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If you've ever wondered what it's like to get a lip tattoo, it's your lucky day. Australian blogger Rachael Annear went under the needle to fully change the color of her lips, and she filmed the entire process. It might look painful, but Annear insists it wasn't that bad. Plus, it was totally worth it to help her cosmetologist friend complete her training sessions. The beauty blogger shared every step along the way, including actual footage of the process and the uncomfortable aftermath.
In the beginning Annear explained to viewers exactly what type of tattoo she would be getting. Instead of only lining her lips, she decided to brave the pain of a full lip tattoo in order to achieve a natural effect. Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria ($32; bergdorfgoodman.com) served as inspiration to create her custom color, which is a mix of pink, tan, and cocoa hues. Before the needle started buzzing, a topical numbing cream was applied all over her pout. Then, an additional layer was added with the tattoo wand. As the technician started to add the actual color, you'll notice Annear's lips start to slowly puff up during the two-hour process. For the sake of YouTube, Annear trimmed the tedious scenes and showed us the final results.
Related: I Got a Brow Tattoo and It Changed the Way I Wear Makeup
Immediately following the procedure, her freshly tattooed lipcolor looked just like lipstick. The technician explained that over the next few weeks, the initial color will become 60 percent lighter. Another noticeable change was Annear's fuller pout, which was caused by swelling. The needles may have made her lips puff up, but she insisted that the process really wasn't that painful. For her, it felt like an irritating scratch.
After the anesthetic wore off, Annear started to feel more pain. The healing process was a little rough to look at as her lips started to crack and peel for about a week. In order to soothe her cracked skin, she hydrated the tattooed area with a moisturizing balm every half hour. She also used a nail clipper to trim the flaking skin. It might sound disturbing, but the flawless (and permanent) results made a few days of suffering totally worth it.
Press play to see her entire lip tattoo experience.
Related: These Peel-Off Lipstick Tattoos Are Insanely Easy to Make
