When Is the Right Time to Color Correct Old PMU? Here’s What I Did for Mary’s Brows

If you’ve had permanent makeup (PMU) done in the past and your brows have faded to an odd color or just don’t look quite right anymore you might be wondering:

Should I get them color corrected right away? Or wait until the touch-up?

Let’s talk about it, and I’ll walk you through a real client story that shows how I approach this with care.

Meet Mary: A Real Brow Correction Case

Mary came to me with previously microbladed brows that had faded into a cool, ashy grey tone, a common issue with older pigments. One of her brows had also been over-arched, throwing off her natural symmetry.

The good news? She still had a healthy amount of natural hair, so we had a solid base to build on. But instead of rushing to correct the color during her first visit, we took a conservative, step-by-step approach:

Visit 1: Focus on Structure & Soft Enhancement

On Mary’s first appointment, we focused on:

✔️ Adjusting the arch to balance her natural bone structure

✔️ Adding nano hair strokes to gently blend with her existing brow hair

✔️ Skipping color correction for now, since only one brow had a cool undertone

By doing this, we avoided overwhelming her skin and gave her a chance to see how the new strokes healed over her old pigment.

Why Wait on Color Correction?

There are a few reasons I often delay correction until the touch-up:

Healing reveals a lot. Once the skin settles, I can see how much of the old pigment is still influencing the final color.

It’s more precise. I can make better pigment choices when I know what healed retention looks like.

It protects your skin. Less trauma = better long-term results.

What’s Next for Mary?

At her 8-week follow-up, we’ll revisit that over-arched brow, gently color correct the ash tones, and possibly add soft shading if we want a bit more density. The key is: We don’t rush it.

Final Thoughts: Every Brow Tells a Story

Color correction isn’t one-size-fits-all. At The Brow Lady, I believe in preserving your skin, enhancing what you already have, and working with your natural features, not against them.

If you have faded or uneven brows and don’t know where to start, I’d love to chat. Consultations are always pressure-free, and I’ll walk you through exactly what to expect.

Serving Bensalem, PA and surrounding areas.

Message me anytime to book your SoftMap consultation.