Cosmetic tattoos: 4 things to know

If you’ve ever wished for a faster morning routine, or have ever felt less than confident when walking out the door, cosmetic tattoos may be the answer. Using a specialized pigment, these tattoos can improve the appearance of your eyebrows, lips, and skin. They are a semi-permanent makeup that can not only speed up your routine but help you know that you are putting your best face forward, everyday.

But before any procedure is undertaken, customers should take the time to fully understand the process and to choose the right artist and studio for them.

"As owners, one of us is in the store almost every day of the week from 8-5, and the work doesn’t stop there," Thompson said. "Between our community efforts, networking, and store promotion, we work 24/7."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, they adapted the business model at their store, Three Little Birds, to include live sales through social media. These changes were not only time consuming, they required a lot of, literal, face-time with the public.

"Part of our business is being on camera a lot," Nenni said. "We have live sales that appear on social media and our app. Being the faces of the business, we also have to post a lot of pictures on social media. Being a fan of all things makeup and beauty but having little time to get gussied up, we decided to have some permanent makeup applied by Inkvictus."

While on-screen business owners may seem like an obvious fit for cosmetic tattoos, this option can help anyone low on time. For example, stay-at-home mom Nichole Allen has two kids under age four, so getting her eyebrows cosmetically tattooed has been a big help.

"It has saved me quite a bit of time with my usual makeup routine," Allen said. "I’m not spending the amount of time I was previously coloring in my brows, which is so nice."

Selecting a studio that is clean and comfortable is important. The inviting environment at Inkvictus influenced Thompson and Nenni’s choice.

"The experience was wonderful," Nenni said. "Of course, we love decor, so the aesthetic of the shop was the first thing we noticed. Such a cute shop — the environment was super clean but welcoming and relaxed."

Natascha Rautenberg is the lead tattoo artist and founder of Inkvictus and offers several helpful tips for customers to consider when looking for the right studio including:

In addition to these important tips, it’s important for a client to look at pricing and to understand the values that a studio upholds. In an open letter dated January 2, 2023, Rautenberg wrote, "A core principle when building IS was the idea that EVERYONE deserves to feel beautiful + confident about themselves – not only those with a surplus of disposable income."

In a move that might seem shocking to many, Rautenberg decreased the prices of many services in order to keep in line with that principle. Instead of raising prices solely to keep up with the inflated prices of the ever-growing demand in the Triangle, Rautenberg set prices to, "better align with our values plus what we feel you all deserve."

In addition to choosing a studio, you’ll choose the tattoo artist you would like to work with.

"Do your research," Allen said. "All cosmetic tattoo artists are not created equal. You need to be able to see their work. Call and ask questions. It is also beneficial to know what education and training they have had and how long they have been in the business."

Nenni felt fully comfortable sitting for her procedure after meeting Rautenberg, noting that she felt Rautenberg prioritizes the customer experience through her extensive knowledge of the cosmetic tattoo industry.

"If you are looking to get cosmetic tattoos, be sure to find someone who understands both makeup and tattooing," Nenni said. "Natascha understands bone structure and what a natural brow should look like, but she is also an expert in tattooing. She understands how ink color is going to look on the skin, how certain techniques can damage your skin in a way that isn’t good for cosmetic tattooing, and how to shade for a more natural look."

Ask to see professional certifications, sample designs, and know that you should feel comfortable asking questions.

"Cosmetic tattoos is something I have been interested in for around a year," Allen said. "However, I was too nervous to actually go through with it. After doing my research and speaking with Natascha, I immediately felt at ease, and I knew she needed to be the person to handle my procedure."

After the procedure, caring for your tattoo is important for your tattoo’s health and its long term appearance.

"The recovery was better than I anticipated," Allen said. "Initially, my brows felt a bit tight and itched somewhat. However, I knew what to expect because they provided reading material and everything you need for aftercare, so that made it very easy and predictable."

You should also get follow-up care as needed.

"After the first session, we went in for a touch-up and ended up with beautiful brows. We could spend more time focusing on business and less time on getting camera-ready," Thompson said.