Faded

Curious about how laser tattoo removal actually works? This episode covers the step-by-step process, from the first session to the last, and explains why each stage matters for your skin’s recovery. Find out how factors like tattoo saturation, body location, and your own health can affect the timeline. Studio Kiku founder Billy DeCola breaks down common mistakes, what to avoid, and how to set real...

Thinking about laser tattoo removal? Not so fast. In this episode of The Faded Podcast, Studio Kiku founder Billy DeCola breaks down the types of tattoos you should think twice about lasering - especially those with white, red, or hybrid pigments. Billy also explains the real risks involved for darker skin tones and what actually happens during the removal process. From pigment science to unexpect...

In this episode of the Faded Podcast, we welcome Yani Sordo, a Langley, BC–based permanent makeup and tattoo artist, to share both personal and professional experience with PMU and its removal. She walks through a botched lip-blush that left dark, patchy pigment and breaks down the realities, risks, and results of laser and saline removal. We dig into test spots, oxidation, and why she now favors...

Some tattoos just won't budge. You've had multiple laser sessions, spent hundreds of dollars, and that stubborn pigment is still sitting there, mocking you. After 15 years in tattoo removal at Studio Kiku, I've seen plenty of cases where laser technology reaches its limit. That's when we need to talk about the last resort alternatives. Today I’m talking about saline removal, the technique we turn...

If you've ever watched a laser tattoo removal video online, you've probably seen it - the moment the laser hits the tattoo, a white, cloudy layer appears on the skin. It looks dramatic, almost like snow settling on the tattoo. This is called "frosting," and it freaks people out the first time they see it. After many years of zapping tattoos, I've seen plenty of confused faces when that white layer...

You're scrolling through before-and-after photos of permanent makeup removal, and suddenly you see it - someone's eyebrows that have turned bright red or yellow mid-removal. Now you're wondering: is that going to happen to me? At Studio Kiku, this is hands down our most asked question. People email, call, and slide into our DMs asking the same thing. In this episode, I’m going through why this hap...

Hair loss is tough enough without having to deal with a botched scalp micropigmentation job on top of it. SMP is supposed to give you back your confidence. When done well, it helps to create the illusion of a hairline or stubble, and it can be life-changing. When it's done poorly? It can be devastating. I've seen what bad SMP can do to people. I've also seen how proper laser removal can get their...

Walk into any tattoo removal clinic these days and they'll tell you they use a "pico laser." Sounds impressive, right? The problem is, not all pico lasers are created equal and some aren't even truly pico at all.  In this episode, I take a look at what you actually need to know about pico technology and why the speed makes such a difference. What to ask before you book Don't just accept "we u...

People walk into Studio Kiku with the same questions every day. After 15 years of zapping tattoos, I've heard them all. When you're considering tattoo laser removal, you want to know what you're signing up for, and I totally get that. In this episode, I’m going to give you answers to the five most frequently asked questions that we get here at Studio Kiku. If you're considering removal, find someo...

Permanent makeup seemed like such a good idea at the time.  Wake up with perfect brows, skip the daily routine, never worry about smudging again. But now? Maybe your brows look outdated, or the shape isn't working for you anymore, or perhaps they've faded to an unflattering color. The good news is that permanent makeup can be removed. The reality is that it's often more complicated than remov...

Your skin has just been hit with intense laser energy. It's going to look angry, feel tender, and probably have you questioning whether this was a good idea. This is completely normal. The next few hours and days are crucial for how well your skin heals and how effective your treatment will be. Get the aftercare wrong, and you could end up with complications, slower healing, or less effective resu...

Have you ever found yourself staring at an old tattoo, wondering what possessed you to get that particular design? Maybe it's that ex's name, or perhaps that design that seemed like a brilliant idea at 2 AM.  You're not alone.  Many of us look back on our choices and wish we could hit an undo button. Luckily, laser tattoo removal offers just that. An eraser for past decisions inked on ou...

So you've stumbled across a podcast about laser tattoo removal. Maybe you're here because you've got some ink you're reconsidering, or perhaps you're just curious about how the whole thing actually works. There's a lot of rubbish information floating around out there about the process of laser tattoo removal. People Google "tattoo removal" and end up with everything from home remedies involving le...