Professional PMU tips from iColor Academy

Client Preparation & Aftercare

The foundation of even color and long-lasting healed results

PMU skin preparation before lip procedure

Intro

Even the best technique can’t compensate for poor skin condition or bad client habits.
Lips are highly reactive, and hydration, temperature, and medications all influence bleeding and pigment retention. This letter gives you a simple prep routine to ensure predictable, beautiful healing.

Before the Procedure (Lips)

We keep preparation short and easy — so clients actually do it.

⭐ 24 hours before: what to avoid

✔ alcohol
✔ coffee & energy drinks (3h before)
✔ spicy food
✔ heavy workouts
✔ hot baths / sauna / steam
✔ sun exposure

Why:
All of these increase blood flow → more bleeding → weaker pigment retention.

⭐ 3–5 days before

Clients should:
✔ hydrate well (water)
✔ apply lip balm daily
✔ gently exfoliate lips once (if dry)

Clients should NOT:
✘ use acids or retinol near the lips
✘ have active herpes
✘ do strong peeling treatments
✘ visit a tanning bed
✘ receive fillers (must be 30+ days prior)

⭐ If the client has herpes history

This part is extremely important.

Tell the client: Lip PMU almost always triggers a herpes reaction, even if it hasn’t happened for years.

Recommended prophylaxis:

Acyclovir or Valacyclovir
Start: 1 day before
Continue: 2–3 days after
(Or as recommended by the client’s doctor)

This prevents cold sores and protects the healed result.

⭐ Medications to clarify

Ask the client if they are taking:

blood thinners
antibiotics
hormonal therapy
isotretinoin (Roaccutane)

These can affect bleeding, dryness, or healing.
If unsure — better postpone or consult their doctor.

Aftercare (First 7 Days)

Proper aftercare is 50% of the final result.
Clients must understand this.

⭐ Immediately after the procedureTell the client:

✔ slight swelling is normal
✔ color will appear brighter
✔ mild dryness is expected

Apply a thin layer of your recommended balm or iColor FIX Liquid Patch

⭐ First 24 hours: Do & Don’t

Do:
✔ gently blot lymph if needed
✔ keep lips clean & dry
✔ use a straw

Don’t:
✘ touch or rub lips
✘ wear lipstick
✘ drink hot beverages
✘ go to sauna/pool
✘ kiss (sorry 😄)

⭐ Day 2–5: Healing stage

Clients may see:

dryness
tightness
light peeling
slightly uneven tone

This is normal.
Tell them:

Do not pick or pull flakes.
This is the #1 reason for patchy healed results.

⭐ Day 6–7: Stabilization

peeling stops
lips soften
color becomes lighter
shade evens out naturally

Final healed color appears after 4–6 weeks.
Book touch-ups no earlier than 6 weeks.

iColor Fix — Liquid patch

It prevents the skin from drying out during the procedure, improves the pigment residue and creates comfort for the client on the day of the procedure.

More about iColor FIX Liquid Patch

Bonus: Top mistakes clients make

❌ applying too much aftercare balm
❌ drinking hot coffee without a straw
❌ picking the peeling skin
❌ using lipsticks too early
❌ skipping antiviral treatment
❌ tanning during healing

If you see these signs — adjust stretch, speed or wiping amount.If you explain these points clearly before the procedure — you avoid 90% of complaints.

Thank you for reading!

This was Letter #2 of our iColor Lip PMU Series.
In the next letter, we’ll talk about Pigment Choice & Color Selection, including:

how to test shades directly on the client’s lips
how pigments change after healing
warm / cool / neutral tones
choosing colors for different lip undertones

Next letter: Pigment Selection for Clients →

← Back to Letter #1: 3 Reasons Why You Don’t Get Good Lip Coverage