3. Pigmentation Suggestions
Using Booster Balms
In lip pigmentation, booster balms play a key role, much like they do in Powder Brows. These balms are designed to hydrate and soften the lip tissue, preparing it for more efficient pigment uptake. This creates a well-hydrated and receptive canvas for the artist to work on.
Keeping the lips moisturized with booster balms minimizes friction between the skin and the pigment. This ensures a smoother application process, allowing the pigmentation needle to deposit the color more easily. Less friction leads to more even pigment distribution, making the pigment penetrate more effectively. Minimizing skin trauma is crucial in achieving perfect pixels, and using a booster balm aids in this approach.
Opt for Vertical and Diagonal Movements
Seasoned lip artists emphasize the importance of vertical and diagonal movements, especially when the goal is to create Lip Blush ips that don't need a full "lipstick" effect. Newer artists often use long, horizontal pendulum movements to fill the lips. However, experienced artists recommend more upward, vertical, and diagonal movements that follow the natural structure of the lip skin. Remember, the objective is to create pixels, not just to fill the lips.
Minimize Heavy Wiping
Frequent wiping can irritate the skin and hinder the formation of perfect pixels. Many artists have a habit of constantly touching and wiping their lips. It's often better to wipe less and skip using a damp cotton pad to avoid irritation. A dry napkin can be used sparingly to remove excess lymph, blood, and pigment. With experience, an artist learns how to create excellent pixels without visually monitoring every needle touch to the lip skin. This becomes easier when working effectively, even with a layer of pigment on the lip surface. While it's crucial to avoid areas where bleeding occurs and to move to another section until the bleeding stops, it's equally essential to not over-wipe the skin.
Use Gentle Skin Stretching
During the procedure, it's crucial to stretch the skin carefully. Avoid pinching or stretching a large area all at once. Make sure the space between your fingers aligns with the specific area you're working on. Additionally, don't distort the skin by stretching it too much. Your fingers should move in opposite directions to maintain the skin's natural shape and texture.
Upper Lip Skin Stretching Techniques
For the upper lips, there are specific skin stretching techniques that many artists commonly use. For example, gently stretch the skin upwards and slightly towards yourself when working on the client's left corner of the lips (which would be on your right). Conversely, for the client's right corner (on your left), stretch the skin upwards and slightly away from you.
Learn to use Various Needles
Many artists typically use very thin needles like 0.18 1RL. However, these thin needles often aren't sufficient for creating pixels on the inner areas of the lips. Experienced artists recommend using slightly thicker needles, like 0.25 and 0.3 1RL cartridges. Covering a sufficiently large area while minimizing skin trauma when focusing on pixel creation is essential. Also, avoid creating too many layers of pigmentation.
Be Cautious with Needle Depth
The skin on the lips is delicate and thin, making it crucial not to go too deep during pigmentation. Many artists find that when they gently stretch or pinch the skin, they can feel the needle's vibration, helping them gauge the correct depth. Damaging the skin too much can make achieving the desired pixelated look difficult.
Mind the Machine Speed
The machine's speed is a key factor when aiming for pixelated lips. While there's no one-size-fits-all speed that you can refer to in a manual—since every artist and machine is different—the general rule is to keep both your hand movement and machine speed on the slower side for more precise pixelation. The stroke amplitude shouldn't be too long and remain consistent across different strokes.
Take Your Time
Don't rush during the pigmentation phase. Whenever an artist tries to speed up the lip creation process, problems can arise. Take the time you need. If you're a beginner, always set aside 30 minutes beyond the expected procedure time to be safe.
