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Frequently Asked Questions
At Charm'Ink®, we are dedicated to providing paramedical and cosmetic tattoo services that help you look and feel your best. Our experienced technicians offer a wide range of services, including eyebrow and lip tattooing, permanent makeup, 3D areola restoration, and scar reduction. We use the latest techniques and equipment to provide superior results, and we are committed to your satisfaction.
If you have any questions about our services, please feel free to browse our FAQs page, you can also find some aftercare tips here. We hope you will find the information you need, if you find you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for considering Charm'Ink® as your studio of choice.
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How long before my appointment should I arrive?Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. This will allow you plenty of time to fill out any remaining paperwork as well as give you time to get settled in and comfortable. Should you be delayed longer than 15 minutes past your scheduled time, unfortunately, you will forfeit your booking fee and be required to place a new booking fee for your new appointment.
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What if I need to cancel my appointment?Please allow 48 hours or more notice when rescheduling your appointment. Booking fees/payments are non-refundable. If you arrive late for your scheduled appointment time or if you reschedule with less than 48 hours' notice, your payment will be forfeited. An additional booking fee will be required to reschedule your appointment if you give less than 48 hours' notice.
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Are touch-ups included in the price?One perfecting Session is included within 8 weeks of the initial procedure For Eyebrows, Eyeliner, Lip and 3D Areola Procedures. All included Perfecting Sessions will be scheduled and booked on the day of your initial procedure. The date will be set no later than 8 weeks from the initial session. You may reschedule your Perfecting Session only once. This should be done in writing, via email and within the 48-hour permitted cancellation time. Should you reschedule your Perfecting Session after the 8-week allotted time, you will be billed at the touch-Up rate of $100.00 for your Perfecting Session. The 3rd and any subsequent Touch Up Session after the initial procedure will be charged at the rate of $100.00 each
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Can I bring my friend into the treatment room with me?Charm’Ink’s Insurance rules dictate that only the client undergoing the procedure is allowed in the procedure room. Since the procedure requires both the client's and the artist’s full attention, no minors, toddlers or infants can be allowed in the room at the time of the procedure or in the waiting room without adult supervision. Unfortunately, there will be no exceptions.
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Why do I need to pay a deposit to book my appointment?A NON-REFUNDABLE booking fee of 30% of the treatment cost is due immediately upon booking to secure all permanent aesthetic appointments. This booking fee is to ensure that you are serious about booking your appointment and it will be deducted from the total cost of your scheduled session with Charm’Ink. The remaining balance will be due at the beginning of your scheduled appointment.
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I have been taking antibiotics, will it be ok?If you are required to be on antibiotics prior to any type of procedure, a Doctor’s clearance letter will be required. If you show up to the appointment without this clearance, your appointment will be cancelled and rescheduled to another available day. You will forfeit your booking fee and be required to place a new booking fee for the new appointment.
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Do you guarantee my cosmetic tattoo will last the time specified?Since Everyone's healing abilities are different and unpredictable, Charm’Ink cannot ever guarantee anyone’s results.
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I had my cosmetic tattoo done somewhere else but I want to come to you for the touch-ups, is that ok?$100.00 Touch Up Session prices are for previous customers of Charm’Ink only and do not apply to first-time customers. Any Touch Up after 12 months will be considered a Color Maintenance Session and billed at the rate of $350.00. Any Touch Up past 3 years will be at full price. All rates are subject to change and are non-negotiable.
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I had a cosmetic tattoo before, can you do another one over the top of it?We are extremely selective when working over existing tattoos and other tattoo artists' work. If you have had your eyebrows previously tattooed, we request that you email us clear photos of your brows for approval (info@charm-ink.com) BEFORE your appointment booking. In addition to the photos in your email, please include: The date of your last brow, lip, eyeliner or 3D areola tattoo. how many sessions you received. The business name and artist name who performed your service.
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I would like to talk to you before I book, how do I contact you?Initially, you can send an email to info@charm-ink.com. Please include your contact details and the best time to contact you and I will call you back.
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How do I get to the studio?Studio address: Charm'Ink Paramedical & Cosmetic Tattooing 120 Charlotte Place Suite #205 Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 DIRECTIONS: From Manhattan, Via 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal Take the NJ Transit Bus #156 Fort Lee - Englewood Cliffs to the Charlotte Place stop. Walk up ½ block heading west, the building will be on your left. You may find a bus schedule directly from the NJ Transit website at: https://content.njtransit.com/public/bus_schedules/T0156.pdf From Manhattan, Via 178th Street George Washington Bus Terminal Take the A, B, C or D (MTA Subway) Train to the 175th Train Station and walk to the GWB Bus Terminal; there you can catch the NJ Transit Bus #186 Dumont Chestnut Bend. Stop at Charlotte Place. You may find a bus schedule directly from the NJ Transit website at: https://content.njtransit.com/public/bus_schedules/T0186.pdf Driving Directions If you drive to us, click on this link for Google Maps directions to our office.
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Will it be painful?During the treatment, you might feel a slight discomfort but since we work with professional tattooing equipment, treatments are usually fast.
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What type of scars can you treat?Surgical scars on the face and body, burns, acne scars, stretch marks, self-harm scars, wrinkles, broken capillaries and skin rejuvenation on the face and body.
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What scars cannot be treated?Active keloid scars. They are raised and grow outside of the boundary of the original scar tissue; active keloids are still growing.
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What happens to the scar?New tissue grows in the treated area. Loose and sunken scars and stretch marks begin to fill and firm up. Skin and scar discoloration can normalize. Raised and bumpy scars, smooth and flatten. Tight, restrictive and fibrous scar tissue breaks up allowing movement. Numb scarred tissue can begin to feel sensations.
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What happens during the treatment?First, we will have an online consultation where you will send close-up pictures taken under natural light, of the areas you want to correct. You must provide the information requested to make sure it is a case we can treat, as there are medical cases that need surgical revision, radiation and or injections and that we cannot treat. If your case can be improved with our methodology, we will give you the option to schedule an in-person consultation or go ahead and book your treatment. Depending on your particular case you may receive pre-care instructions. On your first visit, the area to be treated will be assessed, pictures will be taken and you will need to fill in personal and medical forms. We cannot provide service to those who do not wish to give the requested information. It is required for a proper assessment and insurance protection. In some cases, we will use numbing cream and this is mostly when working on the face. The equipment will be set in front of you so you can see where the disposable equipment comes from and how we take the appropriate measures to work safely. All cartridges are supplied sterilized from the factory in individual cases and are disposed of immediately after the treatment using a sharps disposal container. Once the treatment is finished it will be covered with micropore tape or something similar to protect the area.
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What happens after the treatment?After the treatment, the area will look very red, and some areas will have some swelling. Most people feel as if they have sunburn on the treated area, but it usually dissipates within 40 minutes post-treatment. It will not be sore for days as would a regular tattoo. It is recommended to NOT exercise for the first 48 hours and to NOT take baths or swim for seven days. You will be able to shower right after the treatment as long as you do not remove the dressing. The treated area will start to flake off and peel from day five depending on your skin turnover. The redness will start fading as the days go by and your skin goes through the healing process.
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How long before I see results?You will start seeing a difference from week 4, we usually compare cases on week six depending on the area you are having treated.
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How many treatments will I need and what is the healing time between each of them?It depends on many factors but for example for stretch Marks and acne scars, three treatments are recommended every six weeks. 6 to 8 weeks after the third treatment we will re-evaluate the case.
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How long does the effect last?For scars, burns and stretch marks results are permanent. New smoother skin will not revert; however, the natural ageing process will not be stopped. For wrinkles and thinned-out skin, maintenance treatments should be considered.
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Can I get lip blush if I have dark/cool-toned lips?Yes, however, during the first session we will have to color correct your lips to cancel out the cool tones. This means the initial color we tattoo MUST be an orange tone to neutralize the color of your lips. If we are to tattoo any other color you risk darkening your lips further or having absolutely no results at all. When healed at 8-12 weeks, most if not all, of the darkness in your lips will be covered and your lips will have a nude-pink even tone. Note that results cannot be guaranteed and lightening or evening out dark lips may take a few sessions in most cases due to hyper/hypo-pigmentation. Under no circumstances will we tattoo a "NUDE" color on dark or cool-toned lips. This service does require a consultation prior to scheduling to discuss expectations and to explain the process thoroughly. Color neutralization may need more than one touch-up to achieve the desired outcome. Patience is key with color corrections and trusting the process. Results will not be immediate with dark lip correction. The entire 8-12 weeks will be needed to access the results. An enhancement appointment is recommended within 8-12 weeks of your initial appointment to complete the service. PLEASE NOTE: Additional enhancement sessions may be necessary to complete this service and get ideal results
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What is to expect with my Permanent Lip Procedure?The lip liner and ombre liner can reshape an even lip line or give it more definition. The line is blended into the lip. The Lip Blush will give more of a blush of color over the whole lip without a defined line. Both procedures require two sessions.
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What are the benefits of Permanent Lip Blush?Lips appear more defined without surgery or fillers. Restores color to lips that have become pale. Corrects Blurred lip line. No more “bleeding” lipsticks. Make lips appear fuller and larger. Eliminates the daily use of pencils to outline, fill-in, or reshaping lip borders. All you will ever need is a little lip balm or Vaseline.
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How do I prepare for the lip procedure?You MUST understand that if you have EVER had chicken pox, a fever blister, or a cold sore, you MUST take Zovirax, Famvir or Valtrex or other anti-viral pre and post procedure to help prevent the outbreak of cold sores. You will need to call your physician in order to obtain your prescription strength anti-viral medication. There are NO exceptions to this rule! If you do have an outbreak, it will usually occur on the third (3rd) day following lip color application. This rule holds true for each and every time you have any amount of permanent lip tinting applied.
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If I have had a lip filler injection already, am I still a candidate for permanent lip color?Yes, but only 4-6 weeks after your lip filler injection procedure. This waiting period is necessary because the lip filler and the lip color will be sharing the same space within your lips. If the filler has taken up most of the space, or even some of the space, your permanent lip tint will have little space for implantation, and you will have poor results. It is recommended that you have the permanent lip enhancement first and then the lip filler injection once your lips are healed.
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What if I can't decide on a lip color?You and your artist will discuss which colors suit you based on your skin tone but of course, your personal preference comes into play too. You can always enhance or change the color of your lips at any time with conventional makeup. You should never use lipstick during the healing process, but once everything is fully healed up, you can use lipsticks, glosses and balms as usual.
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How will my lips look immediately after?Your lips will look slightly larger than normal and look as though you may have had a slight lip filler injection. The degree of this varies from person to person. For most clients, the swelling happens in a few hours. However, the lip color will look quite dark, like lipstick. You need to know that the size of your lips will shrink back to normal and the color will significantly fade up to 50% within the first 5 days. You will lose color on the inside of your lips first, the edges last. Right after the procedure lips normally feel dry, chapped, tight and tender to the touch. Your lips will feel better with each day.
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How long is the healing process for lip tattoos?Expect moderate swelling, usually one to three days following the procedure. Scabs will make the lips feel thick. Your lips will fade up to 50% after the first 5 days. While healing, the tattoo will look spotty. This is due to the oxidation of the pigment and the redness of the skin. An Enhancement Session visit approximately 8 weeks after your first initial appointment is necessary in order to achieve that richness of color and achieve symmetry and density in the shape.
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How long does Permanent Lip last?The color can last from 1 to 3 years depending on skin color, skin type and the lifestyle of the person.
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Will the lip tattoo procedure hurt?Of all permanent makeup procedures, the permanent lip enhancement procedure is the most sensitive. However, using a highly effective topical anesthetic, your lips will be numbed prior to and throughout the procedure to make you as comfortable as possible.
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What precautions should I take during the healing process?During the healing period please avoid: Water (on the procedure area) aside from cleaning them Makeup Excessive sweating Sauna Pools Spicy food Kissing
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What is an Eyelash Enhancement/ Eyeliner?Permanent Eyeliner/ Lash Enhancements frame the eyes and can make eyelashes appear thicker, darker and fuller. It eliminates the need to apply eyeliner with (makeup) pencil or liquid eyeliner. It can enhance the shape or balance the symmetry of an individual’s eyes, create the illusion of larger eyes, or affect how the spacing of the eyes is perceived. For those who like a more natural look, eyeliner is enhanced on the base of the lashes making it appear as though you have full and thick lashes. For those who like a more dramatic look. Depending on the individual skin, permanent makeup eyeliner can be built up to the desired thickness over the course of multiple sessions. The procedure is done in two appointments. During the first session, we err on the side of caution with thickness, length and color as we can always add more during the second session. It's always a good idea to have a "natural" and "conservative" amount of permanent eyeliner applied, at least during your first session.
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What if I'm not sure how much eyeliner I'd like to have applied?At Charm’Ink we customize the design of your eyelash enhancement or permanent eyeliner based on your individual needs, the shape of your eyes and face as well as personal style. As an artist, I will work with you to help choose the color and design that best compliment your features.
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What are the benefits of Permanent Eyeliner?Define your eyes. No more smudges, smears, or worn-off eyeliner. Great for people with allergies to cosmetic products. Enhances the lash line. Saves time and money. Great for people with poor or declining eyesight or hand tremors. Swim, shower or sweat without your eyeliner running. Fills in thin or light-colored eyelashes. Ideal for total eyelash loss due to trichotillomania or Alopecia.
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Will the eyeliner and eyelash enhancement hurt?The eyeliner or eyelash enhancement procedure is more psychologically scary to most clients than anything else. The discomfort is relative as everyone has a different level of sensitivity. A pre-numbing anesthetic is applied to the eyelids before as well as during the procedure. Every effort is made to ensure you remain comfortable for the duration of the procedure.
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How long will my Lash Enhancement and Eyeliner last?Although the pigment will never completely disappear, the color will fade over time and the liners usually last between 2 to 5 years. The frequency of touch-ups depends on several factors including skin type, pigment selection, lifestyle (sun exposure, smoking, acidic skin care products, etc.), iron deficiency (your body absorbs iron oxide as a supplement), chemical peels, etc. Charm’Ink recommends a Yearly Color Maintenance to keep your permanent makeup looking its best.
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What is Nano Brow?Nano brow is the process of implanting pigment within the skin to give off the appearance of hair strokes.
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What is a machine/Powder brow?The Powder Brow technique differs from Microblading in that we create a misty, powder-filled brow, similar to the look of makeup, as opposed to simulated hair. This is done using a micropigmentation/tattoo machine to deposit pigments into the skin.
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Do my existing eyebrows need to be shaved off?Most definitely NOT! Please do not tweeze, thread, wax or modify your eyebrows in any way for as long as possible, and no sooner than two weeks. The beginning of your service includes a brief consultation, followed by shaping and finally a discussion about color. Your regular brow maintenance of tweezing, threading, waxing and/or tinting may continue once the brows have healed.
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Should I come with my makeup on?Actually, it is helpful for us to see the way you like to see yourself made up. Both eyebrows and eyeliner are acceptable except for mascara. If you are coming for an Eyelash Enhancement or an Eyeliner procedure, your lashes need to be clean of all residues, may it be mascara or glues.
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Will this procedure hurt?The discomfort is relative as everyone has a different pain threshold. A pre-numbing anesthetic is applied for numbing before as well as during the procedure. Every effort is made to ensure you remain comfortable for the duration of the procedure. Our clients are usually pleased to discover that it is no more painful than tweezing or threading.
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How long will my eyebrow micropigmentation last?Micropigmentation is a cosmetic tattoo. The pigment will fade over time, and we recommend you get an annual touch-up to keep them looking their best. There is no guarantee in how long it lasts as everyone has very different skin (oily) and lifestyle. The frequency of touch-ups depends on several factors including skin type, pigment selection, lifestyle (sun exposure, smoking, acidic skin care products, etc.), iron deficiency (your body absorbs iron oxide as a supplement), chemical peels, etc. Your eyebrow tattoo, depending on the technique used, can last from 18 months to 2 ½ years. Charm’Ink recommends a Yearly Color Maintenance to keep your permanent makeup looking its best. Please note that results cannot be guaranteed as each unique skin type will hold pigments differently and break down at different rates.
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Who benefits from having their Makeup permanently done?People with busy schedules. Anyone with a disability, Arthritis, hand tremors, declining or poor eyesight. People with scars and skin imperfections or sensitivities to regular makeup. Those who want to effortlessly look their best anytime. Busy moms, business women or anyone with a physically active lifestyle.
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Is Permanent Makeup safe?Your safety is our main priority. All tools and supplies used during the procedure are disposable and one-time single-use only. All pigments used at Charm'ink have an extensive safety record.
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Is Permanent Makeup tattooing?Yes, it is. With the sudden popularity and media attention to the term microblading, many are led to falsely believe microblading is not a tattoo process. THIS IS FALSE. Permanent cosmetics, "permanent makeup", micropigmentation, dermal implantation, microblading/microstroking, eyebrow embroidery, and long-time/long-lasting makeup, are all different names for the same procedure – cosmetic tattooing. Any time pigment is placed into the skin with any device, it is a tattoo process and will remain in the skin indefinitely. This is defined by many well-informed regulators, the medical community, and dictionary sources as such.
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Is the Perfecting Session necessary?Absolutely. Permanent Cosmetics may take several sessions of layering color in order to achieve your desired results. With this session, if needed, we can make small adjustments to the shape and colors applied. Perfecting sessions are done no later than 8 weeks from the initial procedure.
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Will I be able to get an MRI?Temporary tingling, redness and swelling have been reported in women with eyeliner tattoos. Always tell your MRI technician that you have tattoos. Should you develop any side effects, contact a physician for treatment.
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How old do I have to be to get tattooed?In the state of New Jersey, you must be 18 years old to get tattooed.
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Can I get tattooed if I am pregnant or nursing?For your safety, Charm’Ink will not perform any micropigmentation procedure on anyone pregnant or nursing.
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What if I have Plastic or Laser Surgery?It is best to complete your surgery before you have your Permanent Makeup Procedure. Laser surgery or resurfacing may result in color loss or darkening of your makeup depending on the laser and the color of your skin. Advise your laser surgeon that you have Permanent Cosmetics so that he or she can perform a “spot test” before proceeding. Should you experience color loss from a laser procedure, your cosmetic tattoo artist can replace the color.
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