In short: For the first week, keep lips clean and lightly moisturised with the aftercare balm you are given, avoid rubbing or picking as they flake, and skip hot, salty or spicy food, swimming, saunas and direct sun. Lips look bolder at first, flake around days 4–7, and settle into their final colour by 4–6 weeks.
Why aftercare matters so much
Lip blush colour is "set" during healing, not on the day. How you look after your lips in the first week has a real effect on how much pigment your skin keeps — and therefore how even and long-lasting the final result is. Good aftercare is the single biggest thing within your control.
Day-by-day healing timeline
Days 1–2: Lips look bold and feel tender or slightly swollen, like mild sunburn. Blot gently, keep them clean, and apply a thin layer of the aftercare balm as directed. Drink through a straw and stick to soft, mild foods.
Days 3–5: The colour darkens and tightens before it starts to flake. This is normal. Do not pick or peel — let flakes come away on their own, or you risk pulling pigment out unevenly.
Days 5–7: Most of the flaking finishes. Lips can look patchy or unexpectedly light at this stage — don't panic. The colour "blooms" back over the following weeks as the surface settles.
Weeks 2–6: Colour softens and evens out into its true, natural tone. By 4–6 weeks the lips are fully healed and ready for a follow-up session if one is needed.
What to avoid while healing
For the first 7–10 days, avoid: hot, salty or spicy food; swimming pools, spas and saunas; direct sun and sunbeds; exfoliating or acidic skincare near the lips; and heavy exercise that makes you sweat around the mouth. Also avoid lipstick and lip products until fully healed, and don't kiss or rub the area more than necessary.
What to do
Keep lips lightly moisturised with the balm provided (a little, often), stay hydrated, blot after eating, sleep on your back if you can for the first couple of nights, and be patient through the flaky stage. If you're prone to cold sores, follow any preventative advice Lorraine gives you.
When to expect the final result
Your true colour is visible at around 4–6 weeks. Many clients book a paid follow-up session at that point to even out any areas that healed lighter and to build depth — this is a normal part of achieving a flawless, lasting lip blush.
See lip blush treatment & results →
Cosmetic tattoo & paramedical practitioner with over 20 years in the cosmetic industry and international training in Milan, London and Paris. More about Lorraine →