Find Out How Microblading Works: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Eyebrows That Don’t Suck
August 19, 2021
Who really wants to spend time filling in their eyebrows anymore? I’m guessing you’re over it. That’s why you’re here right?
Well, we might have the answer to your beauty prayers – Microblading!
Microblading is a semi-permanent form of eyebrow tattooing that is not only going to give you the brows of your dreams but will let you bench the eyebrow brushes and pencils.
Whether or not you’ve heard of microblading, if you’re looking to achieve full and natural looking brows without having to lift a finger, you’re in the right place.
Alright, what exactly is eyebrow microblading?
Like everything else in the beauty and fashion world, even eyebrows succumb to trends. And for the last decade, we’ve seen a shift towards natural looking full brows. Gone are the days of the ‘barely there’ overplucked look of the 2000s, and all we can say is hallelujah!
As the natural looking full brow has become more coveted, the ways in which we can revive our poor eyebrows to achieve this look have become more and more advanced.
Over the last few years, you may have heard terms like semi-permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoos peppering conversations regularly. Well, microblading fits into this realm of semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo treatments that all have the same aim of helping to create those natural and full looking brows.
But, unlike other tattoos, both cosmetic and standard body art tattoos, microblading involves the use of a manual handheld tool, rather than a tattoo gun.
The tool is somewhat like a pen with tiny needles attached. These fine needles are used to ‘scratch’ the surface of the skin to deposit a custom pigment into the skin.
Using the tool, your microblading specialist will expertly ‘etch’ fine, hair like strokes into the skin to create the appearance of realistic hair.
As your brow artist has complete control with their microblading tool, they can truly customise the look of your eyebrows and make very calculated decisions for the placement of each hair stroke. The aim of microblading is to enhance your eyebrows and replace the hair rather than to fill in your brows in the same way a brow pencil does.
This method leads to very natural looking brows that are sometimes referred to as 3D brows because the final result is so realistic.
So, is microblading a tattoo?
Technically yes, however, microblading is significantly less invasive than other tattooing techniques and has been designed to last a long time, but not forever.
In addition to the tools and technique used in microblading, there are a few other major differences between microblading and other forms of tattooing.
The first difference is how deep the pigment is implanted into the skin. Microblading involves slicing the top layer of the skin so that the pigment is deposited between the epidermis and the dermis layers of skin. Whereas when it comes to tattooing, the ink is deposited into the dermis layer to ensure the permanency of the tattoo.
The second difference, which you may have figured out already, is that microblading using pigment rather than ink. Pigment is a less concentrated form of dye which has been designed to fade over time and allows for a more natural looking appearance.
The third major difference is actually caused by the first two differences – and that is the amount of time microblading lasts compared to a tattoo. The pigment used in microblading is actually metabolised by the body. This helps to achieve a more natural finish. And as it is not impregnated into the skin as deep as a traditional tattoo, as your facial skin cells rejuvenate and regenerate, the pigment will fade.
How long does microblading last?
Microblading may not be permanent, but it can be very long-lasting.
The amount of time your new perfectly microbladed brows will last is dependent on a few different factors, like lifestyle, skin type, and how well you take care of your eyebrows. However, for most people, the results will last between 12 – 24 months.
Does it hurt?
People associate tattoos and needles with pain, and while the experience will be different for everyone, microblading is a lot less painful than you might think. Some people may not even experience any pain at all.
Your microblading technician takes measures to make, and keep, you comfortable throughout the procedure, including using numbing cream on the area.
People most commonly describe the feeling as a little bit annoying or uncomfortable, but not painful.
How much does microblading cost?
The cost of microblading can vary from specialist to specialist, from $500 up to $2000. One thing to keep in mind is that you’re paying for experience, training, and qualifications. It’s important to remember – not all microblading specialists are created equal.
What are the benefits of microblading?
So, besides helping you achieve the eyebrows you’ve always wanted, what are the other benefits of microblading?
- Reduces your time spent getting ready each day, not having to fill in eyebrows means more sleep!
- You can swim and sweat all you like and not have to worry about smudging your brows.
- It can save you money on beauty products and appointments. If you’re someone who fills in your brows each day, you can end up spending a lot on cosmetics and beauty tools.
- You can be confident in knowing that your brows are always looking their best.
- If you have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies, you don’t need to contend with as many cosmetic products.
- The natural appearance of microblading makes it a great solution for people who may have alopecia, have undergone chemotherapy, or experienced hair loss.
- It’s an excellent option for people who may have difficulty using their hands, such as from arthritis and MS.
- It can also be a long-lasting option for people who have poor vision and have difficulty with applying makeup.
Why do people choose microblading over other forms of eyebrow tattoos?
People choose to get their eyebrows microbladed over other permanent and semi-permanent eyebrow treatments for a wide variety of reasons, including:
- The results are ultra-realistic and natural looking – the use of the handheld tool, in combination with the fine hair strokes gives the appearance of natural looking brows.
- Works for a wide range of skin types and eyebrows – whether you’re looking to fill in thin or patchy brows, or you want to recreate your eyebrows entirely, this can be achieved through microblading.
- It’s long lasting but not forever – the notion of permanency can be a little daunting. Microblading is going to give you long lasting results and let you put the beauty tools down for a while, but not forever.
So, we know the good things about microblading, what are the downsides?
As you would expect of any permanent beauty treatment, there are some potential cons. If you’re thinking about getting your eyebrows microbladed, some of the things you should consider include:
- It can be pricey. As you might expect, a semi-permanent procedure, performed by a highly certified esthetician isn’t going to be cheap. While the process will save you time, and depending on your current routine, money, it is important to remember that the treatment is exxy. Of course, if you’re spending a lot of money on beauty tools, cosmetics and other appointments, microblading could potentially save you money in the long run.
- Requires touch ups. Microblading is not permanent, and if you want to maintain the results, then maintenance will be required. Usually, these touch ups and maintenance won’t be as costly as your initial treatment and depending on a variety of factors (including skin type and lifestyle), the frequency of these appointments will differ.
- It can be painful or uncomfortable for some people. While your specialist puts lots of measures in place to make you as comfortable as possible throughout your treatment, microblading can be uncomfortable and even painful for some people.
- Allergies can happen. As you are having something injected into your skin, there are some risks of allergies associated with this. Allergic reactions are not common with microblading, but they are possible. A good cosmetic specialist will do patch tests and take measures to understand your medical history and other allergies.
Will microblading work for me?
Microblading has become such a popular procedure because it can be performed on almost anyone. The pigment used in the procedure can be customised to create shades to suit any skin colour and skin tone.
The thing that has the most impact on how well microblading will work for you is your skin type – as in dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, or combination skin. Your skin type can impact how long it will take for the procedure to heal and can also impact how long the pigment may last.
Your brow artist will be able to advise you as to whether microblading is the best option for your skin type.
But, if you’re after more defined, fuller brows, you’re probably a good candidate for microblading.
What to expect during your appointment
Often before you actually have your eyebrow microblading treatment, you will have a consultation with your cosmetic tattoo artist. This part of the process is very important because the whole aim of microblading is to create the ideal eyebrow for you. And while it’s not permanent, it’s still going to be long-lasting, so we want to get this right.
Consultation
During a consultation, you will discuss your eyebrow goals, including the brow shape, style and colour you’re after. Your microblading expert will be able to answer any questions you will have during this time. If you have any hesitations or questions, the consultation is the best time to get answers and assurances.
Microblading Session
Your microblading appointment will start with your microblading artist first drawing the eyebrow shape of your new brows. When creating the shape, your brow specialist will be looking to follow and enhance your natural shape
Once you have approved the shape, you will have numbing cream applied to your eyebrows. Once the numbing cream has started to do its job, it’s time for you to lie back and let your microblading expert work their magic.
During the microblading process, your technician will be creating fine superficial cuts in the form of delicate hair strokes.
The entire process can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 2 hours!
After your appointment – the aftercare
To achieve your desired results, the aftercare of your eyebrows is just as important as the microblading procedure itself.
While the aftercare recommendations may vary from technician to technician, some of the things you should (and should not) do to care for your newly microbladed eyebrows include:
- For up to 10 days, avoid getting the region, especially the brows wet, which includes keeping your face dry while showering.
- For at least a week, try not to wear any makeup.
- Do Not Pick at scabs or itching the brow area.
- Saunas, swimming, and extreme sweating should be avoided until the region has healed fully and you have a follow-up appointment.
- Apply any medicinal cream or healing balm prescribed by your practitioner.
What to expect post-microblading
As microblading involves creating fine cuts in the skin, the healing process takes around 25-30 days to be completed. Initially, your eyebrows and the surrounding region may be a bit tender, however, this feeling generally passes after a couple of days.
Over this period, your eyebrows will darken and lighten in colour, and will show the full final colour once healing has been completed. It’s also common for the skin to flake and peel, and it may scab in some cases.
Some of the things you can expect to see or experience in the healing process includes:
- Days 1-3: Your brows will appear incredibly bold and full on the first day. Although the colour appears to be very dark, take in mind that it will fade over time.
- Days 3-5: Your brows will darken and thicken as the pain and tenderness subsides. Your brows will start to scab by day 5. They’ll be flaky and itch. This is completely normal and indicates that your skin is healing.
- Days 5-8: More scabbing, flaking, and peeling is to be expected. Pick and peel any scabs as little as possible. Instead, let the scabs fall off naturally. The dark hue will lighten as your brows continue to flake.
- Days 8-12: The flaking will gradually stop. The colour will also return.
- Days 12-21: Your brows should be more even and natural in colour. Individual brow hairs will also appear more distinct, giving the impression of feathery brows.
- Days 21-30: Your skin will be entirely healed within one month. There should be no discomfort or suffering. Your brows should be soft and full as well. You’ll probably have a follow-up appointment with your practitioner in a month or two.
Before and After Results
If you’re looking for the clincher to help you make up your mind about microblading, check out these results.
How to find the right microblading specialist
It can be daunting to begin the search for a microblading brow specialist. It’s a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly, after all, microblading is semi-permanent.
You want to find someone who is highly skilled, experienced and qualified, but you also want to find someone who makes you feel comfortable and confident.
And that’s where we come in. Instead of you having to spend hours trawling the internet to find your microblading expert, here at Cosmierge, we do the homework for you. All you need to do is answer a couple of questions and we will match you with a microblading specialist that is not only close to you but is a highly trained and reputable expert. We only partner with professional cosmetic specialists who are highly qualified, highly recommended and have proven results. And the best part is, we do this for free!