What is the average cost for a full lipstick effect tattoo in Australia, and does it include the necessary touch-up session? In most Australian studios, the current price for a full lipstick effect tattoo sits around AUD 700–1,400, and the touch-up is sometimes included but very often limited by a strict touch-up policy. I’m Olha Po, and if you’re comparing quotes, the short answer is this: always check whether the perfecting session is bundled, because that detail can change the real cost by a few hundred dollars.
At Face Figurati in Melbourne, we’re upfront about it: full coverage lips are rarely just a one-off treatment for our clients. We’ve got to say it because studios that try to undercut everyone else with a super-low price on their website are usually hiding something – we’re talking rushed work, cheap ink, or nickel-and-diming clients for aftercare or a separate touch-up session later on.
The Quote: Why It Matters
We get it, price shopping‘s okay, but the cheapest number on a website just doesn’t cut it when it comes to cosmetic tattoos – especially when it comes to getting the whole lip covered. You need a solid plan, good quality ink, some careful technique, and a bit of realistic support for the healing process – you can’t just go around flashing off a ‘before-and-after’ pic and expect it to fly.
Melbourne, in particular, has a lot of clients coming in who were quoted a rock-bottom price elsewhere but only later realised they’d been stung with extra costs for the consultation, numbing, or a second session. That’s just like buying a plane ticket and getting blasted with hidden charges for the seat, your bag and your sanity.
The National Average: A Rundown
The average cost for a full lipstick effect tattoo across Australia is generally:
AUD 700-1k from a newer or mid-level artist – we’re talking people just starting out or with a few years under their belt\
AUD 1,000-1,400 from an artist with a bit more experience or a master technician\
AUD 1,400+ if you’re talking about lip neutralisation, correction work, or more advanced techniques
That’s all based on what we’ve seen with prices and what Aussie studios are charging at the moment, so take it for what it’s worth. Lip blush is usually a bit cheaper because it’s a more subtle, softer look than a full-on lipstick effect.
How Prices Vary Across Cities
Rent’s higher in some places, there’s more demand for certain services in others… it all adds up. Melbourne and Sydney will generally sit at the higher end of the scale, while some studios in Brisbane, Perth or Canberra might be a bit more reasonable – but not always.
| City/Region | Typical Price Range | Touch-Up Usually Included? |
| Melbourne | AUD 900–1,400 | Sometimes |
| Sydney | AUD 950–1,500 | Sometimes |
| Brisbane | AUD 800–1,300 | Mixed |
| Perth | AUD 800–1,300 | Mixed |
| Canberra | AUD 850–1,350 | Mixed |
Studios like Eye Art Studio, The Ink Studio, Sibina Cosmetic Tattoo Art, Elite Look, Lilac Beauty, The Brow Design Co, and Permanently Beautiful all structure their pricing differently, so a direct comparison is not as straightforward as looking at a single price point. In Cosmetic Tattoo Victoria, the wording on a price list is just as important as the numbers themselves.
What You Get For Your Money
A full lip service should feel like a proper beauty treatment, not some quick add-on that you get squeezed in before you run off to do your errands. You’re paying for a lot more than just a bit of colour – you’re paying for the design, the colour selection, the hygiene standards, the time the technician will spend on you, and the follow-up support that you need.
When clients ask me why one lip tint tattoo costs AUD 750 and another costs AUD 1,250, I usually say it’s all about the details. Better studios take the time to explain those details to you before you book in.
What You Can Expect To Get
Most quality studios will include a consultation, shape and colour mapping, the first tattoo session, a local anaesthetic to make the experience as comfortable as possible, single-use sterile cartridges, certified pigments and some written aftercare advice to help you heal quickly. Some studios will also include a follow-up review to check on your progress and maybe even a perfecting session 6-10 weeks after the first one.
At Face Figurati, we tailor the colour to your natural lip base, undertone and facial balance. This is because lip tint vs full coverage is not just a matter of style – it is actually going to change the way the colour looks, how long it lasts and how often you can get away with going back for another session.
What It Can Cost To Go Back For More
The cost of a touch-up session is often charged separately if you miss the ideal touch-up time, want a stronger result, or need corrective work because of work done elsewhere. Neutralising dark lip colour is also usually extra, as it’s a more advanced service and may require more than one session to get right.
You can also expect to pay extra for any cold sore risk management, getting some complex asymmetry sorted out, dealing with scar tissue, correcting old filler migration or sorting out some old pigment that’s gone wrong. This is usually the bit that catches people off guard.
A Touch Up Is Often Essential
The honest truth is that a touch-up is usually necessary when it comes to lips. The skin on the lips heals differently from the skin on the eyebrows, and how well the colour lasts can vary a lot depending on all sorts of factors such as aftercare, how your immune system is doing, the texture of your lips and whether you’re a bit of a lip biter or if you’re forever clutching a cup of takeaway coffee in the Melbourne wind.
So, is a touch-up included in the price of your lip tattoo? Sometimes yes, but often no. You really need to know the answer in writing before you pay any deposit.
When It Might Be Included
If a touch-up is included, it’s usually valid for 6-10 weeks after the first session. If you miss that window, then the touch-up might have to be charged as a colour boost instead.
The included touch-up usually covers routine adjustments during the healing process. It’s not always going to cover major colour changes or a switch from a soft lip-blushing look to a denser lipstick finish.
Typical Extra Charges
You can expect a standard second session to cost anywhere from AUD 200 to AUD 450, if that follow-up is done separately. A colour boost, usually done after 12-24 months depending on how quickly the colour starts to fade, is likely to cost between AUD 350 & 700.
And while one session alone can still make a difference – improving border definition and tone – if you only have one session, you can probably expect a softer result & less even saturation. The thing is, for most people who are after a full lipstick effect, what matters most is getting an even healed colour, rather than looking bold right from the get-go.
What Changes The Price
Not every pair of lips is created equal, and that’s exactly why the price varies from person to person. The technique, the amount of pigment, the natural colour of your lips, and the artist’s level of experience – all these things can affect the final quote.
Over nearly a decade in the studio, I’ve found that many clients underestimate how much a lip colour can affect the treatment plan. If your lips are uneven, or cool, or really dark, it’s almost always going to take more work to get them looking the way you want, compared to someone whose lips are naturally pale and even.
Artist Skill And Technique
When you pay for a master technician, you’re paying for their judgement – not just the time it takes to do the work. Experienced artists are way better at reading undertones, avoiding overworking the border around your vermilion (that’s the red bit), and managing swelling so that the healed result looks soft rather than patchy.
Beginner work might cost less, but I can tell you from experience that the repair bill is rarely cheaper in the long run. You get over-saturation, pigment migration, poor symmetry, and a healed colour that’s all muddy, and that’s expensive.
Starting Point And Suitability
There are certain things that can make it harder for some people to get the results they want from lip tattooing. Dry lips, active cold sores, recent filler, pregnancy, some autoimmune conditions, or if you’ve got unrealistic expectations – this is the kind of thing that might mean you need to delay treatment or avoid it altogether. It’s also not ideal if you’re expecting to get a full-on opaque lipstick in just one pass, because – let’s face it – that just isn’t always going to be possible.
I can tell you from experience that when you have to correct a client who got a lip tattoo lipstick, the problem often isn’t just the colour. It’s that they’ve got poor saturation control. And that can be a real challenge to fix. It usually takes multiple appointments and a higher price tag than if we’d just done it right the first time.
Healing Takes Real Patience
For most people, the healing time for lip tattooing isn’t too dramatic, but there are a few phases that always surprise first-timers. The biggest shock is usually how bold & bright the lips look at first, and then how much they soften once you’re fully healed.
And don’t even get me started on Melbourne weather! The dry air in winter, the wind, the heaters, all that coffee, spicy food – all these things can affect how your lips heal, and how they look once you’re done.
Healing Timeline Guide
| Stage | What You May Notice | Typical Timing |
| Fresh | Swelling, strong colour, tenderness | Day 1–2 |
| Drying | Tightness, light flaking, colour looks darker than uneven | Day 3–7 |
| Settling | Colour looks lighter or patchy | Week 2–4 |
| True Healed Result | Softer, more even tone appears | Week 4–8 |
Most of my clients are back to work the next day with only mild swelling to contend with, but I do advise them to take it easy on treatment day if they’re up to it. The risk of infection is pretty low as long as you’re careful with your hygiene, but it can creep up if you touch the area, use any dodgy products, or ignore the aftercare for your new lip tattoo.
Prep And Aftercare Basics
Keep your lips nice and hydrated for the 7 days leading up to treatment.
If you’ve got a history of cold sores, make sure you’re not in the middle of a breakout when you come in – see a doc if you’re unsure.
Give booze and blood thinners a miss for 24 hours unless you absolutely need them.
Only use the balm we recommend after treatment.
Give spicy food, heavy kissing, pools, saunas & direct sun a miss for the first while your lips are healing.
Pick Substance Over Hype
When you’re comparing prices for lip tattoos across Australia, try to see healed results, not just fresh photos taken under bright lights. A good artist should be able to explain their touch-up policy, pigment choices and how many sessions you can expect to need before committing to anything.
I’m Olha Po, and to me, the bottom line is this: choose an artist whose finished work looks great even after it’s healed, who communicates clearly, and who treats safety as non-negotiable. At Cosmetic Tattoo Studio Melbourne Face Figurati, we’d rather give you a realistic plan than sell you a cheap quote that ends up costing you three extra appointments down the track. Still unsure about whether a lip blush is the right move for you? Contact Face Figurati – I’d be happy to go through it all with you.
FAQ
How much does a lip tattoo cost in Australia?
Its usually between $700 and $1,400 for a full lip service, depending on who you’re working with, where you are, and whether a touch-up is included.
How much is a lipstick tattoo?
A full-on lipstick effect tattoo tends to cost more than a soft lip blush, usually around $900 – $1,400.
Is the touch-up included?
Sometimes, studios include one perfecting session, but others charge an extra $200-$450.
How long do lipstick tattoos last?
Most of them last around 1-3 years before you might need a colour boost, depending on how well you look after yourself, how much sun you get, your lifestyle, and how your skin holds on to the pigment.
How good is a $500 tattoo for your lips?
Honestly, $500 is usually a bit on the low side for a full coverage service and might mean you’re getting a limited service or working with a pretty new artist.