About Microblading

The whole microblading treatment usually lasts for 2-3 hours, and it is divided into the consultation part, and the actual microblading part. Some artists book the consultations separately from the actual treatment, a few days prior.

The consultations look something like this:

• You will have a chat with your artist and have to tell them what you want. This is the time to express your wishes about the shape and style you want, and for the artist to assess the best pigment color, so it blends well with your natural hairs, and works with your skintone. Don’t be afraid to be vocal about your wishes – you should be able to ask everything you want to know about the treatment itself and the aftercare – but do take the artist’s suggestions into consideration.
• The artist will ask you to sign a consent form, and perhaps some other forms. They may also ask for some information on your medical history. This is standard procedure.
• Then, the artist draws on the future shape of your brows with a pencil, so you get the idea of what they’ll look like. The artist can also draw on the strokes, so you get the idea of how dense they’ll be.
• Finally, once you are satisfied with the look, the microblading process starts.

The microblading procedure itself lasts approximately an hour and a half.

Although this type of eyebrow filling’s permanent, microblading is generally considered a non-invasive treatment, and is safe for most people. That said, it does involve the breaking of the surface of the skin, and thus carries certain risks, mainly the possibility of an allergic reaction to pigments, and skin infections.

Infections are not that common, but they can happen if the tools used are not sterile, or the pigments get contaminated on their way into the skin. They can also develop in the days after the procedure, while skin hasn’t healed.

If you choose a certified artist who works with sterile equipment, and you follow the aftercare instructions they give you, there is nothing to worry about!

The chances of an allergic reaction to pigments are very low, but it’s important to do a patch test before they are inserted into the skin. Likewise, it’s not a bad idea to inquire about the type of pigment used, since some cause allergies more often than others.

Finally, there is a number of conditions that make microblading impossible for some people.

Even though it sounds scary, most clients claim that the microblading treatment does not really hurt.

Numbing gel is applied onto the treated area, so the actual process is more uncomfortable than painful. It’s claimed to be just a bit more uncomfortable than plucking your eyebrows, but it’s nowhere near as painful as getting a tattoo.

The best candidates for getting microbladed eyebrows are people who already have their own natural eyebrow hairs, but want to add color or density to their arches, or modify their shape. Basically, it can replace eyebrow enhancement makeup products.

Microbladed brows are also a great solution for people who don’t have their natural eyebrows, like people with Alopecia, or people who suffer from hair loss caused by a number of reasons (natural hair loss, invasive treatments such as chemotherapy, postpartum hair loss, etc.). By microblading 3D eyebrows, entire arches can be created from scratch.

The treatment works best on people with normal to dry skin, while it is problematic, but not impossible, on oily skin types, since the pigment is often ‘rejected’ by the skin, and the results don’t last as long due to the overproduction of sebum, which literally pushes the pigments out.

• Don’t go sunbathing or tanning for at least 3 days prior to the treatment
• Try not to work out on the day of the treatment
• Stop using retinol or Vitamin A products one month prior to the treatment
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, aspirin, and fish oil supplements for at least 24 hours prior to the treatment
• Don’t pluck or wax your eyebrows at least a week prior to the treatment
• Don’t do any facials at least two weeks before the treatment
• If you’ve had Botox or fillers in the area, wait at least 2 weeks

The success of the treatment and the attractiveness of the results greatly depends on how you care for eyebrows after microblading. So microblading aftercare is a very important part of the treatment. If you don’t follow the instructions given to you by your artist, you’re also risking your health.

Most artists advise keeping the treated area dry for at least ten days after the microblading treatment. Others, on the other hand, claim that washing your brows after the treatment is not forbidden, but it must be done in a certain way which is prescribed by them. You must remove the bacteria, but make sure to do that by gently washing your face and the treated area with an antibacterial soap recommended by your artist.

Also, check with your artist which products are strictly forbidden and avoid using them. After washing your brows, dry them by gently patting with a clean tissue. You will need to do this for at least a week.

Besides that, there is a list of things you need to avoid after the treatment.

• Exposure to the sun
• Swimming in the ocean or swimming pools
• Sleeping on your face
• Working out and sweating
• Saunas or steam baths
• Taking long, hot showers

Always be aware that you mustn’t touch your brows and remove the scabs on your own.

Following these steps as closely as possible is the only way to make your microbladed brows last.

The treated area is very sensitive and prone to infections in the days after the procedure. So it’s forbidden to wear makeup on the treated area for about 2 weeks.

You are allowed to wear it on other parts of your face. However, since makeup can get to the treated area easily during application, wearing, or removal, it is risky to wear it at all during the healing period. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid wearing makeup at all for about 2 weeks.

Extra Tip: If you have a special occasion or a big event coming up, plan the date of your microblading treatment carefully! It will take about 6 weeks for everything to settle.

The healing process lasts for about a month.

1st week: Your eyebrows will probably be swollen and look too dark at first, but after the healing period is finished, they will start getting the desired shape and color. It is vital you follow all the aftercare steps during the healing period. This is also the scabbing period, so be patient and don’t pick at the scabs no matter how itchy they get!

2nd week: After 2 weeks, your microbladed brows will start to look very light and you might feel as if they are disappearing. This is normal, since your skin is regenerating and naturally exfoliating. There’s no need to worry – your eyebrows will regain the color after some time.

4-6 weeks after the appointment: 4 to 6 weeks after the treatment, your eyebrows might look a little patchy and uneven, which is why you need to have the mandatory touch-up. The first touch up is done after the color has fully set in, which is no earlier than a month after the treatment. Its purpose is to fill in the gaps and fix anything you don’t like or want to change.

You will finally be satisfied with the look of your eyebrows after about 6 weeks.

Touch ups are an essential part of the microblading treatment. The first follow-up appointment is non-negotiable. If you try to skip it, the final result might not be as good as you’d expected. Therefore, your artist should schedule your first touch up 4-8 weeks after the microblading treatment. This way, you will fix all the imperfections on your eyebrows if, for example, your skin hasn’t taken the pigment in some spots, or some of it fell off with the scabs.

Other touch ups are not mandatory. However, if you want your microbladed eyebrows to last longer, you should get one at least every 6 months.

Keep in mind that if you have oily skin, it is more likely that your microbladed brows will fade faster, so you might need touch up appointments more often.

Unlike traditional tattooing, which is permanent, microblading is a semi-permanent procedure. The estimated time is 2-3 years, after which the brows fade away as the pigments are broken down by the body.

• First of all, how you treat your microbladed brows is very important. If you don’t follow the aftercare instructions prescribed by the microblading artist, it is very likely that something will go wrong.
• Another important factor is your skincare routine. The lifespan of your microbladed brows depends on the cosmetic products you use, since there are certain ingredients that speed up the process of fading.
• Skin type is another factor. People with dry skin are not only perfect candidates for microblading treatment, but they can also expect their brows to last longer. People with oily skin might need frequent touch ups if they want to prolong the duration of their microbladed eyebrows.

The best thing to do is to book a touch up appointment as soon as you notice that your microbladed brows are fading. If you wait too long, you might need to repeat the microblading process altogether, which requires more time than a touch up, the healing process is longer, and it is more expensive.

Your freshly microbladed eyebrows will look swollen and too dark at first, which is normal. The pigment will gradually settle and fade away slightly, and they will look good after a couple of weeks.

They can be a little bit itchy at first, but you mustn’t scratch them. Be prepared for some scabbing after the treatment, which might be annoying, especially since you mustn’t touch the scabs.

Learn more about effects of scabbing + extra maintenance tips in Microblading scabbing guide.

If you have larger pores or oily skin, the final outcome might not be as good as you’d expected. The pigment will fade away faster.

Besides that, there is a risk of incorrectly done eyebrows or an infection. These are the risks you are taking if you don’t choose a certified and experienced esthetician. If your eyebrows are not even in color, are assymetrical, look unnatural, or you just don’t like them, you might need to find someone more qualified and skilled to fix them. Luckily, this is a semi-permanent procedure, so they will not stay like that forever.

• Swollen eyebrows
• To dark eyebrows
• Itchiness
• Scabbing
• Quick pigment fading (oily skin)
• Irritations
• Infections
• Allergy

Unfortunately, yes, some people claim to have had allergic reactions to microblading treatment. If you are allergic to tattoo ink, you will probably be allergic to microblading pigments, too.

Also, numbing cream or the pigment itself can get into the bloodstream and cause a more severe allergic reactions. Some pigments contain Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is used in hair dye and which some people are allergic to. Luckily, there is a wide range of pigments, so you need to warn your artist about the allergies and make sure they don’t use pigments with PPD.

If you are not sure whether you are allergic to certain pigments or not, the best thing to do is to test the area you want to cover. There are patch tests that are recommended for people who are not sure if they are allergic to a pigment or not. Most artists do them anyway, but in case you’re prone to allergic reactions in general, definitely insist on doing one. Alternatively, you can visit an allergist in order to make sure that the microblading treatment is safe for you.

It is also vital not to apply any cosmetic products or make-up right after the treatment, i.e. before the healing period is finished, because that can lead to an allergic reaction as well, and even infections.

Microblading neither encourages nor prevents hair growth. Don’t be afraid that you are going to lose your natural brows because of microblading – it is perfectly safe.

The pigments used for microblading eyebrows is deposited between the dermis and the epidermis, which makes it semi-permanent.

Naturally, microbladed eyebrows are going to fade in time. It is not really possible to undo or remove them in one move, but removal is possible, albeit time-consuming.