Pre & Aftercare,
Contraindications
& Policies
Everything you need to know before your appointment, during healing, and to protect your results. Proper care is the difference between good results and great ones.
Nano Brows & Powder Ombré
Before Your Appointment
- Avoid retinol, retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, and exfoliating products around the brows for 2 weeks prior.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications (aspirin, ibuprofen) and alcohol for 24 hours before unless medically necessary.
- Avoid tanning beds, excessive sun, and sunburn for 2 weeks prior.
- Do not wax, thread, or tweeze brows for at least 1 week before — come in with your natural growth.
- Avoid caffeine the morning of your appointment to reduce bleeding sensitivity.
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free brows — no oils, serums, or sunscreen on the area.
- Do not work out the day of your appointment.
- Eat a full meal before arriving — do not come in on an empty stomach.
If you use Botox: Schedule your PMU appointment at least 2 weeks before or 4 weeks after your Botox treatment.
Healing Instructions
- Day of: Blot lymph gently and frequently with clean gauze until lymph stops seeping.
- Days 2–10: Wash brows 2x daily with the cleanser provided. Dry completely. Apply a rice-sized amount of moisturizer 2x daily to completely dry brows only.
- No steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, hot showers, or sweaty exercise for 2 weeks.
- No facials, Botox, chemical peels, tanning beds, or direct sun for 4 weeks.
- Switch to a clean pillowcase (silk preferred) and avoid sleeping on your face.
- Do not pick, scratch, or peel any flaking — let it shed naturally.
- No brow makeup of any kind during healing.
Remember: Proper aftercare is key to beautiful, long-lasting results. If you have any questions during healing, don't hesitate to reach out.
What to Expect
Who Should Not Book
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active Accutane use (must be off for 1 year)
- Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation
- Blood disorders or on blood-thinning medication
- Skin conditions on the brow area (eczema, psoriasis, rosacea)
- Recent laser treatments or chemical peels near the brows
- Keloid scarring history
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Active cold sores or infections near the treatment area
Not sure if you qualify? Book a free consultation and we'll assess together before any deposit is taken.
Brow Lamination
Before Your Appointment
- Avoid retinol, retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and exfoliating products around the brows for 24 hours prior.
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure or sunburn.
- Do not wax, thread, tweeze, or trim your brows before your appointment.
- Arrive with clean brows — no makeup, oils, sunscreen, or skincare products on the area.
- Avoid applying brow gel or brow pencils day of.
- If you use self-tanner, avoid applying it around the brow area.
Please inform your artist if you have: Recent chemical peels or laser treatments, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, recent brow tinting or henna, or extremely sensitive skin.
Who Should Not Book
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Known allergy to perming or chemical solutions
- Active skin conditions on or around the brows (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, open sores)
- Extremely sparse or fragile brow hairs that may be damaged by the lamination solution
- Recent Accutane use (within 6 months)
- Recent laser or chemical peel treatments near the brows
- Recent brow tinting or henna within 2 weeks
Protecting Your Results
- First 24 hours: Keep brows completely dry. No washing the brow area, steam, saunas, hot showers, swimming, or sweating.
- First 24 hours: Avoid touching, rubbing, or sleeping directly on your brows.
- First 48 hours: No brow makeup or brow gel. Avoid facial treatments, chemical peels, exfoliants, retinol, and active skincare around the brows. Avoid excessive heat and direct sun.
- Daily care: Brush brows into place each morning with the spoolie provided.
- Daily care: Apply nourishing brow oil or conditioner daily to keep hairs healthy, soft, and hydrated.
- Avoid over-manipulating the hairs throughout the day.
- Schedule your next lamination every 6–8 weeks.
Results tip: Daily conditioning keeps hairs soft and your lamination lasting longer. Don't skip the brow oil.
Brow Tint & Waxing
Before Your Appointment
- Avoid retinol, retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and exfoliating products around the brows for 24–48 hours prior.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure or sunburn.
- Avoid using self-tanner around the forehead and brows.
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free brows — no oils, sunscreen, or skincare on the area.
- Do not trim or tweeze your brows before your appointment.
Please inform your artist if you: Are on Accutane, use prescription topical acne medications, have recently had a peel or laser, have allergies to hair dyes, or have any irritation or skin conditions around the brows.
Who Should Not Book
- Known allergy to hair dyes or tinting products
- Active Accutane use
- Open cuts, irritation, sunburn, or active skin conditions around the brows
- Recent chemical peel or laser treatment near the brow area
- Extremely thin or sensitive skin that reacts to wax
Protecting Your Tint & Skin
- First 24 hours: Avoid excessive sweating, swimming, steam rooms, saunas, and hot tubs.
- First 24 hours: Avoid touching or rubbing the brow area. Avoid applying makeup directly over freshly waxed skin.
- First 48 hours: Avoid retinol, exfoliants, chemical peels, and active skincare around the brows. Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning beds.
- To extend your tint: Avoid harsh cleansers and excessive scrubbing. Use gentle skincare around the brows. Apply daily SPF to prevent premature fading.
- Brow tint typically lasts 4–6 weeks on hairs and several days on skin.
- Schedule maintenance every 4–6 weeks for consistently fresh brows.
Lash Lift (Keratin)
Before Your Appointment
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free lashes — no mascara, lash serum, or eye makeup.
- Remove contact lenses before your appointment and bring your glasses.
- Do not curl your lashes in the days leading up to your appointment.
- If you have lash extensions, they must be fully removed before a lash lift can be performed.
- Avoid waterproof mascara for 48 hours prior — it can leave residue that affects the lift.
- Avoid lash serums (including Latisse) for at least 2 weeks prior.
Who Should Not Book
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Known allergy to perming or lifting solutions
- Active eye infections, styes, or conjunctivitis
- Chemotherapy or recent radiation near the eye area
- Alopecia affecting the lashes
- Very sparse, damaged, or broken lashes (lift may cause further damage)
- Recent eye surgery (including LASIK) — wait at least 6 months
- Extremely sensitive eyes or active eczema on the eyelids
Protecting Your Lift
- First 24 hours (critical): Keep lashes completely dry. No water, steam, sauna, swimming, or sweaty exercise. The lift is still setting during this window.
- First 24 hours: Do not touch, rub, or sleep on your lashes. Avoid eye makeup entirely.
- First 48 hours: Avoid waterproof mascara. Avoid lash curlers.
- Apply nourishing lash serum or castor oil nightly to keep lashes conditioned and healthy.
- Use a gentle, oil-free eye makeup remover to prevent premature breakdown of the lift.
- Avoid lash serums with prostaglandin analogues (like Latisse) during the first 2 weeks.
- Schedule your next lash lift every 6–8 weeks for continuous results.
Results tip: Daily conditioning keeps your lashes healthy between lifts and maximizes longevity. Well-nourished lashes hold the curl better and longer.
Eyeliner PMU & Lashline Enhancement
Before Your Appointment
- Arrive with clean eyes — no eye makeup, mascara, lash serum, or eye cream.
- Remove contact lenses before your appointment and wear glasses for the day.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications and alcohol for 24 hours prior.
- Avoid caffeine the morning of — it increases sensitivity.
- Do not use lash growth serums (including Latisse) for 2 weeks prior.
- If you have lash extensions, discuss with your artist before booking — extensions may need to be removed first.
- Eat a full meal before your appointment.
- Avoid Botox near the eye area for at least 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after your appointment.
Healing Instructions
- Keep eyes clean: Gently cleanse the area 2–3x daily with a clean cotton pad and lukewarm water or a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. Pat dry.
- Keep moisturized: Apply a thin layer of aftercare ointment (Aquaphor or A&D) 2–3x daily. Never let the area dry out.
- Do not touch, rub, or scratch your eyes. Let any flaking fall naturally.
- No water directly on eyes, steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, or swimming for 2 weeks.
- No gym or heavy workouts that cause sweating for 7–10 days.
- No eye makeup or mascara for 2 weeks.
- Avoid contact lenses for 7–10 days. Wear glasses instead.
- Keep eyes out of direct sun. Wear sunglasses and SPF around the eyes.
- No smoking or vaping for 7–10 days — nicotine slows healing and affects pigment retention.
- Sleep on your back with head slightly elevated for the first few nights to reduce puffiness.
Watch for: Slight redness, tightness, and flaking are completely normal. Contact us immediately if you experience excessive redness, swelling, or discharge.
What to Expect
Who Should Not Book
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active Accutane use (must be off 1 year)
- Active eye infections, styes, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis
- Glaucoma or other chronic eye conditions (consult your doctor first)
- Recent eye surgery including LASIK (wait at least 1 year)
- Blood disorders or on blood-thinning medication
- Keloid scarring history
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Trichotillomania affecting the lash area
Lip Blush
Before Your Appointment
- If you have a history of cold sores (HSV-1), you must take antiviral medication (such as Valtrex) starting 3 days before your appointment and continuing through healing. Consult your doctor for a prescription.
- Arrive with clean, exfoliated lips. Moisturize lips well in the days leading up to your appointment.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications and alcohol for 24 hours prior.
- Avoid caffeine the morning of your appointment.
- Avoid lip fillers for at least 4 weeks before and after your appointment.
- Avoid any lip treatments (chemical peels, laser) near the lip area for 4 weeks prior.
- Do not come in with severely chapped, dry, or peeling lips — moisturize diligently in the week before.
- Eat a full meal before arriving.
Cold sore history: This is not a disqualifier — it just requires antiviral prep. Please let your artist know at booking so we can ensure proper protocol.
Healing Instructions
- Keep lips clean: Gently cleanse lips 2–3x daily with a clean cotton pad and lukewarm water or a gentle fragrance-free cleanser. Pat dry.
- Keep lips moisturized: Apply recommended aftercare ointment (Aquaphor, A&D, or artist-recommended balm) 2–3x daily. Never let lips dry out.
- Use a clean straw for all drinks to protect the healing area.
- Avoid spicy, acidic, and salty foods for 7–10 days.
- No kissing or oral contact for 10 days.
- No smoking or vaping for 7–10 days — nicotine slows healing and affects color retention.
- No gym or excessive sweating for 7–10 days.
- No pools, hot tubs, saunas, or soaking baths for 2 weeks.
- Keep lips out of direct sun during healing. After healed, always wear SPF on lips to protect your color.
- No lip products (lipstick, gloss, scrubs, or active skincare) for 2 weeks.
- Do not pick or pull flakes — let them shed naturally.
What to Expect
Who Should Not Book
- Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Active Accutane use (must be off 1 year)
- Active cold sore outbreak (reschedule — antiviral prep is required)
- Active lip filler within the past 4 weeks
- Blood disorders or on blood-thinning medication
- Autoimmune conditions affecting the skin
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Keloid scarring history
- Lip conditions including active eczema, psoriasis, or angular cheilitis
Face & Body Waxing
Before Your Appointment
- Hair must be at least ¼ inch long (about the size of a grain of rice) for the wax to grip properly.
- Avoid retinoids, exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs), and active skincare on the area for 24–48 hours prior.
- Avoid tanning, direct sun, and sunburn on the area being waxed for 24 hours prior.
- Do not apply lotion, oils, or self-tanner to the waxing area the day of your appointment.
- If taking Accutane — waxing is not permitted.
Who Should Not Book
- Currently on Accutane or isotretinoin
- Using topical retinoids or tretinoin on the area to be waxed
- Active sunburn, broken skin, open wounds, or rashes on the area
- Active skin infections or cold sores (face waxing)
- Recent laser hair removal, chemical peel, or laser resurfacing on the area (wait 2 weeks minimum)
- Known allergy to wax ingredients — please inform your artist
- Extremely thin or compromised skin (including from steroid use)
Post-Wax Care
- First 24 hours: Avoid heat — no hot showers, baths, steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, or sweaty workouts.
- First 24 hours: Avoid touching or rubbing the waxed area. Avoid tight clothing over body waxing areas.
- First 24 hours: Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds on the freshly waxed area.
- First 48 hours: Avoid retinoids, exfoliants, and active skincare on the waxed area.
- Gently exfoliate the area 2–3 times a week starting 3–4 days after your wax to prevent ingrown hairs.
- Moisturize daily to keep skin smooth and hydrated between appointments.
- Schedule maintenance every 3–4 weeks for best results.
Ingrown prevention: Regular exfoliation between appointments is the most effective way to prevent ingrown hairs, especially for body waxing.
Studio Policies
By booking an appointment with Skintricate Beauty, you agree to the following policies. Please read carefully — these exist to protect both your time and mine.
Appointment Deposits
A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to secure all appointments. Your deposit will be applied toward the total cost of your service.
- Deposits are non-refundable under any circumstance.
- Deposits transfer to your rescheduled appointment if you reschedule within the allowed window.
- If you cancel and rebook as a new appointment, a new deposit will be charged — the system treats these as separate bookings.
- PMU services: please reschedule, do not cancel and rebook, to preserve your deposit.
Cancellation Policy
We understand life happens. Please give as much notice as possible so we can offer your spot to another client.
- Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are charged 50% of the service total.
- No-call, no-show appointments are charged 100% of the service total.
- Repeated last-minute cancellations may result in being required to pay in full at time of booking.
Late Arrival Policy
We do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but please understand that lateness affects service quality and the schedule of other clients.
- If you are running late, please text us at (315) 586-2690 as soon as possible.
- Arrivals more than 15 minutes late may result in a shortened service or rescheduling.
- Services shortened due to late arrival are still charged at full price.
Payment Methods
We accept multiple payment methods for your convenience.
- Cash, card, NFC (tap to pay), Apple Pay, and Venmo accepted.
- Cherry financing available for PMU services — apply in seconds at booking.
- Payment is due in full at the time of service (minus your deposit already paid).
- Gratuity is always appreciated but never required.
Touchup Policy
PMU results vary by skin type, lifestyle, and aftercare. The following applies to all PMU services.
- Your complimentary 6–8 week touchup is included with all initial PMU services.
- This touchup must be booked within 8 weeks of your initial appointment — it cannot be transferred past this window.
- Touchups performed on PMU done by a different artist require a consultation first and are priced accordingly.
- Results are not guaranteed on oily skin, mature skin, or skin treated with certain medications — this will be discussed at your consultation.
Studio Environment
Skintricate Beauty is a private, solo studio. To maintain a calm environment and ensure your full attention during your service:
- Please do not bring children to your appointment unless they are able to sit quietly and independently.
- Additional guests are not permitted in the treatment area during services.
- Guests may wait in the lobby area if available.
- This policy exists to protect the quality and focus of your service.
Common Questions
Does PMU hurt?
A topical numbing cream is applied before every PMU service to minimize discomfort. Most clients describe the sensation as mild pressure or scratching — not painful. Sensitivity varies by person and area, but the vast majority of clients are comfortable throughout.
How long do PMU results last?
Brow PMU typically lasts 1–3 years depending on skin type, lifestyle, sun exposure, and skincare routine. Lip Blush lasts 2–4 years. Eyeliner PMU lasts 2–5 years. Oily skin and use of exfoliating products tend to fade results faster. Regular touchups maintain your results beautifully.
Can I get PMU if I have oily skin?
Yes — but oily skin may require more frequent touchups and may not retain as much detail as normal or dry skin types. Powder Ombré holds better on oily skin than Nano Brows. This will be discussed during your consultation so we can set realistic expectations and choose the best technique for you.
Why do my brows look so light after healing?
This is completely normal and one of the most common concerns clients have. During weeks 1–2, the top layer of skin sheds and brows can appear to almost disappear. The pigment is beneath the surface and will resurface over the following weeks. Trust the process — your 6–8 week touchup is designed to perfect the final result.
Can I get a lash lift if I have lash extensions?
No — lash extensions must be fully removed before a Lash Lift can be performed. Attempting to lift over extensions can damage your natural lashes. We offer Lash Extension Removal as a service and can perform both in the same visit if timing allows.
How do I know which brow technique is right for me?
This is what your free consultation is for. In general: Nano Brows suit normal to dry skin and those wanting the most natural hair-stroke look. Powder Ombré suits all skin types (especially oily) and those wanting a more defined, filled-in brow. A Combo Brow blends both techniques. We'll assess your skin and natural brows together and recommend the best fit.
Is Cherry financing available for all services?
Cherry financing is available for PMU services (Nano Brows, Powder Ombré, Lip Blush, Eyeliner PMU, and Lashline Enhancement). You can apply directly through the booking flow — it takes seconds and checking your rate does not affect your credit score.
What if I had PMU done somewhere else?
We can perform touchups on PMU done by another artist, but we require a consultation first. This allows us to assess the previous work, evaluate pigment color, shape, and depth, and determine the best approach. Touchups on previous work from another artist are priced at the appropriate touchup tier.
We're happy to help before you book.
Book a free 15-minute consultation or reach out directly — we want you to feel 100% confident before your appointment.