Brow Shaping Guide

Must be off Accutane for 6 months before undergoing the service.

Must not be undergoing chemo or cancer treatments – without doctors note.

If you are pregnant, you may get this service. However caution is advised as some women’s skin becomes more sensitive while pregnant and may react differently (negatively) compared to when she is not pregnant. 
If you are breastfeeding, it is acceptable to get this service as long as you understand that if you experience a reaction, you would need to avoid breastfeeding until it subsides.

Your eyebrows have recently been waxed which means that the skin is sensitive. A tanning session could cause you to have an unwanted reaction or skin irritation.

Avoid for 24 hours: hot steamy showers, intensive exercise and sweating, swimming, sauna & steam room.

Be gentle when cleansing your brows, avoid touching or rubbing the area, and don’t sleep on your face the first night after treatment.

Do not use any exfoliator on or very near your brows for at least 72 hours. Using a soltuion like AHA or BHA, Glycolic Acid or a physical exfoliant can irritate the sensitive skin.

While cleaning your skin, avoid or only very gently cleanse the eyebrows, which should only be done after 24 hours.

Oil-based products cause the stain to fade faster. Therefore, always look carefully at the list of ingredients of your products. 

You may not want to style your brows every day, and instead enjoy them in their natural state. If you would like to take extra care, use a brow serum or castor oil twice a week to nourish and promote the hair and skin health.

Style with a clear/tinted brow gel, brow penic/powder as desired after 24 hours.

Accutane (isotretinoin) can make the skin significantly more dry, sensitive and fragile, so some beauty treatments are not appropriate while taking it.

Brow Waxing cannot be performed while taking isotretinoin or for at least 6 months after stopping treatment, due to the increased risk of skin injury and scarring. This is consistent with current American Academy of Dermatology guidance.

Other brow and lash treatments are assessed individually based on the condition and sensitivity of your skin and the products involved. Please disclose current or recent isotretinoin use when booking so OPIA can determine which services, if any, are appropriate.

Retinoids, exfoliating acids and other active skincare ingredients can make the skin more sensitive and vulnerable to irritation or injury, particularly when combined with waxing.

If you use retinol, tretinoin, glycolic acid, AHAs, BHAs or other exfoliating products on or around the brows, please disclose this before your appointment.

Waxing should not be performed over sensitized or recently retinoid-treated skin. The American Academy of Dermatology specifically advises avoiding facial retinoids for several days before waxing because of the risk of removing skin along with the hair.

For OPIA's brow treatments, discontinuing these products around the brow area for 2 weeks before your appointment is recommended unless otherwise advised.

Lash services are generally less affected because the treatment is performed primarily on the lash hairs rather than exfoliating the surrounding skin; however, healthy, intact skin around the eyes is still required.

A patch test involves applying a small amount of the product to a limited area of skin before your full treatment and monitoring the area for signs of sensitivity or an allergic reaction.

A patch test is particularly recommended if you have highly sensitive skin, a history of reactions to dyes or cosmetic products, allergies you're concerned about, or have reacted to a similar treatment in the past.

It's important to understand that a successful patch test cannot guarantee that you won't react during or after the full service. Allergies and sensitivities can develop over time, including to products you've previously tolerated. Health Canada similarly notes that sensitivity to dye ingredients can develop after repeated exposures.

If you've experienced a significant reaction to a similar service previously, please let OPIA know before booking. Depending on the circumstances, a patch test may be recommended — or the service may not be appropriate for you.

Results vary depending on your hair growth cycle, skincare routine, sun exposure, cleansing habits and the products used.

Brow and lash tint generally remains visible on the hair for approximately 4–8 weeks, gradually fading as the colour wears and new hairs grow in.

With brow tinting, colour may also temporarily stain the skin beneath the brows for several days, depending on the tint used, your skin type and your skincare routine.

Using exfoliating products, retinoids, acids, oil-based products or frequent cleansing around the brows may cause the skin stain to fade more quickly.

Mild temporary redness or sensitivity can occur after some beauty treatments. However, significant swelling, persistent burning, blistering, discharge, severe irritation, eye symptoms or signs of infection are not considered normal.

If you experience a concerning reaction, contact OPIA and send clear photos when possible so your artist is aware of what has occurred.

For medical guidance in Alberta, you can call Health Link at 811. Seek urgent or emergency medical attention for severe symptoms — particularly difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, severe eye pain, vision changes or a rapidly worsening reaction.

Cosmetic products can cause allergic or sensitivity reactions even when they have been used previously without a problem. A patch test may reduce uncertainty in some circumstances, but cannot guarantee that a reaction will not occur during the full service. Health Canada notes that reactions to dye ingredients can occur and that sensitivity may develop after repeated exposure.

Beauty treatments are generally well tolerated when performed appropriately, but all cosmetic services carry some possibility of irritation or an adverse reaction.

Potential risks include:

• Temporary redness, tenderness, tingling or sensitivity
• Stinging or burning during treatment
• Skin irritation or contact dermatitis
• Allergic or sensitivity reactions to tint, adhesives or processing products
• Skin lifting or over-exfoliation from waxing, particularly when the skin has been sensitized by retinoids, acids, medications or other treatments
• Temporary dryness or irritation around the brows or eyes
• Over-processing, dryness or damage to brow or lash hairs
• Uneven or unexpected tint or processing results
• Eye watering, redness or irritation during or following lash treatments
• Rarely, more significant skin or eye reactions requiring medical attention

Waxing in particular can cause irritation, folliculitis, dermatitis, pigmentation changes or skin injury, and should not be performed on irritated, sunburned, broken or significantly sensitized skin.

Please disclose medications, active skincare products, allergies, recent treatments and relevant skin conditions before your appointment so your artist can determine whether your selected service is appropriate.