What Exactly is Microblading?

Microblading: All You Need to Know to Determine If It Is Right for You

Isn’t it great to know that the days of razor-thin, even “drawn on” brows are gone! Today, natural and full brows are the “thing” and for those with a deficit of brow hair, there is microblading. And even for those with thicker brows, it is a treatment that can work as a fast and easy fix. As the team at InStyle explains, “Whether tweezers hit you hard in the ‘90s and the brow grow-back never happened, or you just don’t feel like filling in your eyebrows every morning, microblading can be an easy solution for full, perfectly groomed, natural-looking eyebrows.”

Microblading is a confusing term and though it is a common subject in the world of beauty, many are unaware of just what it means to get microblading treatment. In this article, we’ll answer several key questions about it, and ensure you will know whether it is right for you by the end.

We are going to answer these primary questions:

We are also going to explore costs for the treatment and other options such as microshading and microfeathering.

What IS Microblading?

Microblading is a remarkably popular and effective semi-permanent eyebrow treatment. Essentially, it is a tattoo-like technique that is used to create a bit of visual trickery. When done by a skilled expert, it will create the look of much fuller and more even eyebrows.

The way this trickery works is quite simple: The brow artist will use a tool that looks like a combination of a classic Exacto knife and an artist’s pen. The pen’s tip is not a blade, though it has the appearance of one. Instead, it is full of around seven to 16 “microneedles”. These come in different layouts, but the end result is the same – they mimic natural brow hairs and help the brow artist to create the fuller brow you desire.

Related: How To Get The Right Eyebrow Shape for Your Face

So, It’s a Form of Tattooing?

The team over at Allure has a very clear answer when defining all of the variations of microblading – “Call them what you want, but they’re all tattoos.” They then go on to say that the only difference between “a semi-permanent tattoo and a permanent one is how deeply the ink is injected into the skin. The deeper you go, the longer it stays. Traditional body tattoos are meant to last, so artists use electromagnetic coil machines to implant the ink deep into the dermis. Semi-permanent brows are expected to fade, so artists use a digital pen or microblading tool to implant ink more superficially into the skin.”

So, it is “expected” to fade, which is why it is consistently described as “semi-permanent”. This leads many to want to have answers to the next question: How is it done?

Just What Goes On During a Microblading Treatment

As the beauty experts at Harper’s say, true experts will always consult “with clients about the best brow shape for their face and choose a color that matches the natural hair color and skin undertone. The brow area is then cleaned and numbed for the treatment.”

Typically, there will be some paperwork, some time spent consulting and even time between a client and brow artist working together to determine the best shape and color. It is only once everything is organized that a numbing agent like lidocaine (a topical numbing compound), benzocaine, tetracaine epinephrine and prilocaine, is applied to the brow area and the treatment begins.

Most experts create a wonderfully relaxing setting and atmosphere to help a client nervous about the treatment to relax fully. From that point, it will take a skilled brow artist from 40 minutes to an hour to complete the first treatment. As one expert says, though, “It absolutely does not hurt. We’ve mastered addressing the pain during the procedure and strive to make the entire process as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Related: The Only Tool You’ll Need For Perfect Brows

Now What Happens?

So, your brow area is sanitized and nicely numbed. Now what? Typically, the brow artist is going to follow the direction of your natural brow hairs and your facial symmetry, and will use the microblading pen and short, gentle strokes to draw in the individual strands and achieve the desired look.

As a writer from Elle explains, “The process is very precise thanks to the tool that is used which is effectively like a pen with the nib being a sloped blade with 10-12 little needles at the end – needles that don’t penetrate the skin but just delicately scratch the surface, much like a paper cut.

The needle very finely implants featherweight strokes with a medical grade pigment on the epidermis layer for the skin, creating fine, realistic and natural hair strokes.”

They go on to also explain that a client should expect a faint scratching sound rather than any sort of buzz that a standard tattoo gun would create. In other words, it is quiet and tranquil.

After the whole process is finished, specialty ointments meant to soothe and promote healing are applied, and a follow-up visit is booked (typically after four to six weeks in order to “tweak” the original results).

The team at Prevention also explains the immediate results, saying “The day after your appointment, you may see the eyebrow area turn very dark, then it will soften and peel (either lightly like dandruff or patchy in chunks). Finally, the color will look like it disappears and then return… be patient for one full month before being fully healed. At that point, the true color of the brows is revealed.”

And what if you have discomfort or another issue? That falls under the “risks” section, which we’ll consider now.

Related: The Perfect Solution to Illuminate Your Overall Look – Highlight Your Brow Bone!

Are There Any Risks Involved in Microblading?

One of the few issues that have cropped up from time to time is that some people have allergies to ingredients in certain pigments. However, this is extraordinarily rare. Most experts also do a “scratch test” long before they begin treatment to guarantee that no allergies exist.

Other risks include very mild discomfort if the numbing agent fades during treatment. However, it is safe and easy to request your brow artist to make multiple applications of that numbing agent. A client just needs to speak up and indicate a bit of discomfort during the microblading treatment.

Some people also experience a bit of redness and swelling, and this can be due to pre-treatment steps like plucking and shaping as much as reacting to the microblading procedure itself.

Naturally, any time that the skin is penetrated or cut, even shallowly, there is a risk for infection. This is why it is important to follow the brow artist’s instructions for both pre and post treatment care (which we will itemize in a later section, below).

Other than these potential risks, there is nothing else to worry about in terms of pain, reactions or other similar factors.

Does this make it a good treatment for anyone? Actually, no, there are some for whom it may not be the best choice.

Who Is NOT a Good Candidate for Microblading?

The experts at BrowStyling say that there are quite a few for whom microblading may not be the best solution, and they include those:

• Currently using the prescription compound Accutane
• Those with unhealthy skin – i.e., untreated acne, eczema, irritations
• Those unwilling to halt retinol applications
• Those with heart conditions or on heart medications (mostly blood thinning medications)
• Those with diabetes
• Anyone with skin disease or multiple areas of skin irritation present
• Anyone who has had a Botox treatment within the previous 14 days
• Anyone who has had chemical peels in the previous 14 days
• Those who have recently darkened the skin through suntanning or sunbed usage
• Those with allergies to the different topical numbing agents
• Anyone with serious medical conditions, pregnant or nursing
• Those with allergies to gold, silver, nickel, hair dye and some topical makeup ingredients will want to consult with a physician

Related: Get Your Brows to Look Instagram-Ready

It is important to remember that anyone who might hesitate to have a tattoo done will also want to consider their personal risk factors if considering microblading. For the most part, they are safe for all. It is simply the risk of slow or difficult healing (such as those with diabetes), allergies, medical issues, or skin color that is not the same as what the client has most of the time, that negates microblading as an ideal beauty solution.

That is fine because there are many salon options for shaping and coloring brows that can be used for short-term and ongoing solutions. Of course, it is the length of time that microblading lasts that makes it so popular.

How Long Does a Single Microblading Treatment Last?

The shortest and simplest answer to that question is: Not forever. Of course, that is why it is called semi-permanent. The glitch with a single answer here is that the length of time varies from person to person. You may see your results last two years, someone else just a single year, and still another might enjoy three years of flawless brows. That is because the amount of time it lasts is determined by:

• The person’s skin type (those with oily skin typically have the shortest amount of time between treatments as oily skin sheds the pigment so quickly)
• The individual’s lifestyle
• The amount of exposure to sunlight
• Daily products applied to the face
• Individual reaction to the ink or pigments used

Most brow artists advise clients to do the follow-up visit for any adjustments and then get on a touch-up treatment (for the color) every six months. Shaping and plucking may need to be done on a regular basis to keep the clean look of the treatment, too.

Of course, the durability of the treatment also depends on the client’s dedication to both pre and post-treatment care.

How to Prepare and Take Care of Your Microblading Treatment

If you determine you are a good candidate for microblading, you can achieve even better results by preparing ahead of time for the treatment: Do this by:

• Skipping tanning for two weeks
• Avoiding chemical peels for two weeks prior to treatment
• Consider stopping the use of vitamins and aspirins, as well as alcohol for 72 hours ahead of time as they can thin the blood and slow healing

You will also want to think of getting your skin in prime condition beforehand as that allows the brow artist the best control and results.

Afterward, you can ensure optimal healing and the best looks by following these common steps:

• Within two hours of treatment, clean the brow area and moisten to wipe away healing balm and any built-up materials. Pat dry and reapply the balm
• Use the healing balm both morning and night for a full week afterward
• Keep the brow area as dry as possible for 14 days, even when washing the face twice daily – do not use peels or scrubs on the brow for 14 days, as well
• Do not use make up on the brow for 14 days as it will still be an open wound
• Do not peel, itch or pick at the area as this could remove pigment
• Skip suntanning and swimming for 14 days

Keep in mind that you can also guarantee yourself the best outcome by finding out about your brow artist. As one expert said, “A common misconception is that every microblading artist is the same… Before your appointment, read reviews, look at images of before and afters, and choose your artist wisely.” Be sure they use cosmetic grade pigments, have a state license and some sort of certification from a group like “the Society of Permanent Cosmetics Professionals or the American Academy of Micropigmentation.”

And What Will This Cost?

Estimates vary and will depend on your geographic location as well as the prestige and skill of the brow artist, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,500 or more for initial treatment, plus after treatment touch-ups.

If you are not sure you are ready to commit, you can try microfeathering, which Glamour describes as “a technique created (and trademarked) by eyebrow artist-to-the-stars Kristie Streicher. She’s best known for her feathered brow, a no-needle shaping method that’s all about a natural, fluffy-looking brow. This is similar to that, but with pigment. Like microblading, she uses a fine blade to create tiny incisions.”

It doesn’t have the same low maintenance or long staying power of microblading, though.

Microshading is also an option, and again, Glamour says it is “Microshading technique is done using either an electric hand tool or a manual tool, which creates a soft, powdered effect that resembles eyebrow powder… Instead of the hair stroke typical with microblading and microfeathering, microshading employs a stippling method, which uses repetitive dots of pigment.” It can be used with microblading, or on its own and is for those who want thick but filled in brows.

In Conclusion

Now that you know your options, start looking for an array of brow artists offering microblading. Compare what you discover about them and what you’ve learned here to make the best choice and enjoy low maintenance, good-looking brows right away.

More Great Microblading Resources:

Microblading Cost & Price Range: Is it Worth it?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Microblading Prevent Hair Growth?