The Magic of Permanent Make Up by Dawn Cragg MBE (re-posted by popular request)

These heart warming photos show a couple who have been in a long term relationship but who only got married April 2012.



Before the procedure-
eyebrows drawn on by the client

The reason? Gemma didn't have any eyebrows due to suffering from a type of alopecia and at one time lost all of her hair and eyebrows. Her hair grew back but her eyebrows did not. For years, Gemma had been getting up at 5:00am to paint them on, and living in daily fear that her brows would melt or rub off. 

Before procedure-
Make up off



This fear had ruled her life for many years. Her spectacle frames were chosen to appear as eyebrows should the pencil disappear. Gemma would not agree to marry Graham (although over the years they have produced four beautiful children) in case her eyebrows disappeared on her wedding day.

Then a year ago her mother, the owner of Trudy’s Kitchen in Retford persuaded her to see Dawn Cragg MBE, a professional in both artistic and permanent make up. Gradually, over the last 12 months a transformation took place.


Immediately after the procedure

Dawn tattooed eyebrows for Gemma. After a few months when she realised that they were there to stay, Gemma exchanged her spectacles for contact lenses.



On her first informal meeting with Gemma, Dawn made a promise that when Gemma felt confident enough to walk down the aisle, her wedding present would be that Dawn would be her make up artist on her special day.

These picture show what a difference the make over has made to Gemma and, of course, her eyebrows will be there indefinitely.

It is wonderful that although applying make up everyday for most is just "The thing to do.", when for others it can change their lives forever,

Dawn would like to thank Gemma and her family for their cooperation with this feature which will raise awareness to others with Alopecia, that there is help available.