Colour Theory for lips

Choosing the perfect colour for your lip pigmentation.

Here we discuss which colours suit which skin types, as well as the things you need to know about lip tattooing before choosing a colour for your client so that you can make the right choice when you come to the treatment.

Things to remember about permanent lip pigmentation:

1. It’s an enhancement

Lip tattoos are designed to enhance natural lips and to give the impression of fullness. Using advance 3D makeup techniques, we can help the lips look fuller, using shading around the edges and a lighter colour in the middle. But a lip tattoo will not actually plump up the lips, so don’t expect a completely new look. If your client wants bigger or fuller lips, then advise them to have lip filler.

2. You can still use lipstick

Lip tattoo is designed to act as a beautiful base, but it doesn’t mean clients should throw out their collection at all. They should never use lipstick during the healing process, but once everything is fully healed up, they can use lipsticks, glosses and balms as usual.

3. The colour will fade

Because we use skin-safe pigmentation in our permanent make up process, which is not the same as traditional tattoo inks, there is a certain degree of fading to be expected. Colours that are very close to your client natural colour will probably need touching up more often, whereas if you go two to three shades away from the natural colour, the touch up may not be needed for a couple of years or more.

4. You can pick more than one colour

You can use shading techniques to give your client lips a more natural look. You may start with a darker shade as a lip liner, fading it inwards in circular motions to give a natural, attractive appearance. This can be followed by the application of a second colour for the infill, blending it perfectly for a plump, healthy and natural finish.

5. The end result will depend on your client skin tone

Not only will the end result vary depending on the base colour of your client natural lips, but it will also depend on how their skin tone reacts to the pigmentation process. Some people with very dark skin have experienced a condition known as hyperpigmentation when trying to apply permanent lip tattoos. In this situation, their lips could actually end up darker than they started off, even if they picked a lighter colour, so it’s important to consult fully with your client prior to making any decisions.