The permanent in permanent makeup is really kind of deceiving, which is why I have a tendency to call it cosmetic tattooing. I am visiting my family in Texas as I do every Christmas. Last year I did both my sister and my mother’s eyebrows. My sisters still looks great and I’ll do a touch-up while I’m here but she doesn’t really need it. My mom’s are still there but have faded and definitely need to be touched up. They were both done on the same day so what makes my sisters last a full year and my mom’s fade?

They both have the same skin type, both tan easily, use lotion and have pretty good complexions. The main difference is age. My sister is 44 and my mom is 77. My mothers skin is much thinner and far less pliable than my sisters. When the pigment is implanted into the skin, it is put into both the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin. Everyone looses a layer of skin every 24 hours (more or less) and as one ages the layers become thinner and less abundant. As the layers slough, the pigment moves closer to the surface. That means that gradually there will be less and less pigment remaining and it will appear to fade.

The good thing is that it’s easy to fix. We’ll be doing touch-ups before I leave and they’ll both be good to go. What it tells me is that everyone is different. My sister could probably go another 6 months to a year before she actually needs another touch up whereas my mom needed one probably about 3 or 4 months ago.

It also tells me that having regular touch-ups will keep more pigment in more epidermal layers. The more r layers that contain pigment the longer the tattoo will last and the more consistent it’s appearance will be. My own opinion is that allowing your eyebrows or eyeliner to fade makes the touch-up look more obvious. The whole idea is to keep it looking the same, you don’t want to have people noticing that anything was done. You just want to keep them wondering how you look so great day after day after day after day after day etc., etc., etc.

Give me a call at 386-6763, check out my website at www.flawlesspmhawaii.com ,or drop me a line at george@flawlesspmhawaii.com

I recently began studying Reiki. Now I know there are many people who put a lot of trust into energetic healing, but I’ve never really been one of them. I believe in hands on work, and even though acupuncture revolves around balancing the chi (which is, of course, the basic life energy contained in every living and, if you want to get really picky about it, non-living entity) I’ve never really considered it energy work. But over the past couple of months I’ve been on a path that seems to include things that I may not have a full grasp of…yet.

One of those things that have been placed in front of me is Reiki. If you’re not familiar with Reiki, it is a form of healing that allows the practitioner to become a conduit to the universal energy that surrounds all of us and to use that energy to heal. It can be very specific, as in working on a particular body part, disease, or complaint, or it can be non-specific.

The idea is that the Reiki (rei means universal and ki means energy) knows what needs to be done and knows where to go. Everyone has access to Reiki-when you hurt yourself ones first impulse is to put your hand there; when you have a headache ones first impulse is to rub your head or neck. The only difference is that the practitioner has gone through an attunement process which enables them to focus a great degree of the universal energy which gives it a little more umph, so to speak.

I have been practising almost daily, or clients, friends, and myself and have gotten some pretty surprising results. My sister, who has a myriad or physical problems, goes for days with hardly any sleep and even ended up in the ER on Christmas. That night I did Reiki on her and the depth of sleep and feeling of rejuvenation she experienced where markedly different that what she normally experiences. I have clients I’ve worked on for years and (without any knowledge that I was using Reiki as part of the treatment) have told me after their massage that they felt my hands were unusually warm and they had felt particularly relaxed.

While I have far more studying to do, I’m sure that Reiki will become part of my healing toolbox. I’m on the mainland right now for Christmas and New Years, but will return the first week in January. Please feel free to call 808-386-6763 or send an email to george@flawlesspmhawaii.com if you’d like to experience this new tool.

Have a safe and happy new year

Before turning to the healing arts, I enjoyed a 25 year career as a freelance graphic desiger and illustrator. I learned about cosmetic tattooing from my long-time friend and client Dr. Linda Dixon, a leader in the cosmetic tattooing industry. Producing marketing materials and especially filming and editing her technical videos gave me the chance to see all the procedure done frame by frame for years before I ever tried it myself.

As an artist the drawing part came easy and as an acupuncturist the needles never scared me. I see it more like drawing on a 3 dimensional canvas rather than applying makeup. It’s actually a pretty cool thing to do for someone.

Permanent makeup, otherwise known as micropigmentation, is a tattooing procedure implants pigment, which is microscopic particles of the minerals that make up a color, into the skin. In the hands of a skilled technician it’s the perfect way to recreate or enhance eyebrows, make the perfect eyeliner, and replace natural color into lips.

Cosmetic tattooing is a great way to enjoy the natural look of permanent eyebrows, eyeliner or lip color. You’ll wake up every day looking great, and never have to hassel with putting on your face or reapplying makeup as the day wears on. Plus, you can always add additional makeup if you want a more dramatic effect.

Whether you’re looking at cosmetic tattooing for the first time, or have had it done in the past and need a retouch, Flawless is the finest in the art of permanent makeup.

For more information and to see samples and a video please go to www.flawlesspmhawaii.com

If you’d like to schedule an appointment, please call George at 386-6763

Healing massage and acupuncture have been used since ancient times. There are hieroglyphics depicting massage and the Chinese began to use stone needles, and developing their theories, thousands of years ago. Combining eastern and western thoughts and modalities have led to the development of my very unique and extremely effective form of healing.

I have been an independent licensed massage therapist since 1998 and an acupuncturist since 2000. I have developed my own style of healing on clients ranging from elite athletes to couch potatoes and also take auto accident and workers comp insurance cases.

I utilize a wide range of therapeutic massage techniques.  My soothing Swedish massage promotes circulation and relaxation. Various forms of sports massage can be used on athletes and non-athletes alike. Deep tissue massage techniques, including Trigger Point Therapy, Myofascial Release, and Structural Integration, can be challenging but are extremely effective.

From a relaxing full body massage, to specific and intense focus on selected problems, this vast wealth of resources is all there for you to use.

Give us a call anytime…386-6763. We also have gift certificates available…it’s a Christmas gift everyone loves to get.