Ink4Girls PERMANENT MAKEUP
because only the best will do

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Touch-Ups for Returning Clients: What You Should Know

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As a permanent makeup artist, managing touch-ups for returning clients involves more than just scheduling—it requires clear communication and thoughtful evaluation. While loyal clients may expect a reduced fee for touch-ups, it’s important to understand that not every appointment qualifies as a simple refresh.

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🖌️ Touch-Up vs. Redesign

A true touch-up is minimal. It’s designed to revive faded pigment without changing the shape, color, or overall design. This might include filling in areas that have lightened over time or enhancing the vibrancy of the existing work. However, when a client requests significant changes—like altering the brow shape or switching to a new color palette—it becomes a redesign, not a touch-up.

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💡 Real-Life Example

One client originally had dark auburn hair and brows to match. Over time, we adjusted her pigment to keep up with her evolving look. After a two-year break, she returned with a dramatically different appearance: a major weight loss and platinum blonde hair. Her previous brows no longer suited her new aesthetic, and she requested a soft, ashy blonde tone.

Although she booked a standard touch-up, her request required a full transformation. We began with saline lifting treatments to remove the warmth from her old pigment before applying the new shade. This scenario highlights a common issue with online booking systems—clients may not realize the complexity of their requests. In this case, her appointment had to be reclassified from a touch-up to a removal and redesign session.

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❌ Why New Clients Don’t Receive Discounted Touch-Up Rates

It’s a frequent question: “Why don’t I get a discounted touch-up if I already have permanent makeup?” The answer is simple—we didn’t do the original work.

We offer discounted touch-ups to our existing clients for several reasons:

• Familiarity with Previous Work: We know the pigments, techniques, and custom blends used, which helps us achieve consistent results.

• Client Loyalty: Offering discounts encourages long-term relationships and rewards clients who return.

• Complexity of Corrections: Working over another artist’s work introduces unknowns—different pigments, techniques, and healed results—which often makes the process more challenging than working on virgin skin.

Many new clients come to us because they’re dissatisfied with their previous results. Whether it’s color, shape, or overall execution, we’re often correcting or removing prior work—not simply refreshing it.

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✅ What Qualifies as a True Touch-Up

A genuine touch-up is straightforward: no shape changes, no removals, and no major color shifts. It typically uses the same pigment or blend as before to refresh faded areas. Touch-ups on work done by other artists do not qualify, and even major changes for returning clients—like the example above—require more time and effort than basic maintenance.

In fact, touch-ups aren’t always necessary. When the initial application is done correctly, with proper design and pigment swatching, the results should last. We take time to ensure the client approves the design before we begin, minimizing surprises and maximizing satisfaction.

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💬 The Truth About “Free” Touch-Ups

Some technicians include touch-ups in the initial cost—but let’s break that down:

• New Technicians: My students often need two or three sessions to get it right. They’re still learning to deposit pigment at the correct dermal layer, so healed results may fade or lack depth. That’s why touch-ups are typically included 30–40 days after the first session.

• Pricing Reality: These touch-ups aren’t free. The initial application price is higher to account for them. You’re paying upfront for multiple sessions.

• Marketing Strategy: Even seasoned artists sometimes include touch-ups to appear more generous or value-driven. But in most cases, they’re not necessary.

Personally, I don’t include touch-ups in my standard pricing. I believe in doing it right the first time. We design, swatch, and confirm everything before application. If a client wants a tweak—darker, thicker, or bolder—I offer a deeply discounted modification fee within 30 days. But only if it’s needed. In today’s economy, clients should only pay for what they truly require.

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