If you're a lipstick-every-day kind of girl, then a lipstick tattoo might be right up your alley. The process can be rather painful, but you might find the hurt worth it for the sake of tinted, well-defined lips. Read on to decide whether a lipstick tattoo is right for you.

Techniques
You can opt to have your lips filled in all over with a tattoo -- sort of like lipstick -- or just the very edge of your lips -- like lip liner. Semi-permanent lip liner might sound like a recipe for disaster, but don't worry. With the right touch, it's just a super thin outline that sits right on your natural lip line.

Many semi-permanent makeup artists use a technique that falls between these two styles. For a seamless blend between the tattoo and your natural color, they apply the darkest pigment to the edge of your lips and fade it to increasingly lighter shades as they move inward. The inside of the lips is left untouched.

Costs
It's not unusual for lipstick tattoos to cost around $1,000, and a required second visit might not be included in that base cost. Additionally, you'll need the occasional touch-up, so factor in a few hundred dollars for each of those.

Candidates
Lipstick and lip liner tattoos are perfect for anyone who's tired of constantly reapplying lip products throughout the day, every day. These tattoos additionally help improve the shape of lips, making them appear fuller, more symmetrical, and darker.

Lip tattoos often don't work as well for people with darker skin tones, however. The pigment sometimes reacts unpredictably. For that reason, some technicians won't do lip tattoos on people with darker skin.

Duration
Many semi-permanent makeup artists use pigments instead of regular tattoo ink. Pigment gives a softer look but doesn't last as long. In fact, you may need touch-ups as often as once a year. Other technicians, however, claim that their work will last for five years or even 10.

Keep in mind that natural colors fade out more quickly than darker ones. For longer-lasting results, go a few shades darker than your lip color.

Risks
Semi-permanent makeup is, well, semi-permanent. Barring laser removal, you're going to be stuck with what you get for quite some time. Therefore, it's imperative that you do your research before settling on a technician.

Of course, as with any tattoo, there's always a risk of infection. That's just one more reason to have your lipstick tattoo done by a thoroughly vetted pro.

If you're prone to cold sores, be sure to keep up with your medication for about a week before the procedure. Otherwise, the tattooing process might cause a flare up.

Tips
Some people say the procedure is painful while others say it's more like a tickle. If you're concerned, ask about numbing creams or other anesthetics.

Your lips will crack and peel as they heal. The color will also get darker before fading to its final shade. Accordingly, you might want to schedule your appointment for the end of the work week so you can be home for a few days after the procedure.