EYELINER TATTOO
Complete Healing Guide
Your eyeliner will go through several changes while healing. Swelling, tenderness and changes in colour can all be part of the process.
Everyone heals a little differently. The timeline below is a general guide to what you may experience while your eyeliner heals.
Allow the area time to completely heal before judging your final result.
YOUR AFTERCARE
DAY OF TREATMENT
KEEP THE AREA DRY + TAKE IT EASY
Keep your eyeliner free from water for the first 24 hours.
Most importantly, avoid strenuous activity and exercise for the remainder of the day. Increased heat and circulation can contribute to additional swelling around the eye area.
Some swelling and tenderness after your appointment is expected.
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IF YOU'RE SWOLLEN
A cool compress or covered cold pack can be used to help soothe the area if needed.
Apply gently for short periods at a time, without applying pressure directly to the tattooed area.
Keep the treatment area dry and ensure your cold pack or compress is clean and covered before use.
Swelling can sometimes appear more noticeable the following morning before beginning to settle.
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FROM DAY 2
Continue to treat the area gently and allow it to heal naturally.
Avoid cleansers, skincare and makeup directly over the tattooed area while it is healing.
If the area becomes itchy during the peeling stage, do not pick or scratch it.
A very small amount of your supplied aftercare ointment can be applied if needed to help relieve dryness or itching.
WHAT TO EXPECT
DAYS 1–2
Fresh + Swollen
Your eyeliner will initially appear darker and more defined than the final healed result.
Swelling, redness, tenderness or slight stinging can occur after treatment. Some clients may also experience mild bruising around the eye area.
Swelling can be more noticeable the morning after your appointment.
This is not your final result.
DAYS 3–7
Dry + Flaking
As the area heals, your eyeliner may begin to feel dry, tight or slightly itchy.
Light flaking or peeling can occur.
Do not pick, scratch or pull at the healing skin. Allow it to come away naturally.
Your eyeliner may temporarily look uneven as different areas heal at different rates.
DAYS 7–10+
Lighter + Settling
Once the surface has finished peeling, your eyeliner may appear lighter or softer than expected.
Some areas can temporarily look patchy while the skin continues to heal.
Give it time.
WEEKS 4–6
Settled + Healed
The pigment will continue to settle and soften as the skin completes its healing process.
Once completely healed, your final result can be assessed and any areas requiring refinement can be addressed at your follow-up appointment.
WHILE YOUR EYELINER IS HEALING
To protect the area while it heals, avoid:
Strenuous exercise and activities that create excessive heat or sweating
Eye makeup directly over the treatment area
Cleansers and skincare directly over the treatment area
Swimming and submerging the area in water
Saunas and steam
Rubbing, scratching or picking
Pulling away any flaking or peeling skin
No strenuous activity on the day of your treatment is particularly important.
SHOWERING + WASHING YOUR FACE
Keep the eyeliner free from water for the first 24 hours.
When showering, avoid allowing the shower stream to hit your eyes directly.
Once the initial 24 hours have passed, continue to be gentle around the area while washing your face and avoid rubbing or scrubbing the healing tattoo.
SWELLING + COOLING THE AREA
Some swelling is expected after eyeliner tattooing and can vary considerably from person to person.
If needed, use a clean, covered cool pack or cool compress for short periods to soothe the area.
Do not place ice directly onto your skin or healing tattoo, and avoid applying pressure to the treated area.
LONG-TERM EYELINER CARE
Once completely healed, protect the eye area from excessive sun exposure and avoid routinely applying strong exfoliating or active skincare directly over your tattooed eyeliner.
Your cosmetic tattoo will naturally soften and fade over time.
How quickly this occurs varies between clients and can be influenced by your skin, lifestyle, sun exposure and skincare.
WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT SKIN & INK?
Some swelling, tenderness, mild redness, dryness, itching and flaking can occur during normal healing.
Please contact Skin & Ink Studios if you're concerned about how your eyeliner is healing or experience symptoms that seem unusual or are worsening.
Because the treatment is around the eyes, significant or worsening swelling, increasing pain, marked redness, discharge or changes affecting your eye or vision should not be treated as routine healing and should be medically assessed promptly.
If you're unsure — we'd always rather you ask.
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SKIN & INK STUDIOS
Beautiful results take a little time.