Eyeliner Removal, PMU Aftercare That Actually Works & Best Pigments for Fitz 5–6: A Deep Dive with Teryn & Kat

If you’ve ever wondered how to safely remove eyeliner, what aftercare actually leads to better pigment retention, or which pigments are truly best for your Fitz 5 and 6 clients, this episode is for you. In Tatter-a-Fact Podcast Episode #102, Teryn and Kat go all in during a no-BS Q&A, sharing real strategies from inside the Girlz Ink Studio.

This one’s part education, part entertainment, and 100% packed with value.

🎧 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube here

💬 You Asked, Teryn Answered: PMU Q&A Is Here to Stay

This episode kicks off a new Q&A series that will appear regularly on the podcast. Got a burning question about machine movements, color corrections, pigment selection, aftercare, or anything in between?

Teryn and Kat are answering them all unfiltered and unscripted.

💌 Submit your question to be featured:
Send it to [email protected] and if we pick your topic (or your name idea for the Q&A segment), we’ll send you a custom PMU Goody Bag packed with pigments, needles, and tools based on what you love.

👁 Can Eyeliner Be Removed? Yes With Li-FT®

When it comes to eyeliner tattoo removal, there’s a lot of fear in the industry and for good reason. It's a delicate area, and not every saline solution is created with the eyes in mind. That’s why Li-FT® was formulated from the start to be safe, effective, and specific for all areas of PMU including around the eyes.

“We remove a ton of bad eyeliner in our studio including migration and botched wing jobs. It’s totally doable when you’re trained properly and using the right tools,” says Teryn.

🔐 Important note: Eyeliner removal is an advanced technique. It should only be performed by experienced artists who have taken formal saline removal training.

💻 Learn It from the Best:

🎓 Take the Official Li-FT® Online Removal Course
🧴 Shop Li-FT® Saline Solution, Heal Care, and Aftercare Products

Teryn’s Aftercare Breakdown: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)

After 24+ years in the PMU industry, Teryn has tested every kind of aftercare under the sun and the verdict is clear: the right product and the right protocol both matter.

🌿 Her Go-To Aftercare Products:

• After Inked® White Pack — used for brows and eyeliner

• After Inked® NPJ (black pack) — used for lips and areolas

Both are beeswax-based, petroleum-free, and contain grapeseed oil, making them breathable yet soothing. NPJ gives that Vaseline-like feel without any of the drawbacks of actual petroleum.

🛒 Try the After Inked PMU Combo Pack

📝 Her 3 Core Aftercare Rules:

1. No ointment for the first 24–48 hours

   • Brows: Wait 24 hours before introducing ointment

   • Eyeliner: Wait 48 hours
     Why? Let oxygen do its job. The skin needs to breathe to begin healing properly.

2. Blot — don’t skip this step

   • Clients should blot the treated area every hour for the first 6–8 hours with a clean, damp paper towel. This removes weeping fluids, which if left to dry, cause scabbing that can pull pigment out of the skin.

3. Apply ointment sparingly

   • Once the initial healing window has passed, a thin layer of After Inked keeps the skin hydrated and protected without suffocating it.

💡 Bonus: Teryn even tested different ointments on each brow or eyeliner side to compare healing. The verdict? Delayed ointment = better pigment retention.

Best Pigments for Fitz 5 & 6: What Works & What Doesn’t

One of the most important questions in this episode was about which pigments work best on dark skin tones especially Fitzpatrick levels 5 and 6.

And Teryn doesn’t hold back.

“When you're working on Fitz 5 or 6, you're dealing with dark skin, dark brows, and the need for a dark pigment usually a black-brown. But not all black-browns are created equal.”

She explains how many dark pigments rely heavily on carbon black, which can lead to long-term issues like ashy or gray results, especially if implanted too deep or in large saturation.

So What Should You Use?

Teryn’s Recommendations:

• Aqua Ebony Brown – great for many Fitz 5 and some 6 clients

• Aqua Black Magic Eyeliner Pigment – works beautifully for Fitz 6 clients who need ultra-rich black

• OMG Brow Pigments – creamy iron oxide-based pigments that offer high retention with smart fading

• Loaded Pigments – high-performance organics for shallow techniques (not ideal if you work deep!)

👉 Teryn's rule: If you work deep or with large needles, avoid pigments with high carbon. If you work shallow with low saturation, high-carbon organics like Queen or Loaded may still heal beautifully.

🎓 Still unsure?
Take Beyond the Epidermis: Color Theory with Teryn Darling — a game-changing course for understanding undertones, pigment behavior, and proper pigment selection across all skin types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is eyeliner tattoo removal really safe?
A: Yes — if you’re trained and using a solution like Li-FT that is specifically safe for the eye area. Never attempt eyeliner removal without formal education.

Q: What’s the most important step in PMU aftercare?
A: Blotting during the first 24–48 hours. It prevents scabbing, which protects pigment retention.

Q: What ointments are best for lips vs. brows?
A: Use After Inked NPJ (black pack) for lips it’s thicker and more soothing. Use the white pack for brows and eyeliner.

Q: What pigments should I avoid for Fitz 5–6 skin?
A: Avoid pigments with high amounts of carbon black if you work deep. Instead, use high-performing iron oxide pigments that fade predictably, like OMG or Aqua.

💥 What You Should Do Next:

✨ Watch Episode #102 of Tatter-a-Fact on YouTube
🛍 Shop PMU Supplies, Pigments & Aftercare
🎓 Take the Online Courses Mentioned
🎁 Have a question for the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This is the real education artists need — the stuff we all wish we learned in our beginner courses. Whether you're looking to increase retention, master Fitz 6 brows, or finally offer eyeliner removal with confidence, this episode is a goldmine.

🖤 Until next time, keep creating beautiful work, keep asking questions, and as always...

Stay in the pursuit of happiness.