If you've had your eyebrows tattooed, you may have noticed that the colour has changed over time. This is a common issue with brow tattoos, and it can be especially frustrating if your brows have turned red or blue. But what causes this change in colour, and what can be done about it?
Colour changes can happen for various reasons:
Ink not deposited at the right depth. When ink is deposited too shallow, it will result in a lack of saturation, turning brow into a lighter orange/pink colour. When the ink is deposited too deep, it can cause scarring and the colour will heal ashy.
Formulation of the pigment brand- the lightfastness rating of the colours may not have been equally balanced which can leave behind those undesired dominant residual colour. Iron oxide based pigment tends to heal red over time due to the lack of stability in the black pigment in the ink.
Skin tone- Client with warm undertone will pull the warm tone off a pigment more than a person with a cool undertone.
So what can be done about brow tattoos that have turned red or blue over time?
If you do notice that your brows have turned red or blue, you may be able to correct the colour with a pigment corrector. This is recommended for clients with a good shape and the old tattoo has already faded over 50%. Pigment corrector can help neutralize the blue/red tone in your skin and restore your brows to a brown base. In cases where the existing pigment in the skin is still heavily saturated, laser or saline removal session is recommended before getting a new procedure done. Just be sure to do your research, choose a reputable practitioner, and follow all aftercare instructions to minimize the risk of further colour issues.
Grey brow- This client had her eyebrows tattooed over 30 years ago and they have turned blue. Luckily I was able to work with the original shape, and the color has faded quite a bit so I could do color correcting without going through any laser removal session. Using an orange corrector for the first two passes, and target color for the 3rd pass, I was able to achieve a warm brown color within session. We both love the final color on her.
Red brow- Client has eyebrow tattoo years ago that have turned red. Thanks to the faded bulb area, I was able to refresh her shape and give her a feathery front.
Client has eyebrows that faded into a bright orange/salmon colour. An olive corrector was used to neutralize the base colour and target colour shaded on top. The result will heal into a more more natural brown colour.