinic to have my eyebrows tattooed I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd read all the literature, relentlessly browsed her site for the before and after pictures, and taken a Nurofen to steady my nerves. I knew all the pluses about eyebrow tattooing- a defined shape, a more symmetrical looking face and bye bye eyebrow pencil but I still had two main question.

Would it hurt, and would it look natural? When you're talking 12- 18 months on your face, you really want to make sure the procedure will go well. And the results? Fan-tabulous, beyond my wildest dreams! You want more than that? OK, see after the jump for pictures that prove this!

Before meeting Ashlene I received a patch test to use, to check I wasn't allergic to the pigment used. When that proved fine, I went in to meet her.

First off she explained the whole process to me; assured me she always used clean needles, and showed me her vast array of instruments. I was assured we'd find the perfect colour match, and then we went through what I didn't like about my brows. To many overenthusiastic plucking sessions as a teen has left them a bit worse for wear, so they look quite sparse and uneven. I wanted a lovely natural arched shape which would mean I could leave the eyebrow pencil at home.

Using a pencil and ruler she starting sketching possible shapes onto my face. I immediately liked the extra length but wasn't happy with the shape, as it was a little too rounded, so we erased a bit and arched it more. A couple of edits later, with Ashlene being incredibly patient with my fussing we'd arrived on the shape.

She explained that it would look really dark once she'd finished, but that would quickly fade. Because not that much pigment would stay attached to the skin, she would go over the same area twice to help it 'stick', and then there would also be a top up session a month later

Next step, the procedure. Shaking slightly I lay on the bed as Ashlene applied the numbing cream. I was prepared to experience a pain worse than waxing but to my surprise it barely hurt at all. I'd describe the worst pain as someone scratching my hand with a fingernail, not pleasant, but definitely bearable. I'd expected excruciating and I got easy, and Ashlene carefully reapplied the anaesthetic as she switched between brows.

We spent ten minutes making sure the pigment matched my skin perfectly, using her array of colours to create a custom blend. 'I import these from the States', she said, 'I find they give the best colours'.

Using a tiny needle the pigments are implanted under the skin, at a very shallow level. To give you the idea of how deep the colour goes- it's not as far as the hair root, as we're on a shallower level than where waxers go.

Before I knew it the treatment was finished and I was sent home with strict instructions not to pick or scratch. Initially they looked quite dark and I was a little scared, but they faded to a really natural colour over the course of a week, so much so, that I had extra colour put in at the top up!

The treatment costs from £400, but considering that your face looks so groomed and elegant afterwards, it's definitely an investment you should make. I know I'll be seeing her again in twelve months!

For more info check it out here. Telephone: 07970 290 009, Email: info@perfectmakeup.co.uk

Locations:London Harley Street, Essex,Brentwood, Chigwell, Romford, Stansted, Hertfordshire,Bushy,St Albans

Related: Would you get your eyebrows tattooed?

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