You'll sometimes see permanent cosmetics referred to as semi-permanent makeup or even micro-pigmentation; these are all valid names and refer to the same procedure. I refer to my treatments as 'permanent' as this is technically more accurate. Although the pigments will still fade over time if not retouched, they never fully disappear from within the dermis - even if they get to a point where they can hardly be seen.

This can be confusing, especially as when most people think of 'permanent' they imagine a conventional body-art type of tattoo. The only difference between a semi-permanent procedure and a truly permanent one is how deeply the ink is injected into the skin; the deeper you go, the longer the pigment remains. Typical body-art tattoos are meant to last for life, so those artists use electromagnetic coil machines to implant the ink deep into the dermis. Brows, on the other hand, are expected to fade, so the technique I use relies on a digital pen to implant the ink more superficially into the skin.

The process of applying permanent cosmetics to eyebrows is sometimes referred to as microblading. However, this relates to a specific technique that is achieved using a hand tool. The tool has a variety of different blade configurations that allow the technician to create fine, hair-like strokes to achieve the desired look.

The procedure I perform uses a digital machine to create the hair strokes - again, different needle configurations are available and fine hair strokes can be produced. There is a lot of misleading information which claims that strokes made with a digital machine are not as fine or detailed. This is simply not true.

Whilst there are a lot of similarities between microblading and the machine method, there are differences too. Microblading is not suitable for every type of skin; oily skin in particular often requires more regular top-ups. Also, with microblading, the pigment isn't implanted as deeply as with the machine method, which means the results don't tend to last quite as long. Another difference is the variety of look which can be achieved. Microblading is best suited to creating hair-like strokes, whereas the machine I use will allow you to have powder brows or a combination of the two.

Because I use a digital machine to implant the pigment into your skin, I am able to offer you a choice of techniques to achieve your desired look. This is different to microblading, which uses a hand tool and is best suited to creating the appearance of fine lines - or hair-stokes. For examples of what these styles look like, check out some of the permanent brows on my Gallery page.

• Hair-stroke brows

The hair-stroke technique is used to mimic the natural look of tiny hairs which form the brow. This is ideal for people who may have experienced hair loss or over-plucked brows or don't want the look of an overly made up brow.

• Powder Brows

The powder brow technique will leave you with an appearance similar to when you have used brow powder or a pencil to block in the colour of your brows. The pigment will be implanted using a technique that will cover the brow area in one colour that will be specifically chosen to complement your skin tone, allowing you to enjoy a permanent and defined soft powdered look.

• Combination Brows

Combination brows offer the best of both powdered and hair-stroke effects. The two styles are combined together to achieve a beautifully natural yet defined brow. The inner brow is feathered with hair strokes while the tails are powdered to achieve outstanding definition. Hair strokes are also drawn around the outer line of the arch, helping to soften the powdered tails.

• Ombre Brows

Ombre brows get their name from the hair trend where locks are darker at the top and become gradually lighter. This technique is applied to the brow, with colour darker on the arch and fading on the tail.

During your consultation, we can discuss the different methods and I will help you choose which will enhance your natural features the most and give you the perfect looking brows you desire.

Prices for permanent makeup brows currently start at £250. For a full list of prices, please take a look at my Prices page.

You may also be interested in my article "The Truth About What Permanent Brows Cost".

The recovery time is minimal for the majority of people, with only some minor redness on the day of the procedure. You can usually go back to your everyday life straight away, although there will be some aftercare tips which I will provide you with to help maintain your new brows during the early stages - for example not to apply makeup directly to your brows in the first week. You can expect the colour of your brows to be up to 60% darker during the first 3-4 days. As the healing process continues, it will gradually reveal a lighter and more natural colour which can be darkened during your follow-up appointment if necessary.

Follow this link for more information on the brow healing process, or take a look at the video below.