- First session
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Comfort
- The least sensitive area
- Swelling
- 1–3 days
- Holds
- 2–5 years
Five ways to do it
Black, brown or grey. We choose the line and the color together at your appointment.
BeforeAfter
Lash Enhancement
Pigment set between the lashes only. No line on the skin at all — the lashes simply look thicker and the eye looks more awake.
Best forAnyone who wants it invisible.
BeforeAfter
Classic
A clean line along the upper lash line, thickening towards the outer corner, with or without a wing. Both sides match, permanently.
Best forAnyone who already wears liner every day.
BeforeAfter
Shaded
The same line, then softened upward into the lid so it has no hard top edge. Between a liner and a shadow.
Best forHooded or mature lids, where a hard line disappears in the fold.
BeforeAfter
Smoky
Shading carried further up the lid, blended out towards the crease. Evening makeup that is already on when you wake up.
Best forAnyone whose everyday look is a smoked-out eye.
BeforeAfter
Lower Line
A fine, soft line along the lower lashes, usually kept to the outer half. Added to an upper line, not instead of one.
Best forBalancing a strong upper line. Kept subtle — a hard lower line closes the eye.
Color: black, brown or grey. Brown and grey read softer on fair coloring and on anyone who does not want an obvious line.
Eyeliner work from my Instagram
My own clients, no retouching.
More eyeliner work goes to Instagram first Open @ibeauty_denver
This is the eye.
It gets its own rules
Working millimetres from the eyeball is why I ask for the medical history twice and why no contact lenses come near the appointment. Sterile single-use needles, sealed pigment, and I never rush this area.
It is also why I turn people away when the answer should be no. Seven years as a dental assistant taught me that part before I ever picked up a machine.
What actually happens
Around two hours. One client, no assistant.
We talk first
Eye history, dryness, surgery, medication — and glasses off, contacts out before we start.
The line is drawn on
Thickness, length and whether there is a wing, sketched with pencil and checked with your eyes both open and closed.
Color agreed
Black, brown or grey against your lashes and coloring. Black is not automatically right.
Numbing, then the work
Topical before and during, eye closed throughout. Sterile single-use needles and sealed pigment.
Aftercare, out loud
Including how much swelling to expect tomorrow, so it is not a surprise. Written down to take home.
It swells, then it shrinks
Do not book this the day before an event.
- Days 1–3
- Swelling, most of it the morning after. The line looks far thicker than it is because the lid is puffy.
- Days 3–7
- Swelling drops and the line flakes in tiny dark pieces. Do not rub — they take pigment with them.
- Weeks 2–3
- Looks lighter and thinner than you expected. It is still settling.
- Weeks 4–6
- The true line. This is when we judge it and add a top-up if it needs one.
The first week
- Cold compress over a clean cloth on day one, not ice on the skin.
- Sleep propped up the first night — it halves the morning swelling.
- Keep the area dry and do not rub your eyes.
- Let the flaking finish on its own.
Skip for now
- Contact lenses for at least 48 hours, glasses instead.
- Eye makeup and mascara for about two weeks, and a fresh mascara after.
- Lash extensions and lash lifts for two weeks after.
- Pools, saunas, steam and hard workouts for about a week.
Two things to read
General information about the service, not medical advice. Anything involving your eyes gets cleared with your own doctor first.
Eyeliner questions I get most
Does it hurt? Is it safe this close to the eye?
It is the least sensitive of the three areas — most clients describe a vibration rather than pain, and numbing goes on before and during. Your eye stays closed the whole time and nothing touches the eyeball. Single-use needles, sealed pigment, and I take the medical history seriously before we start.
How swollen will I be?
Expect puffy lids for one to three days, worst on the morning after. Sleeping propped up the first night makes a real difference. Do not book this right before a wedding or a photo.
Can I wear contact lenses?
Not on the day and not for at least 48 hours after. Bring glasses to the appointment.
What about lash extensions?
Have them removed, or make sure they are at least a week old — fresh glue on the lash line stops pigment going in. Afterwards, wait two weeks before your next set.
How long does it last?
Longer than lips or brows — commonly two to five years, because the lid gets little sun and the skin turns over slowly. It softens rather than disappears.
Will it migrate or turn blue?
That is what happens when pigment goes too deep or the wrong one is used. It is the reason I place the line conservatively and build it, rather than going heavy in one pass.
Can I have a wing?
Yes, and I draw it on with pencil first so you see it with your eyes open before anything is permanent. On hooded lids I will usually steer you towards shaded instead, because a hard wing folds away when you open your eye.
Will I need a second session?
Often. The first pass is placed conservatively on purpose. We look again at four to six weeks and add thickness then if you want it — going too bold on day one is not something you can undo easily.
What does it cost?
Pricing lives in Square, where you also book, so what you see is today's price including any promotion. Correction of old work is quoted after I have seen it.
Ready when you are
Pick the eyeliner service that sounds closest — we settle the line and the color together at your appointment. Bring your glasses, and leave the day after clear.