Style August 30, 2017
You'll wake up like what? Flawless.
If you spend 20 minutes filling in your eyebrows every morning, then you understand the dedication to perfect brows.
Thick, full brows are in. And if you’re born with thin brows or if you over-plucked your brows as a teen, then brow gels, stencils and pencils are your saving grace.
But what if I told you you could start saving those 20 minutes for sweet slumber?
It’s true. Microblading could very well be your new saving grace. But if you’ve never heard of it or don’t exactly get it, we’re here to break it down for you.
Simiply put, microblading is the process of tattooing one’s eyebrows to make them appear fuller.
A technician uses a special microblade to cut the skin and fill it with ink. The skin will scab, shed and repeat until it’s fully healed. The process takes about two hours, and it doesn’t hurt as long as your technician numbs the skin beforehand.
It’s a pricey and lengthy process, but it will leave your eyebrows looking fuller and thicker for up to three years.
But don’t rush to make an appoint just yet.
If the process only takes an hour, then your technician isn’t spending enough time on your brow.
The first hour is typically spent outlining the brow with a removable pen. Kendra Bray, founder and owner of Better Brows NYC talked to Us Weekly about the process.
“We draw the outline and it’s very much a conversation because I want the client to be completely comfortable before we move to the next step,” Bray said.
Then, the next 30 minutes are spent allowing the numbing cream to set in. The last 30 minutes are spent actually microblading the brow.
So, you should be in that chair for two hours at least.
You can’t touch your face or get it wet until your brows have healed. The whole point of microblading is to allow your skin to scab, shed and repeat. Moisture, however, will affect the way your eyebrows heal.
So, when washing your face or showering, try to avoid your eyebrow area. Also, if you’re going to wear makeup, try not to put anything around your eyebrows. You may want to use a makeup wipe to remove your makeup so you don’t risk getting your brows wet.
You will experience itching for a while after, but vaseline and an aftercare ointment can help alleviate the discomfort.
Your eyebrows will also be very dark right after you get them done, but the color fades 30 to 40 percent over time.
“Overall they look great right away and you don’t have to hide,” Piret Aava, New York microblading guru, told Elle. “Slight redness and mild swelling is normal.”
Prices for microblading can range anywhere from $500 to $1,600. The most average prices range from $700 to $900. But it is an investment, and you will save time and money on eyebrow products.
If you want the perfect and polished “I woke up like this” look without having to try, then microblading is the way to go.
The initial price includes a second touch up a couple months after the first appointment. The second appointment is important to touch up any parts your technician might have missed due to swelling. So, if you want to make sure your eyebrows are perfect for you, a second appointment isn’t highly encouraged.
An eyebrow tattoo is more permanent than microblading, and it penetrates the pigment deep into the skin. The pigment used for eyebrow tattoos are actually thicker and designed to lighten to a color with blue or pink under tones.
Microblading only slightly penetrates the skin and it isn’t permanent. Also, instead of fading to a strange color, the color just naturally fades away. And what many people love is that microblading is designed to make every strand look like natural, feathered hair.
“Microblading is a form of tattoo artistry where pigment is implanted under your skin with a manual handheld tool instead of a machine,” Aava said. “I draw hair-like strokes with the tool to mimic natural hairs in your brows. Even though it’s not as deep as the regular tattoo, it’s still a tattoo because pigment is implanted under the skin.”
As Western views of beauty start to reflect Middle Eastern trends of thick, dark lashes and eyebrows, more and more salons are creating ways for women to have that effortlessly groomed look permanently. So, if you’re tired of outlining your eyebrows with a pencil every morning, microblading is the type of investment you might want to look into.
