PMU for brows, lips, and eyeliner
Perfect eyebrows, lips, and eyeliner – every day, without reaching for makeup. Isabel explains everything about PMU.
Permanent make-up (PMU) in Munich and the surrounding area – perfectly shaped eyebrows, fuller lips, and defined eyeliner without daily makeup. Isabel, founder of Isabels Beauty Club and an experienced cosmetician with 25 years in the field, answers the most important questions.
What is permanent make-up?
(laughs) I hear that a lot, and I understand why some people think it! But no – modern permanent make-up has little in common with a classic tattoo. The color pigments are placed with a very fine needle only into the uppermost layer of skin, the epidermis – not as deep as with a tattoo. That is why PMU naturally fades over the years and can be adjusted at any time to changes in your face.
In my 25 years as a cosmetician, I have witnessed the evolution of PMU up close. In the past, permanent make-up often meant thick, unnatural lines. Today we work with highly precise devices and nano needles that allow for the finest hair-stroke drawings and powdery shading. The result looks like perfect makeup – just permanent.
Permanent make-up isn’t a trend – it’s an investment in how good you feel every day. Waking up in the morning already looking your best – that’s freedom. – Isabel
What can be done with PMU?
In my studio, the three big classics are: eyebrows, lips, and eyeliner. Each area has its own techniques and possibilities:
Which PMU techniques are there?
I understand the confusion! Let me clear it up briefly – drawing on 25 years of hands-on experience:
Microblading: A manual technique in which fine cuts that look like individual hairs are made in the skin with a small blade. Ideal for natural, full eyebrows. Particularly well suited to normal and dry skin.
Powder Brows: The machine-based technique, in which a nano needle places the finest dots. The result is a soft, powdery effect – like freshly applied makeup. It lasts longer than microblading and is also suitable for oily skin.
Combi Brows: My personal favorite! The combination of hair strokes and shading. The result looks the most natural because it brings together depth and texture.
Watercolor Lips: The most modern technique for lips. Instead of a hard contour, the color is built up softly across the surface – for a powdery, delicate, natural look. Absolutely on trend.
How does a PMU treatment work?
A first session with me takes 3 to 4 hours. That sounds long, but I deliberately take a great deal of time – above all for the pre-drawing. Because it has to be exactly right before a needle ever touches the skin.
We discuss your wishes, your style, and analyze your face. I explain all the techniques and recommend what best suits your face shape, your skin type, and your everyday life.
This is the most important step! I draw the shape with a pencil and correct it until you are 100% satisfied. Symmetry, proportions, natural features – everything is fine-tuned to the millimeter.
I apply a numbing cream so that you feel as little as possible during the pigmentation. For lips, I additionally recommend taking Aciclovir 1–2 days beforehand as herpes prophylaxis.
With the micropigmentation device and the finest nano needles, I place the color pigments into the uppermost layer of skin, dot by dot. I work in several passes and constantly check the shape and color intensity.
You take home a special PMU aftercare cream and detailed written instructions. I explain to you exactly what you need to keep in mind over the coming days and weeks.
How does PMU heal and how long does it last?
I always prepare my clients honestly: the healing phase is a process that takes patience. Right after the treatment, the PMU looks very intense – up to 50% darker than the final result. That is completely normal!
Day 1–3: Slight swelling and redness. The color still appears very strong. No reason to worry!
Day 4–7: Fine little scabs may form. Please never scratch or pull them off! That is part of the natural healing.
Day 8–14: The so-called “ugly phase” – the color looks paler or patchy. That is completely normal and will pass.
Day 28–42: The final color tone shows. Now you can see the real result. If needed, we do a touch-up to refine it.
Depending on skin type and care, it lasts about 2 to 5 years. After that, the PMU can be refreshed at any time. Dry skin holds the pigments longer; oilier skin breaks them down faster.
I always tell my clients: trust the process! The healing phase looks more dramatic than it is. After 4–6 weeks you come back to me and we look together at whether there’s anything to refine. – Isabel
My tips before and after the treatment
The right preparation and aftercare are absolutely decisive for a perfect result with permanent make-up. Here are my recommendations:
Before the treatment
- No alcohol for 24 h, no coffee on the day of treatment
- No blood-thinning medication (after consultation)
- For lips: take Aciclovir 1–2 days beforehand
- No eyebrow serum for 1 week beforehand
- Don’t come to the session freshly tanned
After the treatment
- No cosmetics on the treated area for 1 week
- Apply the special PMU aftercare cream thinly
- Don’t scratch or rub off the scabs
- No sport, sauna, or swimming for 7–10 days
- Avoid direct sun for 4 weeks, then SPF 30+
- No peels, retinol, or fruit acid for 4 weeks
- Plan a touch-up after 4–6 weeks
Microblading vs. machine PMU
This is one of the most common questions! My honest answer: it depends on your skin type and the result you want. Here’s the comparison:
My personal tip: for most of my clients, I recommend Combi Brows – the combination of both. That way you get the natural hair-stroke structure and the longevity of the machine technique. The best of two worlds.
Isabel’s takeaway — wake up and glow
Because permanent make-up is a matter of trust. You’re having something pigmented into your face that you’ll wear for years. So you want someone with experience, someone with an eye for aesthetics and symmetry, and someone who truly takes their time.
In 25 years I’ve learned: it’s not about following a trend. It’s about emphasizing your natural beauty. Every face is unique, and that’s exactly how I treat it. No stencil, no one-size-fits-all – instead, an individual shaping that suits you perfectly.
Whether you want to save time in the morning, glow again after an illness, or simply love the feeling of always looking your best – permanent make-up can give you that. And that’s exactly why it’s one of the most emotional and most beautiful parts of my work here in Munich and the surrounding area.
When a client comes to me after the healing phase, looks in the mirror, and cries with joy – that’s when I know why I love this profession. – Isabel
Would you like to know which PMU technique is the right one for you? Isabel is happy to advise you personally, analyze your face, and create an individual plan. Book your appointment at Isabels Beauty Club now.