Understanding Correction Brow Work: Why Photos Are Required and Why You Can’t Just “Tattoo Over” Old Work

At Vanity Touch, we’re passionate about creating beautiful, natural, and long-lasting brows that truly complement your face. But before we take on any correction brow work, we require photos of your existing brows — and there’s a very good reason for that.

What Is Correction Brow Work?

Correction brow work refers to procedures where we’re working over existing permanent makeup. This can include brows that have faded unevenly, changed colour, or were previously done too dark, too deep, or in an undesired shape.

Every correction case is unique — the skin’s condition, pigment saturation, and the colour underneath all play a major role in determining what’s possible. The photo shown below is an example of removing existing brow work.

Why We Require Photos Before Accepting a Correction Case

When you reach out to us for correction work, we always ask for clear photos first. This helps our artists assess your current brows to determine:

• How saturated or dark the existing pigment is

• Whether the colour is workable for correction or needs lightening/removal first

• The depth and placement of the old pigment in your skin

• Whether correction is achievable while still maintaining the quality and style of work that Vanity Touch is known for. Without seeing your brows first, it’s impossible to know if a correction will heal beautifully — or if the best first step is removal or lightening.

  
  

Why You Can’t Just “Tattoo Over” Old Brows

A common misconception is that we can simply tattoo new pigment on top of old work to “cover it.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

Once pigment is in the skin, it becomes part of the skin — it mixes with any new pigment placed on top. If the old work is too deep, saturated, or uneven, adding new colour will only make things muddier. Instead of covering it, the new pigment blends with the old, often resulting in unwanted colours or patchy results. The bottom left photo shows extremely saturated work, which means it's fully coloured in with pigment. Soft work or hair strokes are impossible to achieve over this.

In these cases, removal (usually through saline or laser) is the only way to create a clean canvas for new work.

Why We’re Selective About the Work We Take On

Our artists at Vanity Touch have spent years mastering their craft. We take great pride in every set of brows that leaves our studio — they’re a reflection of our artistry, technique, and dedication to excellence.

When we work over another artist’s decisions — their color choices, shape, depth, or placement — our hands are tied. The end result, while improved, may never fully represent our skill or aesthetic. For this reason, we’re very selective about the correction work we accept. We want to ensure every client leaves with brows that meet our standard of quality and longevity.

The photo on the above right shows aged pigment that isn't that saturated but would result in a heavier look if went over with more pigment to try and correct what is there, to achieve a softer affect removal would be necessary.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Artist from the Start

Permanent makeup is permanent in more ways than one. When pigment is implanted too deep or with poor understanding of colour theory and the canvas' we are working on, it can cause lasting damage that’s expensive and time-consuming to correct.

That’s why it’s so important to:

• Research your artist thoroughly

• Study their portfolio — not just healed results, but also colour retention over time

• Avoid choosing based on price alone

Investing in an experienced, knowledgeable artist saves you money, stress, and your skin in the long run.

In Summary

Correction brow work is a highly specialized process that requires skill, assessment, and sometimes removal before new work can begin. At Vanity Touch, we take every case seriously — because your face deserves nothing less than our best.

If you’re unsure whether your brows are ready for correction or need removal first, send us clear photos in good lighting, and we’ll guide you in the right direction.

info@vanitytouch.ca

780-690-7626