Permanent makeup has been around for decades – from eyebrows and eyeliner to lipstick, cosmetic tattoos are popular forms of face tattoos for enhancing people’s features. However, this has taken another step forward in the form of freckles.
Yes, that’s right, you can get a semi permanent sprinkling of tiny dots tattooed on your face to give you a lasting sun-kissed glow without the harsh effects of UVA and UVB rays.
But, what exactly goes into this procedure? And, is it safe? How long does it last and what, if any, are the side effects? We are going to answer these questions and more to help you think before you get inked.
What Are Freckle Tattoos?
Freckle tattoos are tiny dots of ink inserted across your cheeks and the bridge of your noise to mimic either a natural dusting of freckles, or a constellation of stars.
Byrdie goes further,
“The freckle pattern is created by a cosmetic tattoo artist using either a rotary motor (machine) or a single needle (hand-poked) with iron-based tattoo pigment to repeatedly poke small holes into your face.”
Is It Safe To Get Your Face Tattooed?
As with most tattoos, expect some swelling, itchiness, and redness if you decide to get freckle tattoos. With some aftercare, the symptoms should go away. To avoid any other side effects and long-term discomfort and pain, go to a professional for your ink.
Yes, you can get tattoo equipment online, and you may think, “It’s just a few dots – I could do it myself.” Don’t.
“Tilly Whitfeld had ended up in the hospital after tattooing freckles across her nose and cheeks, using a sewing needle and ink she bought online,”
NY Post
She was permanently scarred and temporarily blind in one eye from the DIY tattoo project. Saving a few bucks just isn’t worth it.
Are Freckle Tattoos Permanent?
Nope. Freckle tattoos do not last as long as more traditional tattoos. New York dermatologist, Dr Julie Russak, explained to New Beauty,
“Current freckle tattoos are semi-permanent makeup akin to microblading. Those will start fading and should disappear within a year and half.”
So, if you get freckles tattooed, and you hate them, you only need to wait about 18 months for them to fade. However, if you can’t wait and want to get them removed, you may experience some scarring.
Pros Of Freckle Tattoos
If you want a semi-permanent, year-round glow without harming your skin with UV rays, freckle tattoos could be perfect for you.
To protect the face, many people include sunscreen in their daily skincare routine. In doing so, they may be lessening their natural freckles. With a smattering of freckle tattoos, you can still protect your skin from the sun while keeping your dusting of youthful dots.
Plus, what is great about freckle tattoos, is that it suits all skin tones. Sarah Killen of Killen Ink Beauty told Byrdie,
“Tattoo freckles are safe for everyone of all skin colors. There are all sorts of colors that I can use. On average, I use a combination of three different colors when doing a freckle client… I use cool or warm tones depending on my client’s skin tone, as well as a variety of different depths depending on how fair or dark my client’s skin tone is.”
How To Prepare For A Freckle Tattoo Appointment
First of all, the best thing you can do is go to a professional, certified permanent makeup artist.
Getting freckle tattoos is a bit different from getting a traditional body tattoo, as the face can be a bit more sensitive.
PMU Hub advises tattooees avoid sunbathing and tanning for two weeks before their freckle tattoo appointment, as sun damaged skin is more sensitive. They also say,
“Stop using any retinol or Vitamin A products one month prior. These thin out the skin and make it bleed more.” You should also not do any facials a couple of weeks before your appointment.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine for at least one day before your appointment, as alcohol can thin the blood, while caffeine can make you jittery. Not a good combination at a tattoo appointment.
Aftercare For Freckle Tattoos
After your freckle tattoo appointment, your skin will scab over. It is important to not pick or scratch at these scabs, as this can cause your new tattoos to get infected and create scars.
Addison Edge Cosmetics advises people with new freckle tattoos to clean their face often while their tattoos are healing.
“Gently clean the area using a liquid, mild, fragrance free soap using only your hands. Do not use a rag or any other kind of facial cleaning tool/brush – these contain bacteria and can cause infection, and they can cause the scabs to come off before they should which almost always results in pigment loss. Be sure to rinse all of the soap off and then pat dry with a clean dry paper towel.”
Also, skincare products and makeup can affect the way that the newly implanted pigment bonds with your skin, so avoid your normal skincare routine while your freckles are healing – for around two weeks.
Of course, it is important to moisturize your face and new freckles. The cosmetic tattoo artist that you get tattooed by will be able to advise a safe product to use.
Here’s the thing: Getting a face tattoo can be scary! And, there’s no way to hide it once done. So, even though freckle tattoos are just tiny dots, think before you ink and decide whether you’re just following a trend for the sake of fashion, or you really want this. There’s no right or wrong answer – you just need to know that your reasons are right for you.