The maths for a lip tattoo in Australia is deceptively straightforward: put down AUD 600–1,400 or so for your first round and have some left over for colour refreshes, aftercare and the inevitable touch-up. But if you are wondering how much a lip tattoo will run you, the price on the session is not the whole story.
Tristan Marshall here. Beauty clients have a way of underestimating the total spend, more so than the pain or what healing photos show. A lip blush may be less of a hassle than lipstick but it has its recurring expenses and policy traps and the odd surprise, like a mozzie in your flat white.
In What Does The Budget Consist?
It is useful to have an idea of what you are paying for before you start one studio against another. Your money is going towards the artist’s skill, hygiene, consultation and the prospect of an even heal as well as the pigment in your lips. You do not want to be lured by a tidy quote on Instagram that will make a mess of your bank statement once the aftercare products, travel and any corrective work are factored in. Understanding budgeting for lip tattoos can help avoid this. A cheap lip tattoo can blow out in no time.
A Snapshot Of Costs
By way of some research, here is a realistic guide to lip tattoo prices in Australia. The standard lip blushing appointment is in the region of AUD 700–1,100; you will see premium artists in the big cities asking AUD 1,200–1,500 and up. Should you require dark lip neutralisation the bill will be higher given the specialised nature of the technique and the extra appointments it entails.
Studios are wont to distinguish between the initial procedure and maintenance of your lip tattoo. Do not make the mistake of thinking your first booking is the end of it and your budget will go sideways.
Price Ranges In Australia
Depending on the city, the artist and the state of your lips prior to treatment, Australian prices will differ. Top artists anywhere will command a premium but Sydney and Melbourne tend to be pricier with Brisbane being a little more moderate.
The table below gives a breakdown of what the market is putting forward, drawn from industry patterns at places like Lipblushtattoo.au, Meticulous Brow, Tanya Beauty Care, Cosmetic Tattoo Melbourne, Eye Art Studio, The Brow Design Co and My Rejuvenate. Confirm with the studio before you book as their figures can change.
| Cost Item | Typical Australian Range | What To Check |
| Initial Lip Blush Session | AUD 700–1,200 | Is the first review and consultation part of it? |
| Premium Metro Artist | From AUD 1,200–1,500 | Look at the portfolio and correction experience |
| Lip Tattoo Touch Up | AUD 150–400 | There is usually a 6-12 week window |
| Annual Maintenance | AUD 250–700 | Any client discounts for a colour refresh? |
| Dark Lip Neutralization | AUD 900–1,800+ | How many sessions for hyperpigmentation |
| Aftercare Products | AUD 20–80 | Are balm etc. included? |
| Consultation / Patch Test | AUD 0–100 | Can you put it towards the treatment? |
Where Your Money Is Going
One is hard pressed to tell why the lip blush price should vary so much from one studio to the next when they appear to be offering the same service. It is a fair question. On paper there is a machine and an hour of you lying there not overthinking every vibration. In truth the good ones charge for training, sterile consumables, the quality of the pigment and the time to map and match the colour. They also charge for the ability to handle different lip tones and conditions without issue. “Bargain” is an expensive word in permanent makeup.
For The First Session
You are paying for the PMU procedure, numbing cream, pre-draw, shape planning and some aftercare pointers to boot. A few artists will throw in a review, others will not, so do not take it for granted. Then there is the matter of timing. Allow two to three hours at most studios, it is not something you can do in a lunch break and have to factor in parking and getting away from work.
Touch-Ups And Refreshes
One of the most frequently overlooked items on an expense sheet is the cost for a lip tattoo touch up. After the initial procedure it is not uncommon for lips to heal in a softer or more patchy manner than one would like, particularly with dry lips, a history of filler, too much sun or a habit of picking at any flaking.
Most studios will have a protocol that calls for a touch-up some six to twelve weeks hence. Down the line there is also the matter of maintenance or a colour refresh, which is put down to how bold you wish to keep the colour as well as your lifestyle and pigment retention; expect this every 12 to 24 months or so.
Aftercare And Healing
It is easy to dismiss lip tattoo aftercare as something of a formality until you see the effect on your wallet and your results. A certain amount of self restraint is called for when it comes to gym sweat, spicy food, swimming or kissing, not to mention putting in the time with a good balm, a gentle cleanser and drinking straws for a few days.
The likes of Healthline and StyleSeat put out consumer education on the healing process along the lines of what an artist will relay: the lips will look darker before they soften. While surface recovery from a typical lip tattoo is five to ten days, do not be surprised if it is a number of weeks before the result has fully settled. Neglect the aftercare and you could be putting money down for corrections later.
Hidden Costs People Miss
I would like to think more people make a point of reading this part before booking. The errors in budgeting are seldom the obvious ones, but rather the harmless looking extras that add up once you put pen to paper.
Should you be making the trip to a popular city artist or living in the regions, you may find flights, petrol, parking and accommodation are factored into your total. Or if you are in a face-to-face job you might opt to put off some socialising while your lips are in a flaky or swollen state. Call it logistics rather than vanity.
- Travel and parking: a return to a city clinic for review can run you AUD 20–80 in parking.
- Time off work: another consideration for those in the public eye who want a couple of quiet days for the swelling to go down.
- Cancellation fees: studios are apt to hold a deposit as a cancellation fee for late cancellations or if you turn up unwell.
- Cold sore management: if you have a propensity for cold sores, medical advice prior to treatment is in order.
- Correction work: old or uneven pigment that requires correction will also put a premium on the price.
Dark Lip Neutralisation
You should ringfence some budget for dark lip neutralisation. It is not standard lip blushing with a pretentious title; it is an advanced way of dealing with cool, uneven or deeper tones in clients with natural hyperpigmentation or discolouration so that a target colour is possible.
Here expectation has to meet reality. Do not count on a single appointment for the finished article, some require several sessions and all the patience and funds that entails. If a studio offers a low flat fee and will not talk you through the probable number of sessions, press them for answers.
What Changes The Quote
There is nothing unusual about two clients wanting an identical soft pink lip blush and leaving different studios with quotes that are hundreds of dollars adrift. It is a question of complexity, the reputation of the artist and how easy your lips are to put to work.
In my view people are wrong to think a nice portfolio is indicative of equal skill in every case. You learn little from a handful of glossy before and afters about how well an artist handles mature lips or cool undertones, or what the healed results are really like.
Artist Skill And Location
Demand is as thick as sardines in Sydney and Melbourne so overheads are higher and so are the charges of an experienced hand. Top end fees are still in evidence in Brisbane even if the pricing is a tad more amiable. A regional clinic might be less expensive but the travelling will negate any advantage.
Technique And Pigment Quality
The disparity in lip blushing costs can be accounted for by the fact that some artists will take their time to layer colour with premium pigments in a way that causes less trauma. Others have a lower price because they are quicker, employ a simpler technique or offer less in the way of follow up. Neither is necessarily bad or good.
Your Starting Point
A client with healthy, even toned lips will not be in the same budgetary position as one where the treatment plan is complicated by scar tissue, prior filler, sun damage or the need for neutralisation and multiple passes.
Build A Sensible Savings Plan
Plan for the entire treatment cycle as your target, not the figure put out in an advertisement. That is the pragmatic way to do it. Most Australians will find they have to put aside AUD 900–1,600 for a standard lip blush when you factor in the first appointment, the touch-up and aftercare. Do any dark lip work or complex correction and the cost can easily run higher.
One way to handle it is to spread the cost over a number of pay cycles. Not as appealing as making an impulsive booking on a good payday but it is easier on the bank balance.
Budget Examples by City
In Sydney one might set aside a cautious AUD 1,200–1,700 to cover the initial session, touch-up, aftercare and such like as transport and parking. Melbourne tends to be no different with some of the more established cosmetic tattoo artists. A standard case in Brisbane could come in at AUD 950–1,400 unless you are with a premium artist.
Should you have just the one day to make arrangements, put a consultation or a proper pre-booking call before you and do not be in a hurry to take the cheapest slot. It is the beauty world version of following a bush track because the sign gave you confidence; sometimes it is fine, sometimes you are left rough as guts and irritated.
- Have a cap in mind for the whole affair, not merely the session.
- Get pricing in writing from the studio and make sure you know the rates for maintenance, what the deposit entails and any expiry on your touch-up window.
- Leave a buffer of say AUD 150–300 for the unexpected, should you require extra care or have had PMU in the past.
Paying for Hype Versus Quality
The object is to locate an artist who is competent and a good fit for your lips, neither the priciest nor the bargain option. Tristan Marshall would be blunt about it: if a studio cannot put healing or their correction policies in plain terms, then go elsewhere. You want an artist that can put on show some healed work, not only fresh lips under a ring light.
Questions to put to them
Find out if the quote is inclusive of numbing cream, the consultation, aftercare products and what is done in the event of uneven healing. Inquire as to how frequently clients put in an appearance for lip tattoo upkeep. See some results on a lip tone akin to your own.
When you are weighing up Lipblushtattoo.au against Meticulous Brow, Cosmetic Tattoo Melbourne, Eye Art Studio, The Brow Design Co, Tanya Beauty Care or My Rejuvenate, be sure to compare like with like. A lower starting price at one place may mean you are charged for everything else, whereas another studio’s higher fee will cover your touch-up support.
Safety And Policies
Make a point of reading the cancellation terms and putting forward any pertinent health history. With lip procedures cold sore risk is something to consider. Any doubts as to infection control or the safety of a cosmetic tattoo? The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has public health guidance that is worth a look, particularly for those with skin sensitivities or underlying conditions, or if you are pregnant.
Getting Your Wallet and Body in Order
An untroubled appointment is usually put in place beforehand. Disregard the pre-care instructions, have dry and cracked lips or drink the night before and it will show in the healing and your outlay. Before you hand over a deposit, see what the refund position is. On the medical side there should be no secrets about medications or allergies.
For the beginner type who has no patience for maintenance or expects a lipstick substitute for life and is put out by temporary swelling, I would not recommend a lip tattoo.
A Word on Timing
Do not assume all will be well and put a beach holiday or big presentation in your diary for the morrow. While surface healing will sort itself out in a week or so, you need longer for the colour to fully stabilise. Put off the swimming and the sun until later and give your social calendar a nudge.
In short
To budget sensibly for a lip tattoo in Australia, allow for the full arc of it: the first session, the touch-up, maintenance and the fact your lips may not be a textbook case. AUD 900–1,600 is a sound range for most, though neutralisation can be a good deal more.
Book on the basis of value and what you see in healed results, not the lowest cost. You will save yourself the trouble of paying twice for a job that ought to have been done right.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Should A Lip Tattoo Cost?
About AUD 700–1,200 is a fair mark for the first appointment of a standard Australian lip tattoo. With the extras, touch-up and aftercare, many will be looking at AUD 900–1,600.
What Is A Reasonable Budget For A Tattoo?
It is a matter of complexity. All told you may spend AUD 900–1,600 on a simple lip blush. Dark lip neutralization can put you over the AUD 1,800 line if you need more than one session.
What Are The Downsides Of Getting A Lip Tattoo?
You have to contend with swelling, flaking and the odd unpredictability in healing, not to mention the maintenance costs. If your expectations are not in check there is room for disappointment. Colour will fade and occasionally a client will require correction for soft or uneven results.
How Much Is A Lip Tattoo In Australia?
The going rate for a first lip blush is in the region of AUD 700–1,200 these days, although you will see premium studios in the metros asking AUD 1,200–1,500 and up. Then add in the true total of maintenance and aftercare.
How Long Does Lip Tattoo Healing Take?
Five to ten days for the visible part of it. Several weeks for the colour to settle. It is down to your skin, your lifestyle and whether you have heeded the artist’s advice.