Lip Blushing On Dark Lips: Yes, It Can Be Done

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Many people mistakenly believe that lip blushing is only for people with pale lips.

This is not the case; many of those with dark lips can also achieve beautiful, healthy-looking lips and enjoy the benefits of the procedure in their day-to-day life. 

But while lip blushing on dark lips is possible, several additional steps may be needed to achieve the color you’re aiming for.

Want to know more about lip blushing for darker lips? Read on to discover the ins and outs of semi-permanent makeup for darker lips.

What Is Lip Blushing?

Lip blushing is a type of semi-permanent makeup that involves tattooing the lips using a specialized mechanical needle and colored ink. 

Most people undergo lip blushing to enhance the natural color and shape of their lips, making them appear healthier and more youthful.

This is because it deposits softer pigments into your lips to define your lip line and add a natural-looking flush of color to them.

Other than trying to achieve a “my-lips-but-better” look, lip blushing is often used to correct or conceal cosmetic issues like asymmetry. 

Getting a lip blush for dark lips is also common practice to try and tackle lip discoloration or hyperpigmentation. 

Remember that, unlike traditional tattooing, lip blushing uses pigments that fade over time. This means the resulting lip tattoo will last for only around two to three years.

However, its longevity will depend on several factors, including the person’s skin type, the pigment color used, and how well the person who got lip blushing done takes care of their lips after the procedure.

How Is Lip Blushing Dark Lips Different From Regular Lip Blushing?

The results of lip blushing can differ slightly based on the natural color of a person’s lips. 

If performed on dark lips without proper preparation, the pigments used in lip blushing may blend in with or become overpowered by the dark color of the lips.

This is especially true for those who are aiming to achieve a color lighter than their natural lip color. 

So if you’re getting lip blushing on dark lips, an extra step may be added to the process to the usual process to make sure you achieve your desired vibrant color: neutralization. 

As the name suggests, this procedure neutralizes cool or dark pigments on your lips. This will help cover dark spots and give you a canvas that’s even and light enough for your target lip color to show up. 

It also ensures that your lips will have a gorgeous, consistent tone after you go through the entire lip-blushing process. 

Benefits of Lip Blush on Dark Lips

Corrects Lip Discoloration and Pigmentation

Many dark-skinned people have lips with cool undertones. Some are also especially prone to uneven lip pigmentation. 

Lip blushing for dark lips can target blotchy patches on your lips and give them a more even tone that looks completely natural. 

Helps Customize Lip Color

Lip blushing can help you achieve the color you want, making you look like you’re wearing lip tint every day! 

For dark lips, the procedure also involves color lightening and tone neutralization so that your chosen color can pop. 

Enhances Symmetry and Volume

As a bonus, lip blushing can help define or even out the borders of your lips, giving them a more symmetrical appearance.

Plus, if you have thinning lips but don’t want to get lip fillers, don’t worry. By giving you a well-defined lip shape and a luscious lip color, lip blushing can create the illusion of fuller, poutier, and younger-looking lips. 

Things to Consider Before Getting Lip Blushing on Dark Lips

Artist

Before undergoing a lip-blushing procedure, you’ll need to choose a great permanent makeup artist for the job. 

Plus, if you’re getting a lip tattoo for dark lips, your artist should have enough knowledge and experience to choose the right pigment colors to even out the tone of your lips and carry out the neutralization procedure properly.  

Thanks to the Internet, you can access the information you need to find such an artist. 

While looking at different artist portfolios on social media is a good start, it’s also wise to find any verified reviews of the artist to hear about others’ experiences with them. 

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the artist’s background. Ask them about their specialties and years of experience to see if their experience matches your needs and standards.

Cost

It’s no secret that any type of semi-permanent or permanent makeup can be pricey, and lip blushing is no exception.

On average, a session may cost around $500, depending on the artist. 

Remember that getting a lip blush for dark lips will need a few more sessions than normal to neutralize the dark, cool tones. As such, expect your bill to total around $1,000 to $1,500, depending on how many sessions are needed.

In exchange for this price, however, you can get long-lasting results and flaunt gorgeous-looking lips that boost your confidence.

What to Expect When Getting a Lip Blush on Dark Lips: Before, During, and After

When getting a semi-permanent lip color for dark lips, keep in mind that pigments are applied in layers, and the artist will do so in multiple sessions. 

These sessions will correct undertones, lighten your lip color, and apply your pre-chosen pigments for your target lip color. 

Additionally, the healing process may take a while and require you to follow specific aftercare instructions. 

To give you a general idea of the steps involved in lip blushing, take a look at our quick guide below. 

Before the Procedure: Consultation

Before getting the procedure done, you’ll need to meet with your chosen lip tattoo artist. This consultation will cover a lot of bases to help the artist assess whether you’re a good candidate for lip blushing. 

During the consultation, you will need to choose a target lip color that you and your artist will work on as well. Not everyone with dark lips can get a lip blush. 

Your artist may ask you about the possible causes of your dark lips. If you have existing skin conditions, skin trauma, and hormonal issues that may cause either hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation, you’ll have to tell your artist.

Since lip tattooing will inevitably cause nicks on your lips, it may trigger uneven pigmentation. So if you’re already prone to this condition, lip blushing may not be ideal for you. 

But if you have naturally dark lips due to your skin tone, you can get lip blushing done. 

Once your artist confirms you’re eligible for the procedure, you will then need to choose a target lip look during your consultation. 

First, you’ll have to choose a target color. Consider picking a natural-looking color that will go well with your skin tone. If this seems intimidating, don’t worry; your artist will help you make the right decision.

Then they may ask you about any symmetry corrections or enhancements that you want to achieve to ensure you get your desired results. 

During The Procedure: Lip Neutralization

During the actual lip-blushing procedure, your artist will first proceed with neutralization. 

In this session, your artist’s aim is to reduce the dark appearance of your lips by neutralizing or canceling out their cool tones with warm pigments.  

The pigment color used for lip neutralization will depend on the undertones of your skin. 

Typically, shades of red, orange, and yellow are used to cancel out cool tones. 

Those with deep blue and purple undertones in their skin need subtle gold or yellow tones for successful neutralization. 

Meanwhile, warmer colors like oranges and pinks may be used for those with more blue skin undertones. 

After your lip neutralization session, expect a six-to-eight-week healing period. Color correcting dark lips safely will take time, but it’s worth it in the end. 

During the first few days following this session, your lips may have an intense bright pink or red appearance, which will remain for around a week. This intensity will go down after a few weeks.

The artist will assess if more rounds of neutralization are needed, depending on the color achieved after the healing process. 

Take note that neutralization usually takes more than one session, so don’t expect your artist to go ahead with lip blushing after your first session. 

During The Procedure: Lip Blushing

Once you and your artist are satisfied with your lip neutralization results, your artist will proceed with the actual lip-blushing procedure. 

It typically starts with the artist mapping out the outline of your lip shape with a lip liner. 

Then they’ll apply numbing cream to your lips to minimize your pain and discomfort during the procedure. This will take a few minutes to take effect.

Once your lips are properly prepped, the artist will begin applying the pigments to your lips to help you achieve your target color. 

When performing lip blushing on those with dark skin, artists choose to avoid blue, violet, and black pigments. Instead, they typically choose pink or red pigments in different shades. 

Your artist will use a single mechanical needle with swift hand motions and different dotting techniques to create extremely small incisions on your lips, which will help deliver pigments into the dermis or the middle layer of the skin.

The entire process may take anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes.

After the Procedure: Healing

After getting lip blushing done, it’s crucial to pay attention to the healing process. 

Your artist will give you instructions on how to take care of your lips during this time. This mainly involves aftercare that would support lip healing, such as applying healing balms and lip moisturizers regularly. 

This not only ensures that you will get the right look at the end of it, but it also minimizes any discomfort you may experience during this period.

Expect skin peeling on your lips a few days after getting your dark lips makeup tattoo. This may get itchy or hurt but avoid picking on or touching them as doing so may result in scabs that can make the end result blotchy. 

Your lips may also experience dryness, but this can be resolved by regularly using lip moisturizers.

While this sounds intimidating, following what your artist instructs you to do will help you avoid discomfort and prevent blotchy, uneven results. 

The healing process may take upwards of ten days, but once your lips have healed properly, you’ll get your desired lip look. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lip Blushing Hurt?

Your lips will be covered in numbing cream by the artist during the session so that you won’t experience any pain while the pigment is tattooed. 

Tell the artist if you experience any discomfort so they can apply more numbing cream if necessary.

However, there is a healing period following the treatment, and you must take care of your lips for 5 to 10 days to ensure nothing goes wrong.

Can Anyone Get Lip Blushing?

Lip blushing is safe for most people. However, it’s not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, those who are undergoing medical treatment like chemotherapy, and those with a compromised immune system.

People who have lip sores, herpes, or any type of infection or medical condition that affects the lips are also not good candidates for lip blushing. 

Can I DIY Lip Blushing?

If you don’t have any training, experience, and certifications, it’s not a good idea to DIY lip blushing. 

This is because the procedure involves layering and application techniques that may be too advanced for novices. 

So while it’s expensive, it’s best to get your lip blush procedure done by a trained professional. 

Dark Lips? No Problem!

People with melanin-rich skin and darker lips can also achieve gorgeous, natural-looking lips through lip blushing. 

Apart from letting you achieve the lip color you’ve always wanted, this procedure also gets rid of the everyday hassle of applying makeup with dark lips. 

Yes, this is undeniably pricey, but because the results last a long time, many people claim it’s worth the splurge.

However, before getting it done, remember that a lip blush tattoo is a long-time commitment, and it’s not easy to take off. 

For some, this may seem intimidating, which is why it’s good to have a professional permanent makeup artist who will be there to guide you along the way.

Want to try out lip blushing on dark lips? Choose your shade now and take the first step toward getting your dream lip color!

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