You may have seen it pop up on the Explore page of Instagram; Before and after pictures of eyebrows, the former an image of normal ole brows, the latter all Kardashian’d up svelte af forehead caterpillars. Microblading. It is the newest, hottest eyebrow trend and it is not difficult to see why.
In many cases, the difference is stark. If you’ve tried just about every pencil, gel, powder, and wax spot out there and find yourself absolutely fed up with these options, microblading may be for you. If you are unsure about what it actually is, read on.
Microblading is a form of tattooing
Microblading whiz Piret Aava explained to Elle that unlike a regular skin tattoo, “microblading is a form of tattoo artistry where pigment is implanted under your skin with a manual handheld tool instead of a machine.”
She draws hair-like strokes to mimic natural eyebrows, using a tool to inject pigment closer to the top layer of skin.
You have to prep for the procedure
Aava warns against using retinol, booze, and aspirin for a week prior to the treatment. “Retinol makes your skin thin and then you bleed a little more. Avoid blood thinners, aspirin, and alcohol.”
What is the procedure like?
The treatment itself is a meticulous process that can take up to two hours to complete. Says microblading expert Nadia Afanaseva, “The first hour we’re drawing the shape in with removable pencil. That’s the longest part and the most important step. During this time, the best customized shape for every client is chosen.”
She also explains that typically, a numbing cream is applied to the area in order to minimize pain. Although some discomfort may occur, the procedure is “relatively painless.”
Microblading is expensive
The first treatment of these semi-permanent brows starts at around $800. You can get them for cheaper, but I’m begging you not to. Just as with any body modification, cutting corners could cost you a lot more than a couple hundred bucks.
On the upside, it is a super low maintenance beauty mod to have. No special care is required…no smudging, ever! Once healed, the brows last for up to three years during which you’d have to go back for a touch-up every 6 months to a year, depending on your skin routine and lifestyle.
What about afterwards?
The healing process usually takes anywhere from 3 weeks to a month, during which time clients are strongly discouraged from exposing their fresh brows to any type of moisture. This means no sweating and no washing your face with water. The brows typically fade 30 to 40 percent after the initial treatment, so don’t worry too much if they look super dark at first. “Overall they look great right away and you don’t have to hide. Slight redness and mild swelling is normal,” says Aava.