Permanent Cosmetics by Wendy has been serving the Columbus area since 2006. With a decade of experience under her belt, owner Wendy Irvin believes a plethora of people could benefit from permanent cosmetics.

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up in the morning and be able to dress and run off to work? With permanent makeup this has been made possible. Whether it is eyeliner, eyebrows or lip shading permanent makeup by Wendy may be the solution for you.

Wendy Irvin, proprietor of Permanent Cosmetics by Wendy, has dedicated her life’s work to ensuring that people are comfortable in their own skin. After receiving her technical training from the International Institute of Permanent Cosmetics in California, Wendy opened her own business right here in Columbus. Serving the area for ten years, Permanent Cosmetics by Wendy offers a multitude of treatments, ranging from standard cosmetic tattoos to paramedical tattooing. Wendy sat down with SVM to discuss the latest industry trends and to give advice about how to know if permanent cosmetics are right for you.

What are some of the benefits of permanent cosmetics?
Most can benefit from them by creating an easier morning routine by waking up with more color and a brighter appearance. Athletic women can enjoy carefree and sweat-proof makeup. With permanent cosmetics, you can enjoy makeup while swimming, exercising or vacationing, all while feeling your best. Permanent Cosmetics can also help those that have trouble applying makeup due to shaky hands or poor vision. It can help bring back natural color to your face that tends to fade over time (sparse eyebrows, eyelashes and loss of lip color or thinning lips). Men and women with thyroid issues, alopecia or trichotillomania can greatly benefit from an eyebrow procedure to replace the look of their natural hair that has thinned or disappeared.

Who is a good candidate for Permanent Cosmetics?
Just about anyone that wants to add more color to their face naturally is a good candidate.

What are the different types of permanent cosmetics you offer?
Natural looking hair stroke eyebrows, eyeliner and lip color are the main services we offer. Paramedical tattooing of the nipple/areola complex after a mastectomy due to breast cancer is another service offered. Microblading is another form of hair stroke eyebrows, and it the newest addition to my service menu.

Will you explain the latest trend in permanent cosmetics, microblading?
Microblading is a term new to permanent cosmetics. It is also known as Microstroking, Eyebrow Feathering, 3D Eyebrows or Eyebrow Embroidery. This technique uses a hand tool with multiple needles attached and pigment to make fine incisions in the skin. It is known for producing hyper realistic hair strokes. The term Microblading originated in Europe, where it is referred to as Semi-Permanent Cosmetics, but the technique of making fine incisions in the skin in tattooing has been around for hundreds of years.

Will my permanent makeup fade?
Yes, all natural-looking permanent cosmetics will fade over time. There are many factors that attribute to the fading process, such as oily vs. dry skin, skin products used, metabolism, lifestyle and pigments used [in the tattoo process]. Tattoo inks that are used in body art would last many, many years, but they should not be used on the face. Only pigments specifically manufactured for the face should be used. Maintenance is necessary, but this is the only way to guarantee a natural look.

How long do permanent cosmetics normally last?
Each area has different fading results. Eyebrows generally fade the soonest, with 1 1/2-2 years being the average time. Eyeliner typically needs maintenance every 2-3 years. Lip color generally lasts the longest, needing maintenance every 3-5 years. Keep in mind every person is different. Those with oily skin or higher metabolism may need maintenance more often. Microblading will need maintenance sooner due to the small amount of color placed in each hair stroke. These are average maintenance times, but I have had clients come back to see me after 5 years with their makeup still looking good.

What criteria should someone use when choosing an artist for their permanent makeup?

You want to be sure to find a well-trained and certified artist. The skin is a living canvas and experience aids in understanding how the color and instrument used will react in someone's skin. Certification should come from an independent, non-profit organization. Photos of the artist's work is an excellent indicator as well. Be sure photos viewed include healed work. A consultation is a great way to get your questions answered and to view their portfolio.