Cor blimey, it's really strange when a thread is resurrected a year later!! Which menas I've been doing it for a year now - can't believe it!
I'll try and answer all your Qs.
I did my training with PMC - a branch of LCN and distributed by BCI in Hurstpierpoint, just south of Gatwick. The course is 5 days and INTENSIVE is an understatment, I have never worked so hard or learned so much in such a short space of time, and they ONLY do one to one training which IMO is essential, and you only work on real models. There is a strong emphasis on colour theory which is so important and they cover lip liner, eye liner and eyebrows. I have done another days training which included full lip colour, lip enhancement and eyeline colour enhancement. I didn't bother to look elsewhere as I knew how good LCN were at training and how good their customer service was so I had a strong sense of trust in their company ethics.
Swelling varies from perdon to person, but the PMC machine I have has a patented Kryoliner which cools the area to about 9 degrees, swelling and bruising is virtually nil, the worst it looks like for eyeliner for example is like you have had a good cry and it settles down within 24 hours.
I've never tried to use a different colour - if you feel you like to regularly change your colour then it probably isn't the treatment for you. There is a huge list of contraindications, but you do a skin patch test of the pigments to check for any sensitivity / reactions to them. Your dealing with a delicate part of the face so the last thing you would want is an allregic reaction. However if you bruise VERY easily then this is a contra!
I'm not sure about the scar tissue Geeg, as I've not come across any yet and I don't have my manual at home - Jennykins maybe able to help as she is more experienced than me. If your lips were patchy then suffice it to say that it was probably a poor treatment, sounds like they didnt insert it deep enough into the dermis either. I offer an initial treatment, with a top up 6-8 weeks later to make sure it is a totally even placement, or to go slightly darker if required ( I tend to err on the side of cuaution if a client isn't completely sure on what colour they would like it to end up as.)
The eyebrows and lip liner is drawn on first so it's just like colouring in really. Getting the initial lip line right, or the eyebrow shape even is what can take the time to start with, but you know then that before you start tattoing that the client is in full agreement. I get the client to do it cos like you say they probably can do it better than anyone and know exactly what shape THEY like. I will advise if I think it could be improved, but at the end of the day it is their face so it's their choice. Except for the lady who wanted BLACK eyebrows, the black pigments are very blue based and it would have looked HORRENDOUS. It took me half and hour to persuade to have a very dark brown, but I would have refused to do black, after all it's my reputation on the line as well!
And finally does it hurt? Well it varies from person to person as everyone's pain threshold can be so different, but it is a form of tattoo, although the needle does not go as deep. I would not say it is painful, it's a scratchy feeling which may be uncomfortable in places - the inner side of the eye, and the cupid's bow of the lip are particularly sensitive. I'm having my lips done at half term so I'll let you know how it goes! When I had my eyeliner done the feeling was like having a small bit of grit in my eye, it's the only way I could describe it!
Put it this way I am the biggest woos (sp?) where needles are concerned and I'm going back for more! The numbing is worse though Geeg, very limited these days and whatever you use has to be agreed by Environmental Health - at least it does in Fareham.
I've got it at half price at the mo as it's been a bit slow for the past few months!
