Yellow Brows After Laser

What Happens During the Laser Tattoo Removal Process

Laser tattoo removal works by using a high intensity light energy to shatter the pigment particles, these now mini particles are then processed out of the skin by the body's natural immune system. The tattoo gets lighter as more pigment is shattered in future sessions. The most common laser used for tattoo removal is the ND YAG Q Switched, because it effectively targets and shatters tattoo pigment. Pico is alternative type of laser

Different pigment colours need different values of light energy to have the shattering effect. Some colours respond better to laser than others, and here you'll start to understand the problem...

Patch Testing for Eyebrow Tattoo Removal

During the initial consultation, a tech will assess the tattoo, and carry out a patch test to ensure the clients skin responds well to the laser settings they intend using, they may carry out a few different spot test with different settings. There are many variables that affect laser tattoo removal, with factors such as depth of pigment, pigment colours and skin type

Patch testing also enables a technician to better understand the removal process, and the mix of microblading, permanent or semi permanent makeup pigment the skin contains. Here's where the tech also being a PMU tech helps, as they're more likely to know about all the different blends of brown pigment, like yellow based browns, red based, neutral, cool warm, however they understand colour theory. PMU colour theory is different to body tattooing colour theory, and is even less understood by a laser tech who doesn't tattoo

What you see is what you get with a body tattoo. Not so for eyebrows!

The initial patch test visit should also be the time to discuss likely outcomes, create realistic expectations, and what visible permanent makeup could be seen after laser, enabling a client to make informed decision and give an informed consent to treatments. When the client comes back, the healed results can be evaluated and the technician can now choose which setting to use on their machine to get the best results, while maintaining the skin's health

Understanding Brown Pigments used for Eyebrow Tattoos

To understand why you can end up with yellow brows, you first need to understand the brown pigments used for microblading, permanent and semi permanent makeup

Varying shades of brown 🐻☕🍪 🪵🦉🧳🍂🕰 are used for eyebrow tattoos, there is no such thing as brown tattoo pigment. Brown is a blend of several colours: ⚫️ black, 🔴 red, 🟡 yellow, 🟠 orange, 🟢 green and ⚪️ white. Not all at the same time! But who knows what's in there after multiple top ups and colour corrections?!

There isn't just one red pigment, or one yellow pigment, there's loads of different pigment powder manufacturers in the world, and they each favours different shades for their blends. Why would tattoo pigment be any different to eyeshadow, there isn't one blue 🔵 Certain pigments are bold, others more soft and muted

Each laser treatment is colour selective, typically removing black first, revealing the other colours to remove in future sessions

When you have a laser patch test on dark brows, you may see red pigment being revealed, or indeed russet brows turning grey. The laser tech should know why and be able to reassure you, hopefully before you start! If they don't know, choose another tech

As black removes, other colours show up, and finally 🟡 yellow is the stubborn colour laser just can't see! 🟢 Green and 🟠 orange are difficult too

The Unexpected Yellow Pigment in Eyebrow Tattoos

Even though eyebrows may look dark, the patch test can reveal red, orange, yellow, green and white that were hidden by the visible black and darker pigment. The laser removes black pigment first and other colours are targeted in future sessions, if the laser technician has the correct filter for their machine, and they know how to use it, or when to stop using it. Stopping laser treatments is just as important as starting!

It's only with experience that a specialist will know there are many different types of black, red, yellow, orange, green and white pigments. And then there's the carrier fluids which also have an effect on the pigment! Some colours remove easier than others, and many shades of orange, green and yellow pigments are almost impossible to remove using laser

If you're a PMU artist reading this, if you've only ever used the long lasting brands on your clients, you won't fully understand the variables and colour blends of organic, non-organic and hybrid pigments, and the differences of how they fade over the next few years. Plus think of all the colour correction pigments techs use, in just the shades laser has difficulty with!

The laser’s energy is absorbed differently by various colours. Dark pigments break down more easily, while lighter pigments, such as orange and yellow, colour may persist and become more prominent during the removal process

This is considered a normal part of the treatment - But hey! Was the potential for this happening discussed during the consultation and after the patch test?  Ok so it's easier to cover yellow and other sunset colours with more permanent makeup pigment, but isn't that also moving the problem on for another day, when corrections or removal will be needed again

Botched Ink can Fix Yellow Brows After Laser Removal

We’re seeing a growing number of clients left with yellow pigments after the laser removal process, and they're a bright neon yellow that's often used in brow pigments by some of the big name pigment brands. It's pretty much impossible for laser to remove

Botched Ink can fix yellow brows after laser, but we’re now dealing with permanent makeup pigment that's been shattered and drawn deeper than it would have before the laser removal process. The remaining tattoo ink particles are now held in skin that's been exposed to the trauma of removal, there will be some scarring, even if you can't see or feel it

Botched Ink will still improve the colour, however 2-3 session will be needed to get the pigment moving again, back towards the surface and released from any scar tissue. We advise Botched Ink techs to work with a bit more purpose on the area, dense needling, and visualising they're stirring up the pigment. At this stage, working too gently or superficial will only tickle the surface, not get anything moving and the desired results we all want to achieve

Thankfully, what's different about Botched Ink saline removal is that it our serum soaks deeply into the skin, easily and with little discomfort. Botched Ink treatments are nothing like the saline removal videos you'd see on YouTube! Ours truly is a 'no tears' method!

It's the initial needling that wakes up the skin and stirs the pigment around, also improving any scar tissue. Botched Ink also dries out skin super quickly, catching any pigment caught in the treated area. I love it when clients say they expected it to be painful, but it wasn't!

Eyebrow Tattoo Removal Using Chemical Solutions

When using chemical solutions for eyebrow tattoo removal, I'm talking acid and alkaline, the products contain the ingredients that you'd also see used in skin peels such as glycolic acid and lactic acid. This type of skin peel is time dependant for optimal results, and also why we see them used in skincare products to improve skin texture

Glycolic acid used as a skin peel is placed on the surface of the skin, allowing time to absorb into the skin. Solutions with a higher percentage absorb deeper. The skin peel effect happens as the acid loosens the bond between skin cells, like dissolving the mortar holding a brick wall together

However, chemical methods have limitations, and considering the skin peel is now being tattooed or implanted into the skin, not just on it, often this not the best solution for tattoo removal

Alkaline solutions are a little bit different and include different oxide powders that form a hard bond with the tattoo pigment, sounds great till you consider how that now heals. The implanted powders form a hard bond with the pigment in your skin, and that needs to heal... Up and out! I.e. the scab gets thicker as it heals out, and you as a client need to manage that!

There's also removal solutions that are a mix of skin peels, powders and saline, all excited to get involved, all because saline might be considered a little too basic and safe after 30+ years. Times and products can evolve!

Here's some points to consider:

1. Depth of penetration : Chemical tattoo fade products rely on the depth the pigment was placed by the technician to work effectively. If the technician works superficially, the chemical peel will only affect the pigment in the superficial layers. Deep pigments will still remain and be visible

2. Damage to the skin : Chemical peels work by creating a controlled injury to the skin in order to remove the outer layers of skin, and repeated applications of chemical peel solutions can cause skin irritation, redness and possible long term skin damage, especially if the solutions are not used according to instructions or if the skin is sensitive

3. Pain & discomfort : Using chemical peels, clients experience pain and discomfort during and after treatment, especially if the tech did work deeper to reach the tattoo pigment. Burning sensation, swelling of the surrounding skin, and prolonged healing may occur

4. Scarring may occur : Chemical tattoo fade products pose a high risk of scarring during the healing process, especially if the skin is sensitive and does not tolerate the chemicals well, or if applied incorrectly by the technician. If scarring occurs, the scars can be more noticeable than the eyebrow tattoo itself

5. Multiple treatments needed : As for any type of eyebrow tattoo removal, multiple treatments are usually needed. Careful consideration must be placed on how well a clients skin can handle these invasive skin peels

It's clear that chemical removal it isn’t the ideal solution for eyebrow tattoo removal. Other methods like laser removal can be considered, although as you've seen, this has its own challenges with the sunset colours. So maybe there's a way of combining laser with a more gentle non-laser method, like Botched Ink