Whether you’ve had your eyes lined with permanent eyeliner on special occasions or you have been tattooed by a professional, the process can be quite painful. You may be wondering how long it will take for your eyes to recover and when you can start wearing contacts again.
- How Long After Permanent Eyeliner Can You Wear Contacts?
- What is a Permanent Eyeliner?
- Permanent Eyeliner Procedure
- Reasons Not to Wear Contacts Immediately After Using Permanent Eyeliner
- How Long Does It Take to Heal From Permanent Eyeliner?
- How To Prepare for Permanent Eyeliner
- Soothing Remedies After a Permanent Eyeliner
- What You Should Avoid After Permanent Eyeliner?
How Long After Permanent Eyeliner Can You Wear Contacts?
It is advisable to wait within 24 to 48 hours after your permanent eyeliner to start wearing contacts again. This might seem unnecessary to wait that long or at all after a permanent eyeliner, but it is worthy of note that some seemingly harsh substances were used to adhere the eyeliner to your face, and you should wait it out for other things to be safely included, like your contacts.
If you have permanent eyeliner, you may be wondering if it’s safe to wear contact lenses after getting your eyes tattooed. Surely, you can. However, there are some important things to keep in mind before putting on your contacts. Also, some important questions you might want to know about are answered in this article, read on to find out.
What is a Permanent Eyeliner?
Permanent eyeliner is a cosmetic procedure that involves the tattooing of permanent makeup, including eyebrows and eyeliner onto the skin. It can also be used to add color to lips, cheeks, and other parts of the face. Permanent eyeliner can be used to create a variety of looks, including natural or more dramatic ones.

It also works well for people who have trouble applying makeup or are unable to wear false lashes because of their eye shape. Permanent eyeliner can be used on its own, or in conjunction with other procedures such as brow lifts and lip enhancement.
This procedure takes about an hour and a half to complete but does not require any anesthesia or pain medication. Afterward, you may experience slight swelling and bruising that lasts up to two days, but this should subside quickly. You will have to wait at least six months before getting another treatment done on your eyelids.
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Permanent Eyeliner Procedure
The permanent eyeliner procedure begins with an examination of your face and determining how much pigment you need. Doctors use a tool similar to an eyebrow pencil to mark where he will place each color on your face during surgery.
The pigments are then mixed together before they are injected into your skin using a small needle while you are awake so that you can see exactly where it goes. This allows for better placement during surgery than if you were asleep during the procedure (anesthesia).
The procedure involves placing a series of tiny needles into the skin above or below your lash line to deposit ink into your dermis, that is, the second layer of skin. This ink stays there forever, creating a permanent tattoo that lasts as long as possible.
Reasons Not to Wear Contacts Immediately After Using Permanent Eyeliner
There are five main reasons why you can’t wear contacts immediately after permanent eyeliner:
1. The healing process of the tattoo is not finished yet
You need to give your body enough time to fully heal after getting a tattoo, especially if it is a large area or your skin is sensitive. That means that your eyes will be swollen and red for a few days after the procedure, and it’s best to wait until then before putting on contact lenses.
2. Your eyes might not have adjusted yet to the new color of your tattooed eyes
If you’re getting an eyeliner tattooed in one color and then wearing contacts in another color, it could take some time for your eyes to adjust to the contrast between the two colors. This might cause irritation or discomfort when wearing contacts.
3. There are risks associated with it
There are some risks involved when you wear contacts immediately after permanent eyeliner. The first risk is that the ink in your eyes may spread to the cornea, causing dryness and irritation to your eyes. The second risk is that the ink may cause an infection, especially if it spreads to other parts of your body such as your face or mouth.
4. You’re still swollen or red from the procedure
The most important thing to remember if you have had permanent eyeliner is to give yourself time. Your eyes will be inflamed and irritated, so it’s important to give them time to heal before putting anything else in your eye. This can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending on your body chemistry, so be patient and follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
5. You may have had an allergic reaction to some of the materials used during the process
You may have had an allergic reaction to some of the materials used during the process. If this is the case, then it is best if you wait for at least two weeks before wearing contacts after your permanent eyeliner procedure was performed on your eyes. This will give your body enough time to recover from any side effects such as itching, burning, or redness in your eyes.
Your doctor may have suggested that you should not wear contact lenses immediately after getting your permanent eyeliner done because he/she might have found out during the procedure that there was something wrong with your eyesight or that there were some other medical issues present in your body at that time. In this case, it would be better if you wait until your doctor gives his/her permission.
How Long Does It Take to Heal From Permanent Eyeliner?
Most people heal within a few days after receiving permanent makeup. However, some may take longer depending on how sensitive their skin is and how they care for their new tattoo during the healing process. You should avoid rubbing your eyes and touching the area with dirty hands or other objects until your healing period has ended and your tattoo looks as though it’s fully healed.
Your artist should provide you with specific instructions about what you should do during your healing period depending on the type of ink used during your procedure. If you have a professional do your permanent eyeliner, it will take less time to heal. The best thing to do is let it heal for a couple of days before doing anything else on the eye, which will help prevent infection and any other complications with vision.
If you decide to get a tattoo done at home, then it may take even longer for you to heal. You will need to make sure that you are using sterile needles and ink and that everything is clean and sterile when doing this procedure yourself.
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How To Prepare for Permanent Eyeliner
Permanent eyeliner is a great way to achieve a dramatic, yet natural look. The procedure is relatively safe and easy if you follow a few simple guidelines:
First, make sure that you have complete confidence in your cosmetic surgeon. If at all possible, go with someone who has performed permanent eyeliner procedures before. This will help ensure that they know exactly what they’re doing and have the experience to do it well.
Next, make sure that you do not have any medical conditions that would prevent you from undergoing this procedure. Any sort of infection or illness could cause complications during or after the surgery and could potentially be life-threatening. If you are unsure about whether or not your body can handle this type of procedure, ask your doctor for advice before proceeding any further.
If everything checks out medically, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor and discuss what type of permanent eyeliner procedure would be best for your individual needs.
Soothing Remedies After a Permanent Eyeliner
After a permanent eyeliner application, your eyes may feel a bit tender and sensitive. While the sensation will subside over time, you can use these soothing remedies to help reduce any discomfort:
1. Cold compression
A cold compress is a great way to soothe the skin after a permanent eyeliner procedure. The cold will help reduce swelling and redness, while also helping to heal any minor bruising that may have occurred during the procedure.
The best thing about this remedy is that you can use it as soon as you get home, as it’s completely safe and natural. To create your cold compress, simply soak a washcloth in ice water, wring it out until it’s no longer dripping, and then place it over your eyes for 20 minutes. You should do this once per day following your permanent eyeliner procedure.
2. Keep your skin hydrated
Before trying any kind of treatment on your eyelids, make sure that they are properly hydrated. This way, they will be able to fight off infections better and heal faster. You can use a very gentle moisturizer or even natural oils (olive oil or coconut oil) to keep them hydrated at all times.
To help keep your skin hydrated, drink plenty of water throughout the day and try using a moisturizer before going to bed every night. This will help keep your face from becoming dry and flaky which can irritate when wearing makeup or having permanent makeup applied.
3. Use lip balm or Vaseline
You might not think of lip balm as being an effective remedy for healing tattoos, but it actually works quite well. It won’t eliminate all of the redness on your eyelids, but it will help reduce some of it so that you feel more comfortable going out in public and wearing makeup again.
To soothe the skin around your eyes, apply a small amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly to the area several times a day. This will keep your skin from getting dry and chapped.
4. Use eye drops or artificial tears
If the irritation is mild, you can use artificial tears or eye drops to relieve your discomfort. Artificial tears are available over-the-counter and are similar to natural tears. They can be used as often as needed.
If your eyeliner is irritating your eye, you may have an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the liner. If so, discontinue the use of the product immediately and contact your doctor for further advice.
What You Should Avoid After Permanent Eyeliner?
After having permanent eyeliner done, there are several things that you should avoid doing so that your results last as long as possible:
1. Do not rub your eyes
Even if you’re wearing contacts, do not touch or rub your eyes for at least 24 hours after getting permanent eyeliner. This is because tattooing is a traumatic process for the skin on your face and eyes, which means that rubbing can cause swelling, bruising, and even infection.
2. Avoid makeup removers
Do not use eye makeup remover on your eyelids unless directed by your doctor. This can cause irritation or even further damage to the area if done improperly, which will result in poor results from your procedure.
3. Stay away from chlorinated pools
Do not swim in chlorinated pools or hot tubs. Chlorine can cause the ink to fade prematurely, so it’s best to avoid swimming until the skin has healed completely.
4. Avoid alcohol contents
Do not use any products with alcohol in them. As with chlorine, alcohol can also cause the ink to fade prematurely, so it’s best to avoid using products like toners and astringents until the skin has healed completely (or take off any makeup before putting them on).
5. Do not pick at pigment
Picking at pigment can cause scarring and discoloration. The pigment must be allowed to mature before attempting removal. If it’s not removed properly, it can cause permanent damage to your eyesight.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it’s up to you. You don’t want to be doing anything that will irritate your eyes, especially if you are new to permanent eyeliner or wearing contacts. You will likely be sensitive to a lot of things when you first start using contacts, so proceed with caution.
However, if you don’t think using contacts will present a problem for you, then go right ahead. It’s certainly not going to hurt anything.
