Skin Expert | Cosmetic & Medical Tattooist | Mentor | Industry Educator
Est. 2009
Why Does Permanent Make-up Change Colour?
When permanent make-up is implanted into the skin, tiny pigment particles become suspended within the upper dermis. Your body recognises these particles as foreign material and attempts to remove them, but because many are too large for the immune system to clear completely, a proportion remain within the skin.
Over time, however, those pigments don't simply stay the same.
As the skin naturally renews itself, pigments are gradually broken down by the body's immune cells and exposed to years of UV light, skincare ingredients and environmental influences. Different colour components fade at different rates, which is why brows that once looked beautifully balanced can gradually appear grey, blue, red or even orange.
This process is completely normal and one of the reasons permanent make-up almost always changes over time.
Why Some Permanent Make-up Is Easier to Remove Than Others
No two permanent make-up procedures are ever exactly the same.
Successful removal depends on many factors, including:
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The type and brand of pigment originally used
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The colour composition of the pigment
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How deeply it was implanted
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How saturated the treatment is
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The age of the permanent make-up
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Previous correction or removal attempts
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Your individual immune response and healing ability
These variables mean that two clients with similar-looking brows may require completely different treatment plans.
How Laser Removal Works
Q-Switched laser technology delivers extremely short pulses of light energy that are selectively absorbed by certain pigment colours.
The laser energy causes the pigment particles to fragment into much smaller pieces, allowing your body's immune system to gradually remove them over the following weeks.
Different wavelengths target different pigment colours, which is why treatment must always be carefully selected rather than using a one-setting-fits-all approach.
Laser removal can often achieve excellent lightening or complete removal, but it isn't suitable for every pigment or every client.
The Science Behind
PMU Removal
Understanding why permanent make-up changes over time and how different removal methods work—helps explain why there is no single treatment that's right for every client.
How Saline Removal Works
Botched Ink® saline removal works in a completely different way.
Rather than breaking down pigment with light energy, a specialist saline solution is implanted into the skin using a tattooing technique. During healing, some of the pigment is drawn towards the skin's surface where it is naturally eliminated as the area repairs itself.
Saline removal can be particularly valuable in situations where laser may not be appropriate, such as certain pigment formulations, delicate areas or very recent permanent make-up.
Why There Isn't a Universal Solution
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding permanent make-up removal is that one method is always better than another.
In reality, the best results often come from choosing the most appropriate technique—or, in some cases, combining different approaches over time.
Some clients only require a small amount of lightening before new permanent make-up can be created.
Others benefit from several laser sessions.
Some are better suited to saline removal.
Others may not require removal at all and can achieve beautiful results through skilled corrective permanent make-up.
This is why every treatment at The PMU Restoration Clinic begins with a comprehensive consultation. Rather than recommending a particular removal method, I assess your existing permanent make-up, your skin, your goals and the science behind your pigment before creating a personalised treatment plan.
Because successful permanent make-up correction isn't about using laser or saline.
It's about understanding the science, respecting the skin and choosing the right solution for you.