Before Your PMU Appointment
What you do in the days before your appointment has a real effect on the result. This is what to prepare and what to avoid.
The condition of your skin at the time of your appointment directly affects how well it accepts and retains pigment. Skin that is sensitized by active ingredients, thinned by recent sun exposure, or disrupted by threading or tinting will not heal as predictably as healthy, undisturbed skin. Pre-care is not complicated, but it does require a few deliberate choices in the week leading up to your appointment.
The preparation steps below apply to both brow PMU and lip blush. Specific notes for lip appointments are called out where they differ.
Clean, prepped skin before the appointment
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Products and activities to pause before PMU
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What to Avoid in the Week Before
Retinol, AHAs, BHAs, and Vitamin C
These ingredients increase skin cell turnover and thin the surface of the skin. On sensitized skin, pigment does not absorb as evenly and may not retain as well after healing. Stop using these products on or near the treatment area for at least one week before your appointment. This applies to serums, eye creams, and any targeted treatments as well as moisturizers containing active ingredients.
Sun Exposure and Tanning
Sunburned or sun-sensitized skin is not suitable for PMU. The skin is already in a stressed, reactive state, which affects both how the procedure goes and how the skin heals afterward. If your appointment falls during a period of significant sun exposure, keep the treatment area protected with SPF in the week before. Avoid sunbeds entirely.
Threading, Waxing, and Brow Tinting
For brow PMU: the brow area needs to be undisturbed before the appointment. Threading and waxing temporarily sensitize the skin. Tinting products leave residue that can affect how the area is mapped and prepped. Avoid all of these for at least one week before your appointment. Anna will assess and shape as needed during the appointment itself.
Botox Near the Brow Area
Botox in or near the brow area can shift the position of the brows while it settles. PMU done before that settling is complete may not align with where the brows end up sitting. If you are planning both, book your PMU appointment first and wait at least two weeks after before getting Botox. If you have had Botox recently, wait until two weeks have passed before booking PMU.
Alcohol
Alcohol thins the blood and increases bleeding during the procedure. Increased bleeding can prevent pigment from settling properly into the skin, which affects how the result heals. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment, ideally 48 hours.
What to Avoid on the Day
Avoid
- Caffeine: increases sensitivity and affects circulation in the treated area
- Heavy exercise before the appointment: elevated circulation affects pigment uptake
- Makeup on the treatment area: arrive with clean brows or bare lips
- Blood-thinning supplements such as fish oil and high-dose vitamin E
- Ibuprofen and aspirin: both thin the blood
Do
- Arrive with clean skin on the treatment area
- Eat a light meal before your appointment
- Stay hydrated in the days leading up to your appointment
- Wear comfortable clothing you do not mind getting minor product on
- Allow extra time: do not book something immediately after that requires you to look fully composed
If You Have Existing PMU
If you already have faded or existing brow PMU from a previous artist, the situation requires some assessment before booking. The existing pigment, shape, and color all affect what is achievable in the next session. In some cases, the existing work can be worked over. In other cases, the shape or color needs to be corrected before adding new pigment.
The best first step is to send a few clear photos of your brows in natural light. This allows Anna to assess what she is working with before the appointment and give you an honest picture of what is achievable. Booking without this step can lead to mismatched expectations, particularly if significant correction is needed.
Healed result showing what good preparation produces
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Natural healed powder brows
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear makeup to my PMU appointment?
Avoid makeup on the treatment area on the day of your appointment. For brow PMU, arrive with clean brows and no brow product. For lip PMU, arrive with clean, bare lips. You can wear makeup elsewhere on the face.
Do I need to stop retinol before PMU?
Yes. Stop using retinol, AHAs, BHAs, and vitamin C on or near the treatment area for at least one week before your appointment. These ingredients thin the skin and reduce how well it accepts and retains pigment.
What if I had Botox recently?
If you have had Botox in or near the brow area, wait at least two weeks before your PMU appointment. The position of the brows can shift while Botox settles. If you are planning both, book PMU first and Botox at least two weeks afterward.
Can I drink coffee before my appointment?
It is best to avoid caffeine on the day of your appointment. Caffeine increases sensitivity and can affect circulation in the treated area, which makes the procedure slightly more uncomfortable and can affect how pigment is taken up.
What should I bring to the appointment?
No specific items are required. If you have reference photos of brow shapes or lip colors you like, bring them or have them ready on your phone. They are a useful starting point for the design conversation, though Anna will adapt the result to your face rather than copying a reference directly.
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Studio in central Drammen, serving clients across Greater Oslo. By appointment only.
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