Retinol, Peels, Acids: Tell Us Before You Book
Many treatments that turn out badly do not begin in the artist’s chair, but on the shelf in your bathroom. Retinol, acids and peels change the very skin of the brow — which is exactly where the colour has to settle. The good news is that you do not have to give them up: you just have to tell us in good time.
Why what you put on your face beforehand matters
Tint, henna and micropigmentation pigment do not sit on top of the skin, they sit in its surface layers. Any product that speeds up cell renewal — retinol, retinoids, acids, peels — takes precisely that layer out of service. You see the consequence in the mirror: the colour grips unevenly, leaves within a few days, and you are left with the impression that the work was poor.
In the studio we documented a case of brows worked on dehydrated skin, after an aggressive chemical peel. The work could be done — but with a different product, with different expectations and after a serious conversation beforehand. That is the whole difference between “I mentioned it” and “I forgot to say”.
If you use retinol or retinoids, tell your artist about it before the treatment. That way you avoid unpleasant consequences.
From the studio’s experience
Retinol and retinoids: the pause, and why
Retinol temporarily thins the surface layer of the skin and raises its sensitivity. On skin like that, tint can provoke a stronger reaction than usual, and wax raises the risk of taking a little skin along with the hair. It is not a catastrophe, it is simply a good reason not to meet on that particular day.
We will not give you a universal number over a message, because it depends on the concentration, on how often you use it and on the area you apply it to. Our rule is simpler and firmer: we do not work on irritated, red or freshly exfoliated skin. If you use retinoids on your forehead, say so when you book and we will settle on the right day together.
Chemical peels and acids: what happens to the pigment
A peel does its job in exactly the place where we want the colour to stay. If that layer leaves three days after the tinting, the pigment leaves with it — not because the shade was wrong, but because the skin was scheduled to change. That is why the order matters:
- a recent chemical peel on the forehead or the brow area — we postpone the treatment;
- acids in your evening routine — set them aside on the brow area in the days before your visit;
- scrubs or cleansing brushes on the brow — neither before nor after the treatment;
- for micropigmentation the rule is written plainly: no sooner than 2–4 weeks after a peel, botox or filler in that area;
- sunburn, irritation, broken skin or eczema in the area — postponed, no discussion.
If your skin is already dry or flaking, moisturising starts two weeks beforehand, not on the morning of the appointment. It is the cheapest thing you can do for an even colour.
Allergies and the patch test
Any cosmetic product can cause a reaction, however gentle it sounds on the label. If you know you have ever reacted to hair dye, to henna, to wax, to thread or to lamination components, tell us before we open the jar. When needed we do a patch test 24–48 hours before the treatment — a drop on the forearm and a day of waiting, nothing complicated.
The same rule applies to lash extensions, where we test the adhesive and the tape, and to lamination, where the formula works very close to the eye.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: what we discuss
It is not an automatic ban, but nor is it a treatment we tick off in silence. Brow tinting and lamination are discussed with your artist first: you tell us which trimester you are in, what your doctor has advised and how you reacted to previous treatments. Micropigmentation, by contrast, is not done during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — here the answer is firm and not negotiable.
We discuss chronic conditions, regular medication, blood thinners or unbalanced diabetes in the same way. The complete list is on the micropigmentation page, but what works best is still a sentence said in good time.
What not to do on the day of the treatment
- do not arrive with heavy make-up around the brows — we clean it off anyway, but it costs minutes of the appointment;
- 24–48 hours before micropigmentation, avoid coffee, alcohol and blood-thinning medication, unless it is prescribed;
- no sauna, hot bath or sunbed on the same day;
- put your phone down during the work: every movement of your head shifts the line your artist is drawing;
- do not tweeze your own brows the day before — we start from the shape you have, not the one you began at home.
The short consultation at the start — what it is for
Every visit begins with a few minutes of questions. It is not a formality: that is where we learn what you put on your face, what you have had done in the past month and what you expect from the work. That is also where we decide whether we work with tint, with henna, or not at all that day. The best artist cannot repair skin that is already in the middle of exfoliating — only choose the least risky option.
If you have your heart set on a bigger treatment — brow lamination or micropigmentation — write your questions to us beforehand, when you book. Five minutes of conversation on chat can save you a month of waiting for hairs to grow back.
FAQ
How far in advance should I stop retinol?
We do not give a universal number, because it depends on the concentration and on how often you use it. The firm rule is that we do not work on irritated, red or freshly exfoliated skin — tell us when you book that you use retinoids and we will settle on the day together. For micropigmentation, the pause after a peel, botox or filler in the area is 2–4 weeks.
What if I forgot to mention something?
Say whatever you remember straight away, even with the product still in your hand. Your artist can change the product, drop the wax in favour of tweezers, or rebook the visit. Any of those is better than work done on skin we know nothing about.
Is the patch test compulsory?
We do it whenever there is a known allergy or a past reaction to tint, henna, wax or lamination components. It is done 24–48 hours before the treatment and takes a few seconds. If you have never had any trouble, we decide together at the consultation.
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