A big part of what I do is fixing other people’s work. I don’t say that to be harsh — I’ve been doing this since 1997 and I’ve seen the industry change enormously. A lot of people got permanent makeup done years ago when the pigments were different, the techniques were different, and the standards were very different. And now they’re stuck with something they hate.
If that’s you, most of the time there’s something we can do. Here’s what I see most often.
Brows That Are Too Dark or Too Harsh
Fresh brows are always darker than the healed result — that’s normal. But if your brows are fully healed and still look dramatically too dark, too heavy, or too unnatural, that’s a correction case. Depending on what’s there, we can use Li-FT ink removal to fade the existing pigment and then rebuild with a better technique. Or sometimes color correction alone is enough to soften things.
Wrong Shape or Placement
Brows that are too low, too high, asymmetrical, or just completely wrong for someone’s face. This happens more than people realize and it’s fixable — but you usually can’t just draw over it. The existing pigment has to be faded first so we’re working with a clean canvas. It takes patience and multiple sessions but the end result is worth it.
Color That’s Gone Gray, Blue, or Orange
Older pigments — especially work done 5 to 15 years ago — were not stable. They break down over time and shift into their undertones. Brown can go gray or blue-gray. Warm colors can go orange or red. This happens because the outer pigment molecules have broken down and you’re seeing what’s underneath.
Color correction means we neutralize those undertones before adding a new, stable color on top. It’s a process but it works.
The Old Lip Liner Tattoo
The thick dark outlined lip liner from the 90s and early 2000s. I see this a lot. Those pigments were placed deep and heavy and they don’t fade easily. Options really depend on how much pigment is there and how it’s aged — sometimes we can do Li-FT removal, sometimes skin-tone camouflage, sometimes we layer a modern lip blush technique over it to shift the look. Always a consultation first.
What Is Li-FT?
Li-FT is a non-laser ink removal solution that I use for permanent makeup removal and fading. It pulls pigment up out of the skin through osmosis rather than using heat like a laser does. That makes it safe to use on the face — brows, lips, eyeliner. It requires multiple sessions spaced at least 8 weeks apart and won’t clear everything in one go, but it fades work enough to allow a fresh start.
The Most Important Thing
Do not let anyone put new pigment on top of a problem without a correction plan. I’ve seen this go wrong so many times — layering more on top of bad work almost always makes it harder to fix later, not easier. If someone tells you they can just redo over your existing work without assessing it first, that’s a red flag.
I do consultations before all correction cases — in person or virtually. Send me photos if you want a general idea of what we’re working with before committing to a consult. Learn more about corrections or get in touch.