Frequently Asked Questions

Microblading is a form of semi-permanent makeup. The basic technique for Microblading is:

1. After pre-numbing, a sterile blade is used to lightly scratch the skin causing very fine cuts.
2. Pigment is then rubbed into the cuts to deposit pigment just under the first layer of skin. 
3. The cut is then allowed to heal following detailed aftercare instructions, and the result is a thin hairlike stroke.
   
   

Microblading along is not suitable for everyone. If a person bleeds more than normal during this procedure, the extra blood can push the pigment out of the little cuts and cause poor healed results. In these cases Shading is helpful for retention, because there is less bleeding during with the Shading technique.

• Microblading is hairlike strokes. Shading is the background color or gradient similar to makeup. Microblading is ideal for dry/normal skin types with even sparse hairs, and yields a natural daytime look.

• We generally recommend Shading if:
  -You wear brow makeup everyday
  -You have combination/oily skin
  -You have very uneven brow
  -You have previous Microblading (done elsewhere) that needs to be color corrected or covered up

• Book what service you are leaning toward. There is a consult at the beginning of every appointment and to discuss the different styles, your brow goals, and artist’s recommendations. Microblading is done first (except for powder shading appointments) and you can see what that style looks like first before proceeding. The artist will let you know how your skin does with Microblading and what type of healed results you should expect.

• You can then decide to add shading at your initial appointment or if you’d like to see how the Microblading alone heals, you have the option of adding shading at your touch up appointment if desired/needed. It’s hard to know what you want/need and we try to give you flexibility in figuring out what works for you.

Most clients report little to no pain, and would compare it to a tweezing or threading session.  Some clients even fall asleep! Topical anesthetic is applied prior to and during the procedure so the client feels comfortable while receiving the treatment. Anesthetics work better on some people than on others. 

1. Pre-numbing: takes 10 minutes for numbing agents to penetrate skin since it is intact. To make client comfortable and take the edge off.

2. “First pass”:  a very light pass with the Microblading tool to create the brow design. Most clients say their pain is 1-2 out of 10.

3. Secondary numbing gel is used, and works within 30 seconds. Because the skin is open or broken it is able to work quickly. Most clients say their pain is 0-1 out of 10 after the secondary numbing. It can be reapplied throughout the rest of the procedure for your comfort. 

4. “Second pass”: I go over every stroke a second time to make it twice as dark and twice as thick to match your natural hairs

Initial session are 2.5-3 hours.

Your first appointment consists of a consultation prior to getting started, where we review your skin type, discuss your face and brow symmetry with a symmetry app, and discuss the different brow styles. 

We then map the brows according to your facial structure with the golden Phi ratio of balanced proportion. 

Once you approve the brow shape, pre-numbing is applied, and the actual procedure takes an 1-2 hours depending on the service type.

Initial healing is 7-10 days. But don’t expect to see healed color/results until approximately 4 weeks after your appointment. 

Day 1: Fresh brows look a little darker, crisper, and warmer than they will heal. You will be blotting your brows with a wet cotton round regularly throughout the day and use a little ointment at night.

Day 2-5: A thin scab forms on the brows. They look darker and bolder because of the scab. They will not stay this dark.

Day 5-10: The scabs begin to flake off. The brows will seem patchy and will be itchy. Use ointment as needed to help if they are dry or itchy.

Day 11-15 : The brows will look a lighter initially. The skin thickens slightly as it heals and because of this the pigment sits a little farther away from the surface of the skin and appears lighter.

Day 16-30: Skin thins back out to normal, you will start to see more healed details and color will settle in. 

Examples of Microblading Healing Process:

Examples of Shading Healing Process:

Our goal is to have every client enjoy a year of great brows before they feel like they need to come back in for a touch up.

Everyone’s skin is different, but generally combination/oily skin tends to fade and blur a little quicker. 

Services with shading also tend to hold their shape and color a little longer and better than Microblading alone.

Factors that can make your brows fade quicker:

-Oily skin – Natural oils in your skin both fade and blur the hairstrokes over time.  Shading is recommended to help hold the shape for longer retention.
-Frequent exercise – The salt in sweat can purge the pigment from the skin.
-Sun exposure – The sun bleaches everything.
-Lighter pigment – Blondes fade faster than brunettes
-Certain medications 
-Anti-aging skincare products – Retinol/Retin-A products lighten skin and pigments.
-Some acne medications and cream such as tretinoin or hydroquinone.
-Youth – Simply put, the younger/healthier you are, the faster your cells turn over.

We recommend a touch up 4-8 weeks after your initial appointment. 

The 4-8 week touch ups allow the artist to check how the pigment has healed under your skin. We can fix any faded strokes, go darker if the color has healed lighter than desired, or add shading if needed/wanted. Touch up appointments are often shorter than your initial session, lasting 1-2 hours.

Following your initial touch up, most people have touch ups on a more annual basis. Since everyone skin type, lifestyle, and preferences are different. It’s recommend to schedule an annual touch up when your brows start to fade and feel lighter. 

Microblading alone is not ideal for those with oily skin or large pores. If that’s you, consider powder brows or a combination of shading and microblading for better retention and a longer lasting look.

We also do not provide Microblading for people:
-Under 18 years old
-Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
-Who have active skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, eczema or severe acne on the area of treatment, or are prone to keloids.
-Who have autoimmune diseases. (dependent of type and medications, contact before booking)
        -Ok with Microblading – Alopecia, Vitiligo, Celiac, Hashimoto, Graves
        -Not eligible – Lupus, Cronh’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Von Willebrand’s, Sjogren’s
-Who have diabetes, glaucoma, HIV/Hepatitis, skin cancer, hemophilia
-Or if you are taking any immunosuppressant medications or blood thinners (daily).

Other Restrictions & Preparation
-Diabetes (requires doctor’s clearance)
-Chemotherapy (6 months after last treatment, requires doctor’s clearance)
-Accutane (must be off for 6 months prior to appointment)
-Retin-A/Rentiol (must be off 4 weeks prior to appointment
-Antibiotics (must not be on at time of appointment)
-Previous permanent makeup, must be light enough to work over (contact prior to booking)
-No botox, chemical peels 3-4 weeks before or after appointment
-24 hours before: no alcohol, caffeine, fish oil, or blood thinner (aspirin, ibuprofen)
-7-10 days AFTER appointment: no swimming, heavy sweating or exercising, or brow makeupU

Microblading is technically considered a “tattoo” because pigment is deposited under the skin. However it is semi-permanent. While the pigment is permanently deposited under your skin, over time the appearance of the pigment will fade. Microbladed eyebrows last between 6-18 months for most people, before it usually needs a touch up. This can vary depending on the skin type (oily skin fades/blurs faster) and how you take care of the treated area.

The main difference between Microblading and traditional tattoos are:
1) Depth: Microblading/Shading is more superficial than a traditional tattoo in order to achieve crisp hairlike strokes. Because of this Microblading is more susceptible to the natural oils in your skin and your skin cell turnover, both of which cause your brows to fade/lighten and blur over time.
2) Type of pigments used – The inks used for traditional tattoos often contain heavy metals which stabilize colors over long periods of time. Microblading/Shading pigments are not as long-lasting, and are formulated for more superficial depth and to softly fade over time.

Our pigments are of the highest quality and are pre-mixed to match every type of hair color.  We can mix in additional pigment colors to uniquely cater to each individual client, taking into account your undertones and brow style. We match the color of your eyebrow hairs and not your head hair color. 

The Microblading color is matched to your natural eyebrow hair.

If Shading is done in addition to Microblading, a slightly lighter shade is used so you can still see the Microbladed strokes.