What Actually Happens During a Lip Blush Session? (And Why It’s Not as Scary as You Think)

By Ira Bale – Cosmetic Tattoo Artist, Melbourne, South Yarra & Toorak Village

Because the unknown is scarier than the reality.

The Biggest Fear: Pain and Permanence

When clients in South Yarra or Toorak Village first ask about lip blush, they whisper the same question: “Does it hurt?” The second fear is usually: “What if it looks too much?”

Both fears are rooted in old misconceptions. Lip blush today isn’t the harsh, blocky “lip tattoo” of the past. It’s refined, layered, and designed to heal into a soft wash of colour. And as for pain? With proper numbing, most clients describe it as mild scratching — annoying more than painful.

Transformative Lip Blush Tattoo by Ira Bale at Melbourne's Ira Bale Brows salon enhances natural beauty with a vibrant, long-lasting color boost.

Step 1: Consultation and Colour Theory

Every session begins with a detailed consultation. We talk about your natural undertones, the shades you gravitate towards, and — most importantly — what won’t suit your skin biology. Some lips need neutralisation first (to correct blue, purple, or brown tones) before adding colour. Skipping this step is how clients end up with results that look “off.”

At Ira Bale Brows, I handle all lip tattooing personally, because pigment science isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Step 2: Mapping and Design

Lip blush isn’t about overlining. It’s about restoring natural definition that’s been lost with age, sun, or genetics. I map carefully along your vermillion border (the natural lip line), ensuring symmetry without creating the dreaded “lipstick outline.”

Step 3: Numbing and Application

We use a high-grade topical anaesthetic before and during treatment, keeping discomfort minimal. The pigment is layered gradually with a machine, using soft shading techniques — not heavy strokes. The process takes around 2–3 hours, with breaks built in.

Step 4: Healing

Immediately after, your lips will look brighter and bolder than the healed result. Within 5–7 days, the top layer peels, leaving behind a softer, more natural colour. Final healed results are visible around 6 weeks.

Think of it like planting seeds — it takes time for the colour to “settle.”

A Story From the Chair

S., a Toorak client, admitted she’d put off lip blush for years out of fear. “I thought I’d look like a cartoon character,” she said. We neutralised her cool undertones, layered in a soft rose pigment, and two months later she told me: “I can’t believe I wasted so much time worrying. It looks like my lips, but better.”

The Bold Truth

Lip Blush isn’t scary — it’s liberating. It doesn’t lock you into a heavy shade, it frees you from constant reapplication. It doesn’t make you look “tattooed,” it restores what life, sun, and time took away.

At Ira Bale Brows in Melbourne, I design every lip blush with restraint, precision, and science. Because when it comes to your face, the bravest choice is often the one that looks the most natural in the end.