The Art of Microblading
Would you like to wake up each day with perfectly shaped eyebrows? Have you heard of microblading, microstroking, 3D brows, eyebrow embroidery, or hair stroke brows? Whether your brows are thin, sparse or uneven, eyebrow tattoo will add fullness and definition thus framing your face for a more polished look.
Microblading is a type of eyebrow tattoo, which means implanting a pigment into your skin with a needle. All the different names essentially describe the same technique where the goal is to create crisp strokes that will resemble natural hair as much as possible.
What to Expect During Your Microblading Appointment?
With microblading, a row of needles (not a blade hence the misleading title) is used to make small cuts in the skin to deposit the pigment. The procedure requires 2 visits. A qualified professional will ask you questions to best determine your goal and will decide on color and shape of your brows based on your preferences to achieve the most flattering look just for you.
The first visit lasts 2 hours and starts with a discussion of the desired look, followed by the brow design using a pencil. After numbing the eyebrows, the actual pigmentation process takes place, which is about 45 minutes to an hour. The second 'perfection' or the touch-up visit is scheduled in about 5 to 6 weeks after the initial procedure. The touch-up visit takes about an hour during which minor adjustments are made based on the healing result.
How Will Your Brows Heal?
When my clients come to my San Francisco permanent makeup studio, I explain to them that the healing period is about 10 days and could be a difficult phase for some people because the eyebrows are likely to scab and appear darker than desired. This is normal and expected. Keep in mind that if the color looks perfect to you immediately after the procedure, it will heal too light because the color fades about 20 to 40 percent once it is fully healed. So hang in there and do not worry about the color for the first month. It will be so worth it in the end! Although the color will get significantly lighter after about 10 days, it will continue to settle in for the next couple of weeks while the skin exfoliates.
Following the before and after care instructions are crucial in making sure that the procedure goes smoothly and the best possible outcome is achieved. You can read the instructions here.
Since every person’s skin is different, the result will vary depending on the skin type. Strokes usually heal very crisp and resemble your natural hair with an exception of oily skin - due to excessive oil production, strokes on oily skin are likely to heal thicker.
Remember - practice makes perfect! Besides the uniqueness of the skin, the result will also depend on the artist's experience. This skill takes time to develop so it is important to go with an experienced microblading artist.
Like all tattoos, permanent makeup also fades - depending on your lifestyle, you will need a touch-up every 1 to 2 years.
To avoid possible complications, always make sure the artist practices in a clean facility and uses high quality, disposable needles and supplies. In my practice I use the absolute best Harmony microblades by Tina Davies. Safety should be of utmost importance!
Is it important to know that not everybody is a good candidate for microblading. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to learn who would not qualify for permanent makeup.
If you think you are a good candidate, please do your research to find the right artist near you!