Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup (SPMU) technique that is used to mimic natural hair strokes and create the illusion of fuller brows. Microblading differs from tattooed eyebrows as the treatment is done with manual pigment implantation into the upper layers of the skin.
The Microblading Process
Before you book in any SPMU treatment its very important to do your research! Find local technicians who offer microblading, check out their social media to see pictures of their work, reviews etc. Do any of your friends or family have their eyebrows microbladed? Who did they use? Do they recommend them?
After you have found a suitable permanent makeup clinic, its important to ensure that they are registered with your local council and hold appropriate licenses and insurance. In the UK, it is against the law to offer SPMU treatments without registering with your local council and holding a license with them. Here at The Brow Executive we are fully registered and licensed with Middlesbrough Council and hold the appropriate insurance with Salon Gold.
Once you are happy to go ahead with your chosen technician, you will be booked in for a consultation, some offer it in person and some offer online consultations. Consultations are highly important to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for SPMU and so that the technician can get a full understanding of what you are hoping to achieve from the service and they can offer you advice and guidance on your new brows.
You should be informed of the pre-treatment care, what to expect after your treatment, the healing process and the aftercare you will be following. Ensure you are ok with following these steps as they will impact on the healing and pigment retention of your brows. SPMU is 25% pre-care, 25% the treatment, 25% aftercare and 25% maintenance. As you can see, it is just as much your job to care for your new brows as it is the technician creating them for you!
A patch test should be provided at this point to ensure that you do not have any reactions to the pigments used. Usually, patch tests will be done with a small pierce made behind the ear with a sterile lancet which allows the pigment to enter the body as it would during the actual treatment.
Unsuitable candidates for microblading are:
Pregnant or nursing
Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation (will need medical clearance)
Taking blood thinners
Pigment or metal allergies
Haemophiliac
Diabetic (will need medical clearance)
Prone to keloid scarring
Active skin conditions in the treatment area
Suffering with active bacterial or fungal conditions
Have had botox/injectables in the treatment area within 2 weeks prior to your appointment
Epilepsy
Sunburn in the treatment area
Taking steroids or antibiotics (please wait 1 month after finishing your treatment)
Taking accutane (Please wait 1 year after finishing your treatment)
Abnormal heart condition (will need medical clearance)
Very oily skin
Under the age of 18
Have existing SPMU in the treatment area (contact the technician first)
Any blood-borne diseases such as HIV or AIDS
After your consultation, you will usually pay a booking fee to the technician to secure your appointment (this will vary dependent on the business). Once you have secured your date, its important to ensure that you follow all treatment pre-care (outlined at the bottom of the page). As mentioned previously, failure to do so could result in you being denied treatment as this will affect the healing and retention of pigment.
On the day of the treatment, you can numb the area with some topical numbing cream which should be applied before you arrive at the salon. Applying numbing cream will help you to have a more relaxing treatment as there is no need for you to be in any pain or uncomfortable throughout the process!
Before the treatment begins, your technician will have a chat with you just to re-discuss what your main concerns are with your current eyebrows and what you hope to achieve from the treatment. After this, your technician will begin the mapping process. Your eyebrow shape, length and arch is mapped out using your current eyebrows (if any), your eyes, pupils, nose and mouth to get the perfect dimensions for your face shape and structure. Your technician will show you the mapped out shape and explain to you where the new hair strokes will be implanted before the treatment begins. At this point you are able to make any adjustments and check over the shape to ensure you are 100% happy. This can sometimes be timely but its vital to ensure that you are definitely happy with the proposed brows and that they are evenly placed on your face.
After the brows have been mapped out, the technician will remove any excess hair outside of the new brow shape using a disposable brow razor. There should be no waxing, epilating or plucking as this can make the skin sensitive.
Choosing the correct pigment is very important with SPMU. The pigment used by your technician should be compliant with pigment rules and regulations within your country. As pigments are implanted into the skin, the pigment used will be based on your hair colour, skin undertones and age. The undertones of your skin will determine the way the pigment will heal, age can also play a factor into this. For example, a cool toned pigment should not be used on someone who has blue/cool undertones in their skin as this will likely heal a very cool, ashy and unnatural colour - which is not the look we are going for with microblading. Skin undertones are separated into three categories: warm, cool and neutral. We can workout a suitable pigment for you using The Fitzpatrick Scale.
Now, you will be ready to begin the treatment! The first pass will put the skeleton strokes in your new brow shape and this provides the outline and structure of your new brows. After this, the secondary strokes will be added as the shape is built up around the skeleton strokes. Your brows will then be flooded with pigment in between passes to allow it to seep into the hair strokes. Usually, each hair stroke will have a second (and sometimes a third) pass with the needle to ensure that they are implanted at the correct depth within the skin. Hitting the correct depth within the skin is vital to ensure the correct healing and retention of your new brows.
As with all SPMU, bleeding should be minimal throughout the treatment as the pigment is implanted in the upper layers of your skin. However, some people may be more prone to slight bleeding if they have thinner blood. If the treatment pre-care has not been properly followed this could result in thin blood due to caffeine, alcohol, blood thinning medication etc. If you are excessively bleeding, your body may find it difficult to retain the pigment.
Once your treatment has finished, you will go through a 28 day healing process before returning 4-6 weeks later for your top up appointment. Your top up appointment is vital as this is when we can see how well your body has retained the pigment and touch up any areas where may be necessary.
After your top-up appointment, you will go through the 28 day healing process again. Some individuals may require a third top up dependent on your skin type and how well you have retained the pigment. You will be able to determine if you require an additional top up after you have fully healed from previous treatments.
Your new semi-permanent brows should then last you around 12-18 months before an annual top up is required. Your technician cannot forecast how your body will react to the pigment or how well you will retain it. Your daily lifestyle, products used, skin type, excessive sweating, sunbeds etc can all affect pigment retention and its important that you understand this before going ahead with the treatment.
Based in Teesside, The Brow Executive is your local brow expert. If you are interested in having your eyebrows microbladed, please do not hesitate get in touch with us. Prices from £200 including your 4-6 week touch up appointment. Contact us today for more information.
Treatment Pre-Care
Please do not have any injectables or dermaplaning within the 2 weeks prior to your treatment as they can increase skin sensitivity.
• If you have been taking Roaccutane you must have stopped taking these for atleast 6 months prior to your treatment.
• You must ensure that you do not have any coldsores on the day of your treatment. If you do develop any prior to your treatment you must contact Emily to re-arrange for when they have healed.
• If you have any bacterial or fungal infections please contact Emily to re-arrange your appointment for when the infection has cleared.
• Please leave 2 weeks between using any Retinol, AHA, BHA, Glycolic or Retanin A products before your treatment is carried out as they can increase skin sensitivity.
• If you suffer from any sunburn in the area which is to be treated please contact Emily to re-arrange as any irritated or inflamed skin should avoid any abrasive treatments until fully healed.
• Steroids and antibiotics can make the skin more fragile therefore any abrasive treatments can result in cuts, abrasions or damage to the skin. Please wait 1 month after taking any steroids or antibiotics to have your treatment.
• If you have an active skin condition in the area which is to be treated you must contact Emily to re-arrange as no treatment can be carried out on those areas as it can be sensitive and painful. Please wait till the skin condition is no longer active in that area.
• Please do not drink any alcohol, or take any recreational drugs in the 2 days prior to treatment as this can affect your blood and the healing process.
SPMU Post-Procedure Instructions
Your skin will be temporarily sensitized after the treatment and you should adhere to the following instructions for the next five to seven days. This will help to eliminate the risk of infection and will allow time for your skin to recover.
Please refrain from:
- Touching the treated area
- Using soaps, cleansers, creams or makeup on the treated area for 5 days
- Facial treatments – including eyelash or eyebrow tinting or tweezing, electrolysis, waxing etc.
- Any abrasive products, rough towels or similar.
- DO NOT TOUCH or PICK the small scabs that may appear after the treatment. Healing will take up to one week, and it is perfectly normal for the treated area to scab or flake. These scabs/flakes will fall off naturally within a few days. Picking at the scabs can result in un-even healing.
- Taking hot baths, saunas or any other treatments. The treated area should be kept as dry as possible.
- No exercising or excessive sweating for 14 days.
- Sunbathing, using sunbeds or swimming for 14 days.
- Using any form of bleach or depilatory products.
- Should an infection occur, seek medical attention.
- Expose the treated area to UV rays.
- Use makeup other than the recommended aftercare products.
- Going for any laser or IPL treatments.
- Inform any medical practitioner of your microblading if undergoing an MRI scan.
- Use a clean, dry towel and change your pillowcase frequently.
Please follow this routine for the first 7 days:
- Wash face with clean luke warm water and pat dry with a clean towel taking care not to rub the brow or apply any soap to the area. Please keep your brows as dry as possible.
- Apply the aftercare balm supplied using a clean cotton bud each time. Only use a very small amount of this.
- Clean the brows with fresh clean water and a cotton pad every evening before applying the cream.
What to expect after your treatment
• The treated area may show some redness, and a little swelling, the colour may look dark and intense – this is quite normal and will subside.
• The first few hours following your treatment the area may produce a yellowish or clear water which is lymphatic fluid (plasma), this should be VERY minimal as the blade does not penetrate as deep into the skin. This fluid and sometimes a little blood will form a scab together with some of the pigment, you must NOT pick if this happens. Just leave your skin to heal naturally.
• You will go through three healing phases: 1- heal, 2- peel (superficial), 3- fade. With hand method the pigment is not placed as deep within the skin as it would be with a machine or traditional tattooing, the healing will be faster and there is little peeling.
• The colour will fade by up to 40% after the first 4 weeks.
• A follow treatment must be scheduled within 4-6 weeks.
• Immediately after the treatment the colour will be the darkest and sharpest, this will subside and become softer and more natural over the next 14 days.
• As with electrolysis, the National Blood Service does not accept blood donations for one year after semi-permanent cosmetic enhancement.
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