Holiday Ready: Getting Permanent Makeup Before Special Events
Picture this: you're getting ready for your company Christmas party, your cousin's New Year's wedding, or that tropical vacation you've been counting down to. While everyone else is frantically applying makeup in bathroom mirrors, you're already good to go. That's the magic of permanent makeup done right.
But here's the thing: permanent makeup isn't a same-day situation. If you want to look your absolute best for the holidays, you need to plan ahead. Let me walk you through exactly how to time it perfectly.
The Real Timeline (Because Nobody Tells You This)
Most people think they can book microblading the week before their big event. Not quite. Your brows (or lips) need time to heal, settle, and show their true color. Here's what actually happens:
Weeks 1-2: The Healing Phase Your brows will be darker than you expected. They might feel a bit tender. This is totally normal, but it's not your "photo ready" phase. You'll be doing the aftercare routine and your new permanent makeup will be scabby and peeling.
Weeks 2-3: The Ghosting Phase Your color will lighten significantly. Some people panic here. Don't. This is part of the process. Your skin is healing and the pigment will show its true tone and darkness in the following weeks.
Weeks 4-6: Hello, Beautiful This is when you see the real result. Your color has softened to exactly where it should be. Your brows look natural, polished, and perfect. This is your holiday party moment.
Week 6-8: Touch-Up Time Most services need a touch-up to perfect the color and fill any spots that didn't take as well. After this heals (another 2-3 weeks), you're fully done and looking incredible.
So When Should You Actually Book?
For Christmas and New Year's events: Book your initial appointment in late September or early October. Schedule your touch-up for early November. By mid-November, you're fully healed and ready for every party, gathering, and midnight kiss.
For a winter vacation: Give yourself at least 8-10 weeks before you leave. You want to be completely healed before sun exposure, and you definitely don't want to be doing aftercare on the beach.
For a spring wedding (yours or someone else's): Start in January or early February at the latest. This gives you plenty of buffer time and zero stress.
The Ultimate Holiday Party Cheat Codes
Let's talk about what actually makes permanent makeup worth it for the holidays:
Microblading and Nano Brows Wake up with perfect brows every single day. No filling in, no shaping, no worrying if they're even. Nano brows are especially great if you want that soft, hair stroked look. They photograph beautifully and give you that polished appearance without looking too done up.
Lip Blush Your lips always look fresh, even when you're not wearing anything else. It's like a natural flush that stays put through drinks, dinner, and dancing. Or have them done with a little more opacity so you don’t even need to worry about putting on lipstick at all.
The Combo Effect When you have both your brows and lips done, getting ready becomes stupidly easy. Five minutes and you look completely put together. That's more time for the fun stuff, like actually enjoying your holidays instead of standing in front of a mirror.
What About Touch-Ups Before Events?
If you already have permanent makeup but it's fading, you can usually do a refresh about 3-4 weeks before your event. The healing is typically faster than the initial service, but you still want that buffer time.
Just don't try to squeeze it in two weeks before. I've seen people try, and the stress isn't worth it. Your face needs time to do its thing.
Real Talk: The Aftercare During Holidays
Here's something nobody thinks about: if you book too close to the holidays, you'll be doing aftercare during all your events. That means:
No sweating (so no hot yoga or intense workouts)
Being careful with face masks, skincare and makeup
Avoiding super steamy showers
No swimming or going in hot tubs
Being gentle when you wash your face
Not impossible, but not ideal when you're trying to enjoy yourself. Plan ahead and you won't have to worry about any of it.
The Confidence Factor
The real reason people love having permanent makeup for the holidays? It's not just about saving time (though that's amazing). It's about feeling confident in every photo, every video call, every spontaneous moment.
You know that feeling when you catch yourself in a mirror and think "oh, I actually look good"? That's what you get consistently. No more wondering if your brows are uneven or if your lipstick wore off during dinner.
Ready to Plan Your Perfect Timeline?
If you're thinking about getting permanent makeup before the holidays, now's actually the perfect time to start planning. We can look at your schedule, figure out the best timing for your events, and make sure you're fully healed and gorgeous when it matters most.
Your holiday self will thank you. Trust me on this one.
Book your consultation at Lashious Studio and let's map out your timeline. Because the best holiday beauty secret is the one you plan for.