Microblading: Here’s What You Need To Know
Microblading is a popular trend in the beauty industry right now, but what exactly is it? If you’re considering changing the look of your brows through microblading, it’s important to do your research first! Getting the shape you want for your brows is a big deal, and this list contains all the important information you need to know about what micoblading is, what to expect, and how to prepare before you make your appointment.
1. What is it?
Microblading is a process that is often mistaken for brow tattooing. While it is a very similar technique, the two procedures yield different results. Microblading is a procedure that alters the look of your eyebrows through a technique using a small, blade-like tool to pigment the skin through very small incisions throughout the brow.
It looks a lot like getting a tattoo, but microblading is not permanent and the blade does not go as deep into the skin as with tattooing, which allows for more natural-looking lines resembling hairs. It is a costly procedure, typically costing between $300-$800 dollars and takes about 1 1/2-2 hours from start to finish.
2. It’s Not For Everyone
Microblading may not be a good fit for everyone, and that’s okay! If you’re sensitive to pain, have sensitive skin, have scarring or injury to your brows, or have allergies, this may not be the best procedure for you and it may be smart to look at other brow treatments for changing your brow look. Some people use numbing creme before starting the microblading process, but others don’t for various reasons so be prepared for a little pain if your artist opts not to use any numbing creme.
It’s also important to note that just because your bestie got her brows microbladed and is super happy with the results, that you will have the same results or be as satisfied. It’s different for every persona and it’s important to go into a consultation with an open mind and remember not to base your expectation off of other people’s experiences or results!
3. Research The Shape You Want Beforehand
it’s really important to do a little research and think about what kind of shape and look you want for your brows before going in to get them microbladed. You want to be able to communicate to your artist what look you’re going for! It’s always a good idea to bring in some photos of what you would like your brows to look like so that you and the artist can work out a plan for executing that look or one that works best for your face shape. Take into consideration if you want to stick with your natural brow shape or if you’d like to create a new shape as well as what pigment color you’d like!
4. Your Hair Will Still Grow
Microblading doesn’t stop your natural hair from growing. The added lines and pigmentation from the procedure are usually intended to add fullness to the brows in addition to your natural hair growth. You may need to trim or maintain your natural hair after microblading to keep them in like with the end result of the procedure, especially if you use microblading to alter the shape of your brow. The procedure will not damage your natural hair growth, so don’t worry about that!
5. Research Your Artist
It’s so important to look into different artists to pick the best fit for you, especially if it is your first time getting your brows microbladed. You hope for the best but it’s not impossible to end up with an artist who messes up, doesn’t deliver the vision you present them with, or is unprofessional and doesn’t work with you for the best results possible.
To avoid being unhappy with your microblading experience and results, it’s always a good idea to research artists first! Check to see if they’re on social media or have a portfolio of their work you could look through. Reading reviews and going in for a consultation helps you get a better feel for the artist too!
6. Risks
It’s always important to understand the risks of any procedure before going through with it, and microblading is no exception! While your artist should cover all risks with you beforehand, it’s still good to have an understanding of them when you’re deciding to schedule an appointment or not. With most procedures, there can be negative reactions to microblading, such as an allergic reaction or sensitive skin flaring up.
Since microblading breaks the skin, there is also a risk for infection if the tools are not properly sterilized or if the brows are not treated properly following the procedure. These may not occur for everyone, but each experience is different!
7. Healing
Healing after your microblading session can look different for every person depending on skin type and other factors. To be totally healed it usually takes a few weeks or about 20-30 days, and in the first week or two, your brows will change in color! After microblading, your brows will appear several shades darker than you expect because of how the pigment works when it is applied. Over the first week or two, the pigmentation should fade significantly until it reaches the shade that you expected when you got them done.
You should also expect some tenderness after the procedure for a day or two depending on how sensitive your skin is and some flaking and itchiness will occur a few weeks after – totally normal! The results should last a little over a year and you’ll typically need touch-ups every 6-12 months after that.
