Beauty gurus like to say that eyebrows are the key to framing your face and drawing attention to your eyes, and it’s true that a finely-manicured browline can elevate your beauty. The only problem is that some of us are not as blessed in the eyebrow department, whether from having sparse hair or light-colored hair. So, how can you achieve your ideal brow look without using messy cosmetics? At Bentley Skincare & Wellness & Wellness in Springfield, MO, we believe most patients can benefit from microblading treatment.
What Is Microblading and How Long Does It Last?
Microblading is an aesthetic treatment that darkens the pigment of the brow and contours the brow into your desired shape. You can generally expect the results of your treatment to last anywhere from 18 to 30 months at a time, depending on your skin tone, skin type, receptiveness to pigment, and your ideal aesthetic image.
How the Treatment Works
Similar to tattooing, microblading treatments consist of using a small, thin microblade to deposit ink into the spaces between your natural eyebrow hairs, which has the effect of creating naturally fuller-looking eyebrows. One of our skilled technicians will carefully map out the best areas to place the pigment so that your results are exactly as heavy as you want them.
The treatment itself will consist of a thorough consultation so your technician can understand your desired eyebrow appearance, and the treatment will take about 30 minutes to complete for both eyebrows. Any subsequent treatments, such as those for touch-ups, will take about one hour.
Ideal Treatment Frequency
In a perfect world, your eyebrow treatment will last for at least two years without any interference. However, factors such as your skincare routine, your age, and the depth of your selected pigment, may mean that your treatment will involve touch-up appointments to maintain the desired results. Touch-ups are generally done once every six to 12 months as needed to extend the results of the treatment.
What Are Results Like?
The results of your treatment will be immediately noticeable because the treatment produces an instant fullness to the browline. However, your best results will occur after your skin has fully healed from the treatment, which will take between seven and 14 days. Some patients require about one month for the pigment to fully settle and heal within the skin.
In terms of your practical time planning, this means that you should schedule your initial and touch-up treatments at least three to four weeks before any special events in your life.
Do You Need to Do Anything to Prepare for Treatment?
Although this is a treatment similar to a tattoo, you will find that you need to do a little more preparation ahead of this treatment. For example, it’s recommended that you avoid direct unprotected sunlight, tanning beds, and excessive heat for at least three to five days before your appointment. Other directions you will be given to prepare for treatment include:
- Discontinue blood-thinning medications and supplements
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours
- Do not use Retinol or AHA for 2 weeks before treatment
- Do not tint, thread, tweeze, or wax brows for 2 weeks before treatment
If you are regularly having other treatments at our clinic, such as chemical peels, facials, dermaplaning, or injectable treatments, you will be instructed to schedule these treatments at least one month before your microblading treatment appointment.
Will You Have Aftercare Instructions?
Caring for your eyebrows after your treatment is quite similar to caring for a tattoo in the sense that there is a great emphasis placed on gently cleansing the area and keeping your skin moisturized. Other aftercare instructions you will need to follow include:
- Avoid rubbing or picking the treatment area
- Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, and excessive heat for four weeks
- Stay away from hot water, saunas, and hot tubs for four weeks
- Avoid strenuous exercise for at least 10 days
- Sleep on your back
- Do not use make-up or skincare products for at least 10 days
- Avoid Retinol and AHA for at least 2 weeks
What Decisions Will You Need to Make About This Treatment?
The way your eyebrows look has a tendency to define your face, your beauty standards, and your overall aesthetic – so it’s important that the decisions you make about your eyebrow treatment are in-line with the rest of your aesthetic goals. What this means for you is that you will have to make several important decisions about your treatment, including choices about your pigment and your goal eyebrow style.
How Do You Know Which Pigment Is Right for You?
Just like there are different hair colors and different pigments you can choose for eyebrow cosmetics, there are also different pigments you can choose for your eyebrow treatment. Ideally, patients should choose pigment that is as close to the natural shade of their eyebrow hair as possible so the result of the treatment can look natural.
However, depending on the style you choose, you may end up picking more than one pigment for your treatment. Or, if your desire is to have your eyebrow pigment match the shade of your hair, you may be able to pick a lighter or darker pigment for your treatment to produce the results you want.
How Do You Know Which Style Is Right for You?
You will also need to choose an eyebrow style suited to your aesthetic goals. For as long as cosmetics have been used, eyebrows have gone through a series of desired style trends – even back in Ancient China, charcoal was used to darken and shape eyebrows. From the ultra-thin pluck of the late 90s and early 2000s to the more natural fullness embraced in eyebrow care since the 2010s, there are certainly some trends that come and go.
However, there are other trends that are steadfast for eyebrows. For example, most women agree that groomed eyebrows, even eyebrows that are groomed to look fuller, is more desirable than unkempt eyebrows. These days, women also agree that fullness and natural shapes are ideal, as well as easier to take care of.
What Are Common Styles for Microbladed Eyebrows?
Many women assume there is only one style for microbladed eyebrows, but the truth is that you will have more than one choice between different microblade techniques. Although the first treatments of this kind only featured darkened eyebrows, the techniques for this treatment have become more sophisticated and have created five main style trends, including:
Classic Microblading
The classic style of this treatment features a series of high, dark strokes that deepen the pigment of the eyebrow to create a more natural fullness than what can be created with cosmetics. The classic style is ideal for women who want an even, darker shade to their eyebrow pigment without looking as if cosmetics have been applied.
Microshading
Microshading is specifically designed to act as permanent make-up. Microshading involves using darker pigment to stroke eyebrows into a darker arched shape and creates an appearance similar to using eyebrow cosmetics. This is a good option for women who have naturally sparse eyebrows or who want a full, dark, and groomed appearance.
Ombre Brows
Ombre brows, also called powder brows, mimic the appearance of using eyebrow powder cosmetics. The overall design of this style is to deposit a light pigment on the inside of the eyebrows that gradually darkens to the outer edges of the eyebrows. This is a good option for women who have moderate fullness or who want to be able to enjoy both fuller natural brows and eyebrow cosmetics.
Microfeathering
Microfeathering is similar to the classic microblade style, but the goal of this treatment is to lightly feather in pigment for the sole purpose of creating fullness. This style is less about defining the shade and arch of the brow, and more about restoring the natural appearance of a brow that has been overplucked.
What Are the Benefits?
There are a few main benefits of this treatment. For example, the fact that this treatment can potentially last for two to three years at a time is a boon for both your time and your wallet. Other benefits of this eyebrow treatment include:
Customizable
This treatment is highly customizable. From the shape to the pigment to the exact style of your treatment, you can choose exactly how you want your eyebrows to look. The key to your customized treatment will be working closely with your technician to find the appearance that works the best to meet all of your aesthetic goals.
Natural-Looking
The results of this treatment are also natural-looking. The trouble with traditional eyebrow cosmetics is that drawing on eyebrows, especially for those who have sparse eyebrows, can look fake or overexaggerated. With this eyebrow treatment, however, the risk of appearing unnatural is very small.
The ability to have natural-looking results is especially obvious if you choose a microblade style that is designed to produce natural-looking results, such as microfeathering or classic microblade treatments. Natural-looking eyebrows will allow you to frame your beauty more easily.
Simpler Cosmetic Application
Half the trouble with traditional eyebrow cosmetics is the fact that poor application can end up looking “plastic” – and the other half of the trouble is the fact that eyebrow cosmetics can be messy to apply. Whether it’s pencils, gels, or powders, applying traditional eyebrow cosmetics can be difficult and the end result can be a disaster. You can simplify your cosmetic application with this treatment, not only for your eyebrows but for your entire face.
Semi-Permanent
This is a semi-permanent treatment, which gives you the advantage of waiting for the pigment to fade if you don’t like the results. Semi-permanent ink is designed to be broken down by the body, water, and sun exposure over the course of several months, similarly to the way semi-permanent hair dye works. When the semi-permanent pigment begins to fade, you also have the opportunity to try a different style.
Ultra-Safe
Another advantage of microblading is the fact that this treatment is safe. No matter which style you end up choosing, you can be certain that the treatment will be safe for you and your skin type. This is due in large part to the treatment being minimally invasive, which greatly lowers the risk of unintended side effects from anesthesia products and infection.
Are You a Good Candidate?
The majority of people who are interested in this treatment are potentially good candidates. The only restrictions for this treatment include pregnant women, who should wait to have the treatment until they are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding, and those who are allergic to the pigment used for the treatment.
Achieve Your Ideal Brow With Microblading Treatments!
It’s time to put away the messy cosmetics and opt for an eyebrow grooming solution that allows you to look natural and stay hassle-free. If you think microblade treatments are the ideal solution for your aesthetic goals, contact Bentley Skincare & Wellness & Wellness in Springfield, MO to schedule your consultation appointment today.