Lip embroidery lets you flaunt a natural Korean gradient lip without makeup – here’s all you need to know

Lip embroidery might have once succeeded only in creating a garish, cheap-lookin’ red pout but, today, it’s working to lend a natural pinkish flush to dull lips as well as even achieving a Korean gradient lip – deeper shades on the inner parts of the lips that fade to a lighter tone for a soft, kissable style.

Plus, if you can’t leave home without sweeping a little creamy colour onto your pout, then lip embroidery will save you lots of time in the mornings, not to mention, let you skip reapplying your lipstick throughout the day.

If naturally flushed lips sound too good to be true, read on, because we share everything you need to know about lip embroidery, including how the treatment goes, aftercare tips, and the best salons to visit in Singapore!

What is lip embroidery?

Lip embroidery is a semi-permanent treatment that uses an ultra-fine tattoo gun to deposit colour pigments onto the lips, which both enhances the lips’ colour and further defines the pout.

Similar to eyebrow embroidery, lip embroidery lets you wear the colours for about one to two years with the proper care, as the deposited shades will fade over time. Usually, organic pigments last for about one-and-a-half years, whereas inorganic pigments can stay on the skin for up to two years.

Should you desire to keep the colours looking vibrant for longer, you can go for touch-up appointments too; otherwise, you can expect the shades to age gracefully until it returns to the natural colour of your lips.

Lip embroidery, lip blush, lip microblading, and lip micropigmentation are all the same thing – semi-permanent tattoos for the lips. However, they’re different from traditional lip tattoo procedures, which offer a permanent solution to a pale or hyperpigmented pout.

Traditional lip tattoos use thicker needles and carbon-rich tattoo ink to deposit dyes deeper into the skin. Lip embroidery, on the other hand, uses super fine nanoneedles to deposit micro-pigments into the superficial dermal layer of the skin, which causes less trauma to the lips too.

Does lip embroidery hurt?

The thought of having a needle penetrate the lips might seem way more terrifying than, say, an eyebrow embroidery procedure. However, when done properly, the lip embroidery process shouldn’t hurt.

The esthetician will apply a numbing cream to the lip and leave it on for about five to ten minutes before beginning the embroidery. You should feel pressure but no pain when the needle is pressed onto your skin.

What happens during lip embroidery?

A lip embroidery appointment should begin with a consultation, where the esthetician will show you the various shades available, as well as advise you on certain colours based on how well they complement your skin undertones and whether they’re visible over your natural lip tone.

During the consultation, feel free to show photos of your desired lip colour to the esthetician, whether it’s a light pastel pink or a deeper rosy red.

The esthetician will take your colour choices into consideration when advising you on a suitable shade for your lips, and you should agree to the final chosen colour before proceeding with the next steps of the lip embroidery.

The esthetician will apply the numbing cream to your lips and cover them with a plastic film, leaving the cream to sit for about five to ten minutes.

Then, they’ll mark out the shape of your lips using a vibrant lip liner, as well as create extra contrast between the lips and the skin by colouring the surrounding skin white. This allows the esthetician to accurately trace the shape of the lips using the embroidery needle, later in the process.

The esthetician typically has to perform the embroidery in about two to three layers on the lips to reach the desired shade.

Should your lips be hyperpigmented or have more dark areas, the esthetician might do the embroidery in two sessions; the first will be to even out your skin’s natural shade, and the second will be to fill your pout in with the colour of your choice.

What can I expect after lip embroidery?

After lip embroidery, you can expect your lips to feel swollen and tender, especially in the first one to two days.

In the days that follow, don’t be surprised to find your lips scabbing, peeling, and feeling dry too, as it’s a normal part of the recovery process.

Your lips should be fully healed at the end of two weeks, which means no more scabbing or peeling, but a rosier and fuller-looking pout.

For best results after a lip embroidery, follow your esthetician’s aftercare tips.

Typically, you should refrain from peeling the scabs or dry skin from your lips, as well as try not to pucker or stretch your lips in the first two weeks.

Don’t take spicy foods or apply lip products that could irritate your still-healing skin, and even avoid doing physical activities that’ll cause you to sweat. Be gentle to your lips during the recovery period, and you’ll be able to enjoy a rosy lip blush soon after!

Where to go for lip embroidery in Singapore

Monostudio

Monostudio is a cosy home-based studio that offers micro-needling services such as facial treatments, eyeliner embroidery, and, yes, lip embroidery.

An expert in Korean semi-permanent makeup and skincare, Monostudio’s esthetician was trained in Seoul under Ashley (@fromj_brow), who has conducted lessons in not just Korea, but Taiwan and Hong Kong too.

Since the studio is always on top of the latest K-beauty trends, it’s no wonder that it’s best loved for its Korean Lip Blush, which creates a soft, natural lip look similar to K-style gradient lips.

Monostudio’s Lip Blush creates darker rosy pigments at the inner areas of the lips and then lets the colour naturally fade towards the outer parts of the pout.

Since a Korean gradient lip can be tricky to nail each morning, this lip embroidery service is ideal for flaunting an effortlessly soft pout – with no need to fumble about with your lippies throughout the day too!

The Lip Blush is priced at S$388, including a touch-up session one month later. While the studio promises that the lip embroidery results are most accurate one month after the touch-up treatment, you’ll get to see rosier lips immediately after your first session.

Monostudio announces the opening of its reservation slots each month – follow the studio on Instagram or Facebook to stay up to date.

Address: 16 Jalan Pergam, Singapore 488292 (home-based)
Opening hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 6pm (Sat to Sun)
Contact: 9628 2572
Facebook | Instagram

Beauty Recipe

If you’re searching for a salon that uses organic dyes for lip embroidery, then Beauty Recipe is the place to visit.

Beauty Recipe’s Nano Lip Blushing Embroidery deposits only premium organic colour pigments onto your lips to bump up their flush. The dye particles are much smaller and penetrate the skin easily, which reduces the time needed for the lip embroidery process and minimises trauma to the lips.

Customers experience less pain and less swelling after too – this one’s ideal for those with more sensitive skin.

Get two sessions of Beauty Recipe’s Lip Blushing Embroidery for S$520 instead of S$588 when you book on Salon Finder.

Somerset
Address: ​​277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway, #B2-01, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon to Sun)
Contact: 67023062

Lavender
Address: 803 King George’s Avenue, #02-192, Singapore 200803
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon to Sun)
Contact: 62327848
Website | Facebook

​Lebellbrow Studio

Lebellbrow Studio might be recognised for its eyebrow embroidery services, but it doesn’t fall short when it comes to lip embroidery too.

This luxe studio offers two different types of lip embroidery style, one is the Nano Candy Lips, which is ideal for bumping up the lightness and vibrance of naturally dark lips, and the other is the Nano Korean Tinted Lips, which creates a soft K-style gradient pout.

Since Lebellbrow Studio uses high-quality nano pigment dyes from the US, you can expect a beautiful vibrant flush on your lips once they’ve fully healed.

The Nano Lip Embroidery is priced at S$488, inclusive of one touch-up session that’s valid for four months after your first appointment and aftercare gel.

Do note that you have to make a reservation at least one day in advance.

Address: 9 King Albert Park, KAP MALL #02-03/33, Singapore 598332
Opening hours: 10.30am – 9pm (Mon to Sun)
Contact: Call, SMS, or WhatsApp 9691 6050 or 9008 7833
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Erabelle

Flaunt a new balance and symmetry in your facial features with Erabelle’s lip embroidery services.

This elegant, luxurious studio offers signature eyebrow embroidery, alongside eyeliner embroidery and lip embroidery, using a Soft Shading technique.

The Soft Shading technique uses multiple dots to fill in the lips for a graceful, natural finish. Even without creating harsh lines, however, the estheticians at Erabelle are experts in subtly shaping the lips to grant greater balance to the facial features. Your lips won’t just look rosier, but more in harmony with the rest of your face too.

The studio also advises customers on a lip colour that’s “as natural as tinted lip balm”, so that you don’t wear a garish pout afterwards, but one that’s like your lips but better.

Address: Click here to view all outlets
Opening hours: 11am – 9.30pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 5.30pm (Sun & PH)
Contact: Click here to view contact details for each outlet
Website | Facebook | Instagram

JPro Beauty

Whether you’re hoping to add some vibrance to your dull lips or skip blending out your lippies to achieve Korean gradient pout each day, there’s a lip embroidery service that’s just right for you at JPro Beauty.

JPro Beauty is another studio that’s earned many awards as “best eyebrow embroidery salon” in Singapore, but also offers quality lip embroidery services for customers looking to flaunt a healthy flush without makeup.

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Estheticians at JPro Beauty are pros at achieving various lip looks through lip embroidery. The salon’s Collagen Lip embroidery gives the lips an even flush of colour throughout, whereas the Gradient Lip embroidery concentrates more pigment on the inner ares of the lips for a just-been-kissed style.

JPro Beauty’s Gradient Lip Embroidery (best for lighter-coloured lips) is priced at S$588, and the Collagen Lip Embroidery (best for darker-coloured lips) is priced at S$688.

These prices are before a 20% discount, and include one touch-up session valid for six months after the first appointment.

Address: Blk 104 Jurong East Street 13, #01-102, Singapore 600104
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon to Sat) | Closed on Sun
Contact: 9800 3982, or email hello.jprobeauty@gmail.com
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Featured image credit: Monostudio

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