Lip blush healing, day by day

Day one: bold, full and a little swollen

Immediately after your session the colour looks two to three shades darker and more saturated than the healed result, and the lips feel full and tender, similar to sunburn. This is expected. Keep the lips clean and lightly moisturised with the balm we recommend, avoid hot drinks and spicy or very salty food, and drink through a straw for the first day or two.

Days two and three: peak colour

Swelling settles and the colour reaches its darkest. A thin film may form over the lips. Do not pick, rub or exfoliate. Wash gently with clean hands and lukewarm water, pat dry, and reapply balm in a thin layer so the surface never dries out or cracks.

Days four to seven: flaking

The lips begin to flake, usually starting at the edges. The flakes carry surface pigment with them, so the colour looks patchy for a few days. Let every flake fall on its own. Pulling a flake early lifts pigment out of the skin underneath and is the most common cause of a light patch at the perfecting session. Avoid lipstick, gloss and lip scrubs until flaking is completely finished.

Week two: the ghost phase

Once the flakes are gone the lips can look almost bare. New skin has formed over the pigment and it is still opaque, so the colour appears very faint or uneven. This is the stage that worries people most and it is completely normal. Nothing has been lost. Keep the lips moisturised and wait.

Weeks three to six: colour returns

As the new skin matures it becomes translucent again and the colour rises back through it, softer and more natural than on day one. By four to six weeks you are looking at your true healed result. Take a photo in daylight at this point. It is what we will compare against at your perfecting session.

The perfecting session at six to eight weeks

The first session sets the shape and lays the foundation. The perfecting session evens any light areas, adjusts tone if needed and builds saturation where you want it. It heals the same way, usually with less swelling and quicker flaking. Skipping it leaves the result unfinished.

Aftercare that protects your colour

• Balm, not oil: thin layers, several times a day, until flaking is finished.
• No picking, no scrubbing, no lipstick or gloss until the surface is fully healed.
• No swimming, saunas or heavy sweating for the first week.
• No kissing or oral contact on the lips for the first five to seven days.
• Sunscreen on the lips once healed. UV is the main reason colour fades.
• History of cold sores: speak to your GP about an antiviral before your appointment. A cold sore during healing can leave a gap in the colour.

When to contact us

Mild swelling, tenderness and tightness in the first days are normal. Increasing swelling after day three, heat, pus, spreading redness or a fever are not. Contact us the same day and see your GP. Complications are rare with sterile technique and good aftercare, but we would always rather hear from you early.